Work begins to improve Kerry road

Work has started on long-awaited road improvements between two towns in north Kerry.

A €6.5 million contract will improve the national secondary route, the N69, between Listowel and Tralee. It involves the construction and improvement of 3.5km of road.

Contract documents for the N69 Rea-Tullig road realignment scheme were signed in Áras an Chontae, Tralee, by Kerry mayor Tim Buckley.

The work is being carried out by local contractors, Allman Contracts Ltd, in a joint venture with Mid-Cork Tarmacadam Ltd.

The project will see the construction of 2.5km of new road, with improvement works carried out on an additional 1km of existing road.

The project is expected to be completed in October.

Mr Buckley said the project will see a significant stretch of the Tralee-Listowel road upgraded.

“Given the importance of this road to the economy of north Kerry, it has to be welcomed and, from a road safety point of view, all road investments are welcome,” he added.

Land was purchased by agreement from the 20 landowners along the route and the mayor paid tribute to them for working with the council in relation to the project.

“In such difficult times, it is a huge boost for the county to see such significant road construction projects as the Tralee bypass, the N86 improvement scheme and now the N69 Rea-Tullig scheme under construction,” said Mr Buckley.