By Sean Moriarty

The first phase of Killarney’s internal cycleway network will begin construction in January, a Killarney Municipal District Meeting was told this week.

Announced in February 2021, and after a series of public consultations, the welcome project is now “shovel ready” according to senior Kerry County Council engineers.

The first phase will include the construction of two cycle lanes, one at each side of the road, linking Cleeney Roundabout with the Rock Rd/New Rd/St Anne’s Rd/High St junction.

Further works on the Park Road and Deerpark sections of the cycleway project will be rolled out on a phased basis throughout next year and depending on other factors within the town.

For example, the section linking the Gael Scoil and the entrance to Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre will be done during the school holidays, avoiding school traffic during term time and also removing potential disruption in the town centre during the peak tourism season.

The Killarney Cycleway will be similar in design to another project rolled out in Dublin recently.

“The National Transport Authority has invited some of our team to see what was done in Dublin and to look at their lessons learned,” engineer Fiona O’Neill told Wednesday’s meeting.