Kerry County Council in talks with landowners over planned revamp to road

Twenty years after a lobby group protested in Brussels over the poor state of a Co Kerry peninsula road, serious discussions have finally commenced on finalising land acquisition for the national secondary route.

Kerry County Council and landowners are in talks over planned improvements to the N86, the main road from Annascaul to Dingle. It is envisaged that works may begin later this year.

Women featured strongly in a delegation to Brussels 20 years ago when a lobby group warned of the consequences for health, business, and tourism.

The planned €65m works, on a phased basis, had effectively been parked for four years in the planning and legal processes.

The attempt by Kerry County Council and the then NRA to realign and widen 28kms of the road led to an oral hearing with protracted legal action since 2012.

The improvements involve the provision of cycle lanes.

Part of the improvements on the eastern, or Camp, side had already been partly completed.

An Bord Pleanála had refused permission for the Annascaul to Dingle section and a judicial review by the county council for a grant of permission ensued. It was followed by legal action to the High Court and Court of Appeal by An Taisce who unsuccessfully sought to overturn a grant of permission on the grounds of likely environmental damage.

An Taisce had argued hairpin bends were natural features, the road project was unnecessarily wide, intrusive, and expensive.

Now, however, the first of the landowners in a 2.7km section near Lispole and a 1.3km section near Camp are being asked to negotiate with the council. Notices have been served by the council.

Kerry Co Council is confident advance works on the scheme, under Transport Infrastructure Ireland, will commence this year.