Kerry County Council has confirmed that progress is being made regarding improvement works to a dangerous junction in Farranfore Village.
The council was responding to a request from Cllr. Michael Cahill (FF) who had called for its attention and that of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to address the dangerous situation there as a matter of priority.
Busy Four Cross Roads
The danger lies in the extremely busy, four cross road junction at Farranfore village where the Tralee/Killarney road meets with the Killorglin/Firies/Farranfore road and the Currow/Farranfore road.
The Glenbeigh councillor had called on TII to take into consideration the fact that 17,000 vehicles pass through Farranfore every day and the fact that the road carries a significant amount of traffic that enters/exits the county on a daily basis from the Limerick area via the Castleisland road.
Busiest Junction in Kerry
“This junction warrants a major improvement scheme before someone is seriously injured or killed at this location,” said Cllr. Cahill at this month’s meeting of Kerry County Council.
“The majority of visitors to our county drive through Farranfore and in this context it has to be one of the busier junctions in Kerry, if not the busiest.
“Improvement works to the junction in Farranfore should be the number one priority for the council,” he concluded.
Charlie O’Sullivan’s Response
Responding to Cllr. Cahill’s motion, Director of Services, Charlie O’Sullivan said that Farranfore is included in a programme for safety improvement measures.
“This is based on the collision history along this section of the N22 (known as HD15 sites), and this junction is being considered as part of the overall plan.
Options Being Examined
“A feasibility report has been prepared which examined a number of options to address the safety issues arising particularly at the junction.
“This is a complex scheme which requires extensive consultation with property owners adjacent to the junction.
“It is hoped that improvement proposals can be finalised in the coming months and TII funding secured to carry out the necessary works at this location,” Mr. O’Sullivan said in conclusion.
