Details of the proposed bypass of Castleisland, a notorious bottle-neck on the main Kerry to Dublin route, are to go on public display today. Anne Lucey reports.
The town is at the junction of the N23, which filters traffic to and from Kerry Airport and on to the N22 to Killarney and Cork, and the N21 link with Tralee.
A bypass was first sought for Castleisland some 40 years ago. During the tourist season motorists travelling to or from Limerick or Dublin experience delays of 30 minutes or more in the town.
Mr John O'Connor, project manager with Kerry County Council, said the bypass was urgently needed because of the town's proximity to Kerry Airport, which caters for some 400,000 passengers a year.
The 5.3-kilometre route will cost over €24 million, which includes land acquisition, he said. It is expected to be completed in 2008. When in place some 80 per cent of all heavy vehicle traffic will be taken out of the town, along with 60 per cent of cars, according to council surveys.
The proposed route will be on display between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. at the River Island Hotel in Castleisland.