By Sean Moriarty

The new left turn only exit from Lewis Road on to the existing Killarney by-pass will be in operation by Christmas.

Works placing bollards in the centre of the road, forcing traffic to head to the Cleeney Roundabout and make a u-turn, could start as early as next week after a contractor was appointed this week.

“We will be placing a number of bollards in the centre, all in the name of safety,” Paul Curry of the National Roads Design Office in Castleisland told Wednesday’s Killarney Municipal District Meeting. “It will start next week – we do not want to impact on the Christmas traffic.”

However, Mr Curry added that the left turn only was an interim measure ahead of a much bigger scheme on the Lewis Road.

Plans to make the exit from the Kilcummin/Coolcorcoran side of the by-pass will not go ahead at this time.

The Council is in the process of acquiring land near this junction to allow for the re-alignment of the junction there and to build a new roundabout further east on the by-pass to accommodate Kilcummin traffic.

“We are making good progress with land acquisition for the main scheme,” he added.
“Hopefully we can secure the land in the next two months.”