South Kerry Greenway costs balloon to more than €70m

Initial preliminary projections for the greenway were estimated at under €5m in 2014

The first 3.1km section of the South Kerry Greenway from Golden's Shop, Kells, to the Old Railway Station at Kells. It became accessible to pedestrians and cyclists last December. Picture: Valerie O'Sullivan

The estimated cost of the South Kerry Greenway along a section of the Ring of Kerry is now over €70m, Kerry County Council has confirmed.

To date, almost €22m - in excess of the 2019 estimate for completion of the entire route - has been allocated by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and the Department of Transport. However, a quarter of the route, just 7km, will have opened by Easter weekend.