Further delays to Killarney bypass

The long wait for a bypass for Killarney is to continue, despite having an original completion date of 2009.

Kerry County Council has confirmed the proposed 26km road is a “medium- to long-term” project which is unlikely to commence for several years.

The route of the €130m road begins just on the Cork side of Killarney and runs to a point about 2km on the Tralee side of Farranfore.

The route was chosen almost 10 years ago and €3m has, so far, been spent on planning and design work.

A slightly tweaked plan is again going on public display, with refinements in four local roads areas.

A council spokesman said the project had been reviewed by independent experts and the National Roads Authority, which reappraised it in light of the latest technical standards and environmental guidelines.

The public is now being given an opportunity to have a second look at the entire route.

However, the spokesman stressed this did not mean the project would start sometime soon, adding that it was still a medium- to long-term project.

The bypass, which would ease traffic congestion in Killarney and shorten journey times on the N22 national primary road between Cork and Tralee, is a key element of improvements to the N22.

Some improvements have already taken place on sections of the road on the Cork side and between Farranfore and Tralee.

Meanwhile, work is progressing on the Tralee bypass, due for completion next year.