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Minister Brendan Griffin at the turning of the sod on the Tralee-Fenit Greenway at Fenit with public representatives, Kerry County Council Staff and supporters of the project. Photo by Dermot Crean
THE sod has been turned today on two new greenway amenities in Kerry marking the commencement of construction on the multi-million-euro projects.
Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Brendan Griffin TD, today turned the sod on the new ten-kilometre Tralee to Fenit Greenway and the 10.5km greenway between Listowel and the Limerick county bounds.
Funding of €3m for the Tralee-Fenit Greenway and €3.5m for the north Kerry route was announced by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport in June 2019 and construction is now commencing on both projects. Construction is expected to take between 18 months and two years.
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Minister Griffin declared it a hugely important day for Kerry and said that the new greenways will greatly enhance the visitor experience and leisure offering in the county.
“I am delighted to have turned the sod to mark the commencement of construction on these vital projects which have been supported by my Department and which have enormous potential for the county. These greenways will offer locals and visitors alike the opportunity to enjoy walking and cycling in a safe off-road environment in beautiful and picturesque surroundings,” he said.
Minister Brendan Griffin turns the sod on the Tralee-Fenit Greenway at Fenit on Sunday with, from left; Cllr Mikey Sheehy, Charlie O’Sullivan KCC, Deputy Martin Ferris, CE of KCC Moira Murrell, Cllr Pa Daly Cathaoirleach KCC Cllr Niall Kelliher, Cllr Norma Foley, Mayor of Tralee Jim Finucane and Cllr Sam Locke. Photo by Dermot Crean
The Tralee-Fenit project will see a continuation of an amenity trail on the outskirts of Tralee which was developed by Kerry County Council in 2016 and which links Casement Railway Station and Mounthawk.
The project will see the completion of the remaining rural section of this route from Ballynahoulort to Fenit by constructing a three-metre wide greenway suitable for walking and cycling. The route will predominantly follow the railway corridor and works will be completed in one phase.
The 10.5km route from Listowel will run from Ballygowloge (at the Tim Kennelly roundabout) to the boundary with County Limerick and will take in ten townlands.
The greenway will link with the award-winning Childers Park and Woodlands in Listowel town and this linkage has been facilitated by grants recently awarded by Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the Department of Rural and Community Development.
The works will be carried out in one phase and will consist of the clearance of the old railway line, the laying of a three-metre wide tarmacadam surface, provision of traffic calming measures, and the reinstatement of drainage and agricultural underpasses where necessary.
These new sections of greenway form part of the planned future 100km cycling and walking amenity route which will eventually link Limerick to Fenit via Listowel and Tralee, and which is being developed under the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport’s ‘Strategy for the Future Development of National and Regional Greenways.’
