Killorglin roads at capacity but bypass could be 10 years away

RESIDENTS in Killorglin will simply have to get used to traffic congestion as the only solution to the “escalating” traffic problem is a bypass which is years down the road.

Kerry County Council officials said this week that the town of Killorglin is ‘at capacity’ for traffic but there is nothing they can do.

A bypass is the only solution but this is a project that is estimated to cost between €16m and €17m and could take up to 10 years to bring to fruition.

A number of councillors raised ongoing traffic problems in the town at this month’s meeting of South and West Municipal district. These problems have led to long tailbacks and delays and are set to get worse during the summer months when traffic is at a peak.

Cllr Damian Quigg said that it is now time to “prioritise” the bypass and bring this project to the next level.

Kerry County Council officials also want to see this project moved forward. A preliminary study was undertaken in 2009 on the proposed bypass to examine route options. However, no funding is available for such a large-scale project.

Manager of South and West Municipal District Martin O’Donoghue said that it is time to “highlight” the bypass and seek to have it on a projects list.

“The town cannot deal with any more traffic going through it. It is beyond capacity. We need to start highlighting the bypass so that it starts to appear on a list. We need to start a conversation on a project to bypass the town,” he said.

Cllr Michael Cahill said that the traffic problem is escalating and that the bypass is a long way down the line. He appealed to the council to try and resolve the solution in the short term, but council management have said that a bypass is the only way forward. They have previously stated there is no point in undertaking a traffic management plan until a bypass is secured.

A deputation from the council is now to go to the Government seeking support for a bypass for the town and to get the long-awaited project moving forward.