By Sean Moriarty

Elected councillors in the Killarney Municipal District are to seek clarity on road funding that was announced by Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan just before Christmas.

CLARITY: Cllr Brendan Cronin has been campaigning for improvement works at Madams Hill for years

IMMEDIATE: Cllr John O’Donoghue stated that the work needs to get underway on all projects as soon as possible.

MOTION: Mayor Marie Moloney will seek clarity on the funding at the next Killarney Municipal District meeting

Some of the most eagerly awaited road projects in Killarney have been included in a multi-million Euro in  national road funding allocations totalling €676 million to local authorities for 2022.

The biggest local project is the Park Road to Ballyspillane roundabout which is in line for €1.2 million.

The next phase of the new road between Farranfore and Killarney will get €800,000.

The much anticipated and badly needed realignment of the Lewis Road Junction will get €30,000.

Several other very important road schemes are also in line for funding.

These include, Agahdoe (€30,000); Torc to Muckross (€10,000); Fossa (€10,000); Torc to Dinis (€50,000); MuckrossRoad (€10,000) and Rathmore (€10,000).

CLARITY

“I very much welcome this funding, in particular for the junction of Lewis Road and Aghadoe that I have been pursuing for some time,” Cllr Marie Moloney told the Killarney Advertiser.
“I do however have concerns that the amounts allocated may not be enough to carry out all the works that need to be done at these junctions as major works needs to be carried out. I have tabled a Notice of Motion for the January meeting asking that clear details be given on the works that are planned. We are still not clear as to whether or not a roundabout will be provided at the Aghadoe junction which I believe is the only answer to the problems people coming down from Aghadoe are experiencing.”

Cllr Brendan Cronin has raised similar concerns.
"I want to welcome the broad funding announcement by the TII and in particularly involving the Killarney MD where very dangerous junctions at Lewis road and Madams Hill have been allocated substantial funding and need urgent improvements immediately,” he said. “The TII have not yet publicly clarified their proposals for Madams Hill junction but have committed to implementing a left only exit from Lewis road onto the bypass to reduce accidents, which I first requested over five years ago. The allocation for Killalee, and Park Rd to Ballyspillane along with a number of other projects are also very welcome. The identifying of the preferred route from Farranfore to Killarney by the TII next year will be of major importance due to the implications for landowners and home owners along this route. The failure to make any attempt to replace the single lane Listry bridge is again very disappointing."

TOWN CENTRE

Cllr Niall O’Callaghan, acknowledged that all of the elected councillors in the Killarney District are working towards to the common good of the town, but warned that despite the funding announcement not enough is being done to alleviate town centre traffic issues.

He said: “Everyone knows the poor condition of some of the roads in Kerry and any funding that can progress projects is vital for the connectivity of our county both internally and nationally. The access to Cork will improve with the new road progressing well, the connectivity with Limerick is a route that needs to be further progressed. Within the Killarney MD, it is vital that traffic flow into and in the town itself is made a priority. People need to be able to get about the town and do their business without the worry of traffic jams. It is nice to see all councillors working to this goal.”

Cllr John O’Donoghue, who took over from Michael Gleeson last year, also welcomed the funding, particularly for the project first earmarked by his predecessor but stated that the work needs to get underway on all projects as soon as possible.

“I strongly welcome the funding announced which will hopefully ensure projects currently on the long finger will be completed in the not too distant future,” he said.

“I also await developments regarding the proposed new bypass from Farranfore to Killarney with interest and it is imperative that the relevant stakeholders work closely with those domiciled within the area to ensure it causes as little disruption as possible.

“Within the immediate area of Killarney Municipal District, I am delighted to see funding announced for Lewis Road, Fossa, Muckross Road, Garries Bridge, Park Road, Ballyspillane, the junction in Aghadoe and Rathmore amongst others as these are all extremely worthwhile projects which badly need to reach completion as quickly as possible.

“I am also very pleased to see funding announced for a project which was very first proposed by my predecessor Michael Gleeson, and has since been followed on up by myself, that is the cycle way cum walkway from Dinis to Torc and then hopefully from Torc to Muckross. Completion of this work will link it up with the new walkway from Tomies and will be a magnificent addition to an already splendid area.”