Kerry County Council confirms that no section of the South Kerry Greenway will open this year
This will undoubtedly come as a disappointment to many, especially as it had been anticipated a significant amount of work on the project would be completed early this year.
Motions were tabled by Cathaoirleach of the Kenmare MD and Fianna Fáil councillor Tommy Cahill and Fine Gael councillor Teddy O'Sullivan-Casey with both asking for Kerry County Council to provide a progress report on the project.
In their reply to these motions, the Council confirmed that land acquisition is underway and that negotiations with landowners are progressing well.
As well as this, the Council confirmed that construction works are 'well advanced' on a 5km section of the Greenway between Glenbeigh and the N70 road overbridge at Coolnaharragill Upper, adding that fencing, capping, drainage works and accommodation works are progressing well in this area.
Works on a further section between Gortnagree and Kells PO (3.5km) are also progressing well, the Council confirmed.
The Council also added that advance works contracts for retaining structures and site clearance works at Mountain Stage have been completed and that temporary fencing will commence shortly on the section from Kells Station to Cloghanelinaghan. Ecological monitoring is ongoing while further advance works and surveys are underway.
Both Cllr Cahill and Cllr O'Sullivan-Casey said in the meeting that there have been concerns locally in Cahersiveen and further afield about the pace of the project, especially by businesses in the area, some of whom Cllr Cahill said, are hanging by a thread.
In addition, Cllr O'Sullivan Casey inquired as to whether the project is experiencing difficulties in regards to the viaduct, near Mountain Stage and Kells.
Work on the viaduct was described by Kerry County Council as 'challenging' due to that fact that it is such an old structure that needs to be 'brought up to modern standards.' While confirming that there was no issue involved, there are challenges presented in an engineering perspective.
Tender documents for the section between Mountain Stage and Kells PO are currently being finalised and these, the Council said, are expected to published in the third quarter of this year, subject to the necessary approvals.
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The Council continued their update on the project by saying that consultants have been appointed to obtain the statutory consent necessary for the section from Renard to Cahersiveen (including northeast of the Valentia Estuary Viaduct).
A public consultation outlining the Study Area and Route Options took place back in October 2024 in Cahersiveen and this was well attended. The preferred option for both study areas will be chosen and displayed in the third quarter of the year.
The council finished by saying describing the South Kerry Greenway as 'a large infrastructure project' and while as outlined above, there are various sections at different stages of construction, the current project management approach agreed with TII (Transport Infrastructure Ireland) does not provide for separate phasing of the project that would allow sections to be opened in the near term.
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