Mid-2011 start for bypass

THE National Roads Authority (NRA) and Kerry County Council have confirmed construction work will start on the €137 million Tralee bypass in the new year.

Some politicians had voiced fears that work on the 13.5km road would be long-fingered because of Government cutbacks, but the council yesterday said it had been informed by the NRA that work will start in mid-2011.

An initial archaeological survey of the route has found some items of interest, which are to be investigated further. “We will know more by the end of January and we expect construction work on the bypass to start around the middle of the year, possibly in June,” the spokesman said.