€65m Kerry road upgrade ‘would save lives’

Eight people have died in traffic accidents over a 10-year period on a busy tourist route earmarked for a major upgrade.

An Taisce is objecting to plans by Kerry County Council for a €65m improvement scheme on the N86 Tralee to Dingle road.

Road Safety Authority statistics show that, between 2003 and 2013, there were 65 collisions on the N86. There were eight fatalities on the road in that period and 112 injuries, 25 of which are described as serious, according to statistics given to Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae, in reply to a Dáil question.

He said the figures clearly underline the need for safety measures on the road.

A decision by An Taisce to seek a judicial review of the council’s plans — which include widening the road, removing bends, and providing cycle lanes — sparked outrage locally and calls for a withdrawal of the review.

Upwards of 700 people took part in a protest march against An Taisce’s stand, in Dingle, last month.

Plans for a 28km stretch of the road have been approved by An Bord Pleanála.

Dingle councillor Seamus Fitzgerald (FG) said an improved road would boost tourism and employment during construction. “People have been seeking these improvements for 30 years. An Taisce have gone too far on this one,” he said.

Mr Fitzgerald rejected An Taisce’s claims that the road works would damage a scenic landscape, saying work already completed on a 4km stretch near Annascaul actually enhanced the local environment.

Cllr Michael O’Shea (FF) called for statutory funding for An Taisce to be reviewed in the light of its objections to planning applications for national roads of strategic importance.

An Taisce is claiming that the legal requirement for an environmental assessment of the whole road scheme has not been met.

Read more of today’s news here