Minister hails Kerry road upgrade

A E13.2m upgrade to the N21 will help jobs and tourism and improve road safety, it was claimed today.

The Ballycarty to Tralee section of the road was officially opened by Transport Minister Martin Cullen in Co Kerry today.

Speaking at the opening of the new re-aligned wide single carriageway road, Mr Cullen said that the N21 formed an important corridor between Tralee and Killarney.

He said that the opening of the Ballycarty to Tralee road would mean improved access into north Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula.

“In an economy that competes on the international stage, well-connected and strategically planned infrastructure gives our businesses and our jobs a better chance,” he said.

“This is especially the case here in the mid and south-west where tourism is the bedrock of the economy.”

The minister said the Government was committed to ensuring shorter and safer journeys for the 9,000 vehicles which use the road each day.

The Mayor of Kerry, Ned O’Sullivan, said the new section of road would make the county’s largest town more accessible and would also reap benefits for the local economy and residents.

“Kerry is known worldwide as a premier tourist county and the completion of this section of road will certainly enhance the experience for people entering the county’s largest town,” he said.

Mr Cullen said the Government was committed to investing E150m of taxpayers’ money per month across Ireland’s road network.

“Investing E150 per month in roads provides and protects jobs, ensures goods get to the market quicker and allows the regions to prosper.

“These gains contribute to a better quality of life”, he said.