By Sean Moriarty

After months, if not years of campaigning, it looks like there will finally be a pedestrian crossing installed between the Beech Road car park and the entrance to Killarney House on Mission Road.

Cllr Brendan Cronin has repeatedly called for the crossing to be built. He has raised concerns, especially during the busy summer months, that pedestrians are at risk while trying to cross the busy road to and from the town centre car park which is the nearest public parking facility to Killarney House.

“As we approach another busy season for locals and tourists with no progress on the repeated requests for a pedestrian crossing from Beech Road car parks to Killarney House, in the event of an accident, causing serious injury or worse, where does the responsibility/liability lie?” he asked the recent Killarney Municipal meeting.

In their reply, Kerry County Council said that progress to the design stage of the crossing will commence shortly.

“Kerry County Council has re-engaged with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), who have indicated that they will give favourable consideration to a pedestrian crossing at this location subject to approval of the design layout by the TII. Work on this design will commence shortly. Responsibility in the event of an accident depends on the facts and circumstances of each particular accident,” a Council official said.

Cronin welcomed the move.

"I have repeatedly outlined that this extremely busy location is highly dangerous for pedestrians using one of the largest car parks in Killarney and accessing the very popular Killarney House and Gardens, currently with no protection weaving their way through oncoming traffic. The construction of a pedestrian crossing on Mission Road is an absolute necessity for the safety of the general public crossing an extremely busy and dangerous road. It is imperative that this crossing is now progressed to construction as a matter of urgency,” he added.