Work starts on new Slea Head road

WORK has started on the building of a new road at Slea Head in the Dingle Peninsula to replace a section that collapsed several months ago.

The one-kilometre stretch will cost €900,000 to build with work expected to be completed by October, Kerry County Council confirmed yesterday.

Agreement has been reached with three landowners to acquire the necessary land while funding has been approved by the Department of theEnvironment.

A temporary relief road has been in place since April to enable traffic to continue moving around the spectacular coastal route.

The 350-metre replacement road had been constructed following a cliff collapse. The land for the temporary road had been provided by local couple Máirín and Sean O Dálaigh.

Council spokesman Padraig Corkery said the land will now be returned to the O Dálaighs.

“We’re extremely grateful to the O Dálaighs and the other landowners who’ve all been most co-operative,” he said. “Because of their co-operation, the temporary road was put in place very quickly and we’re now proceeding with work on the permanent new road.”

Initially, there had been serious concerns in the area that the route could be closed for a lengthy period, which would have serious consequences for the local economy.

The Slea Head route, overlooking the Atlantic and the Blasket islands, is anessential part of tourism in the area.

The Eastertime collapse could not have come at a worse time as the 2007 season was getting underway.

Meanwhile, a grant of more than €400,000 has been provided for a walking route along the banks of the River Lee, in Tralee.