Planning timeline for N22 upgrade moves toward 2027

The N22 Farranfore to Killarney Road Project remains the most critical long-term infrastructure requirement for Killarney town, offering the only sustainable resolution to gridlock and town centre traffic congestion

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At a recent meeting of the Killarney Municipal District, Kerry County Council officials confirmed that the proposed bypass and strategic route upgrade is actively moving through the essential design and environmental evaluation phases.
Officials said that this detailed technical work will run through 2026 and 2027 to prepare the necessary documentation for a formal statutory application to An Coimisiún Pleanála.

For years, the Killarney Advertiser has highlighted the crippling effect of traffic bottlenecks on the existing N22 network.
Peak morning and evening commutes regularly cause major tailbacks at key junctions such as Coolcorcoran, Lewis Road, and Lissivigeen.
The current road infrastructure handles daily traffic volumes well beyond its intended capacity, blending traffic travelling the Kerry-Cork economic corridor with local commuter traffic and high volumes of seasonal tourist vehicles.

While recent smaller-scale infrastructure proposals such as the Strategic Link Road connecting Park Road directly to the existing bypass could offer localised relief once its completed, council engineers have consistently maintained that only the full N22 Farranfore to Killarney bypass will permanently divert through-traffic away from the urban area.

The project's advancement into the design phase follows major field developments, including topographical mapping and ground investigation works carried out along the preferred route corridor.

Reaching the statutory planning phase represents the most significant administrative step in the capital project's lifecycle. A statutory application to An Coimisiún Pleanála entails a comprehensive legal process under national planning legislation.

The submission requires a complete Environmental Impact Assessment Report detailing ecological, noise, air, and heritage impact studies currently being compiled across the route. Furthermore, the council must submit a formal Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) framework to acquire the necessary land along the designated corridor.

Once submitted, An Coimisiún Pleanála will launch a formal public consultation period, allowing landowners, local residents, and civic bodies to lodge statutory submissions or objections. The planning authority may also convene an oral hearing to examine technical evidence before issuing a final binding decision on whether the scheme can proceed to procurement and construction.

With the project included under the National Development Plan's major infrastructure list, local representatives continue to press national authorities to ensure project timelines remain on schedule through the upcoming planning phase.