€35m Kerry bypass opens to traffic

A 30-YEAR campaign to remove one of the country’s notorious traffic bottlenecks ended yesterday with the official opening of a €35 million bypass in Castleisland, Co Kerry.

Finished two months ahead of schedule, the 5.4km roadway will ease the flow of traffic into Kerry from the Limerick-Dublin side and is expected to improve journey times by up to 30 minutes at peak periods.

The bypass will divert 60% of all traffic and up to 80% of heavy goods vehicles from the town and should also boost business in Castleisland due to easier access.