Exclusive
PROPOSALS for a major new road improvement scheme to alleviate dangers at the notorious Lewis Road-N22 Killarney Bypass junction are to proceed as planned after a judicial review of the granting of planning permission for the project was dismissed in the High Court today.
Representatives of a landowner on the N22 had been granted leave to judicially review the planning decision but, following today’s ruling, Kerry County Council has confirmed that it will now proceed with the next phase of the scheme.
The plans provide for a major upgrade of the Lewis Road and Kilcummin Road junctions on the N22 Killarney bypass road with detailed proposals prepared by the Kerry National Roads Design Office.
The development, over a distance of 0.8km, is seen as a major step forward in the long-running saga to tackle one of the worst accident blackspots in the country.
The €4 million project will include the building of a new roundabout on the eastern side of the existing Lewis Road junction – close to Killarney Fire Station – the closing of the existing turn-off to Kilcummin and the realignment of that route to link up with the new roundabout which will eventually join a new strategic link road to Park Road which is phase two of the project.
As part of the proposal, traffic existing from Lewis Road on to the bypass will only be allowed to turn left and traffic travelling from the Cleeny side will not be allowed to turn right on to Lewis Road.
New footpaths and cycle lanes will also be developed on the bypass road and, it is understood, the council will shortly revisit a proposal to build an underground pedestrian and cycle subway – linking Lewis Road with the Kilcummin road – but in an alternative location that initially proposed.
Mayor of Killarney, Cllr Brendan Cronin, welcomed the news that the work can now proceed to the next phase.
“This is a positive step in addressing road safety issues at this dangerous junction,” told KillarneyToday.com.
Cllr Niall Kelleher, who had previously organised a petition with thousands of signatures demanding action at the dangerous junction, which was hand-delivered to the then Transport Minister, Shane Ross, also welcomed today’s High Court decision.
“It is hugely positive for Killarney, it will create a much safer environment for everybody using that junction and it’s a great day for the town,” he said.
“This project has the potential to make a huge difference and we all need to get behind it now to bring it to fruition” said Cllr Kelleher who is also President of Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce.
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