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Changes in the pipeline for Killarney roads

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There are changes in the pipeline for Killarney roads in the coming months councillors at a Special Meeting of Killarney Municipal District were told this week.

Those in attendance were updated on works for big projects such as Killarney Bypass and Lewis Road/Kilcummin Junction and proposed Active Travel Link and underpass, the Farranfore to Killarney Road Improvement Scheme, Madam's Hill, MD O'Shea Roundabout to Ballycasheen Junction and the Glenflesk Traffic Calming Scheme amongst others.

Farranfore to Killarney route

Senior Engineer Paul Curry made a presentation on the Farranfore to Killarney Road Improvement Scheme saying that the Phase 2 Options Selection is underway with a number of route corridors currently being considered and appraised with the "emerging preferred route corridor to be selected in Q3 2022".
He said that the Farranfore to Killarney route was "a major scheme", that a public consultation took place last year where a "number of options went on display". These, he said, are currently being appraised and a report is being prepared. The report will be reviewed in the next four weeks or so. The emerging preferred route corridor will go on display for a period of four weeks in August or September to seek feedback from the public. After this a report on the findings will be published in October/November.

Lewis Road/Kilcummin Junction

Plans for the proposed underpass on the Killarney Bypass within the ground of St Finan's Hospital, will be published by end of July.

The much awaited left-turn only from the Lewis Road junction and N22 Bypass Road will begin construction in August.

When completed traffic leaving Lewis Road will no longer be allowed to cross the Bypass Road. Instead motorists will have to turn left and make a U-turn at the Cleeney Roundabout.

Traffic exiting the Kilcummin Road will also be left turn only with motorists having to make their way to the Michael D O’Shea Roundabout at the sports centre before doing a U-turn.

Madam's Hill

As part of the Active Travel plans traffic lights are to be installed at the Aghadoe Junction which he said are "more friendly for pedestrians and cyclists". There will also be enhanced pedestrian footpaths on both sides coming down to the Cleeney roundabout.

Ballydowney to Gortroe

In the Ballydowney to Gortroe Safety Improvement Scheme he said that the TII are awaiting results from a deer safety trial measure in Laois and if this is successful similar measures could be implemented in Killarney as an interim solution. Plans are to reduce vegetation in the first five to 10 metres which "won't draw the deer to the road". He added that further discussions are needed however with the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Glenflesk Traffic Calming

Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) said they will install bigger speed signs in Glenflesk Village to "see if it makes a difference".

"We are going to change the speed indicator signs and make them bigger to see if it makes much of a difference," he said. "We have been recording speed in Glenflesk for the best part of the last 12 months.

"In the meantime we're going to make the speed indicator signs the next size up."

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Eight month wait for a driving test in Killarney

A Killarney councillor is calling for action in an effort to reduce the driving test wait list in Killarney The current wait list for a test in Killarney sits at […]

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A Killarney councillor is calling for action in an effort to reduce the driving test wait list in Killarney

The current wait list for a test in Killarney sits at eight months.

Cllr John O’Donoghue raised the issue at Monday’s full meeting of Kerry County Council.

He proposed that driving instructors should be employed to carry out the final test to reduce the current backlog.

At Monday’s meeting he asked that hat Kerry County Council would write to the Minister for Transport to ask him to consider giving driving instructors temporary powers to issue a temporary Driving Licence/Certificate of Competence to those on the waiting list for tests.

“The wait is currently far too long and the system is in danger of becoming completely overwhelmed,” he said.

“The huge waiting list for young drivers is well documented at this stage. In a case I am familiar with, a young person passed their theory test in January 2022 and he immediately applied for his mandatory 12 driving lessons. When these were completed, he applied for his driving test on the 2nd of December 2022. Some weeks ago, he still had not received an application to apply for his driving test. This wait is placing him and his family under considerable extra cost and stress which is completely unacceptable.”

In the course of his research into the matter Cllr O’Donoghue discovered that the next available date for a driving test in Killarney is May 25, 2024, while Tralee is June 3 2024.

“Bear in mind, these are only the dates on which you receive an invitation to book your test, the test itself will then be an estimated three to five weeks later.

“This is an appalling situation and one which needs to be rectified as a matter of urgency. I am proposing that driving instructors, which presumably are fully trained up on the rules of the road, be granted temporary powers to be allowed to issue temporary driving licences to young people. When the waiting list time has been reduced, I would still propose that these people sit the test as usual, but the current pressure needs to be alleviated as soon as possible. There is precedent as I believe that in the 1970s, a cohort in this country were issued driving licences without having sat a test as the wait time for the test was too long.”

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Ballymac charity vintage run on October 1

The Ballymac Vintage Club is hosting a classic car, tractor and Honda 50 run on October 1. The run will leave from and return to the Halfway Bar, Ballymac. Registration […]

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The Ballymac Vintage Club is hosting a classic car, tractor and Honda 50 run on October 1.

The run will leave from and return to the Halfway Bar, Ballymac.

Registration begins at 9:30am and sets off at 11am.

“There will be two separate routes with one for tractors and the other for cars and motorbikes. Proceeds on the day are in aid of Castleisland Day Care Centre and we’ll have plenty of spot prizes to giveaway too in the morning,” said the club’s PRO Kieran Glover.

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