Picture: Valerie O’Sullivan
A PLAN to close a busy tunnel between Kenmare and Glengarriff, to facilitate necessary repairs and maintenance, has been slated in the Dáil.
Transport Infrastructure Ireland and Kerry County Council intend to close the route for 10 weeks, between October 5 and December 14, with traffic travelling between south Kerry and west Cork to be diverted via Kilgarvan, Castletownbere and Ballyvourney.
The N71 national secondary road is to close from Molly Gallivan’s Visitor Centre and the Kerry-Cork county bounds at the tunnel.
Speaking in Dáil Éireann today, Kerry TD Danny Healy-Rae said the closure is a matter of great concern for the people of Bonane, Kenmare, Glengarriff and Bantry and he has called for the road to be left open for the month of October to support the local economy.
He said everyone appreciates that the work – which it to stabilise the roof of the tunnel – needs to be done but the timing is wrong and people are disappointed that the work wasn’t carried out during the lockdown.
Deputy Healy-Rae said “a massive crowd” of business people, farmers and others attended a meeting arranged by Bonane Community Council to discuss the matter and local businesses were hoping for a busy month of October and early November.
“Molly Gallivan’s on the Kenmare-Glengarriff road already have 22 buses booked for October and it was also pointed out that 30 or more cruise liners came into Bantry Harbour last October and it is expected that they will return next month.
“The spin-off from these would certainly help Bonane, Glengarriff and Kenmare areas if they could go back and forth through the tunnel. This is the only option for buses as the only other way to connect Bantry and Kenmare would be east wards to Macroom in mid Cork which is over 35 miles one way,” the Kerry TD pointed out.
He said the busiest time for selling sheep and weanlings is the month of October and the closure would have a big impact at marts in Kenmare, Bantry, Skibbereen and Goleen.
“My ask, on behalf of the local community, is that the time for beginning the works should be put out towards the end of November and the timeframe for the works to be completed be reduced from 10 weeks as this is way too long,” Deputy Healy-Rae stated.
