A NEW 3.5km road between Milltown and Killorglin which was opened today provides an improved road surface and shorter journey times for approximately 7,000 vehicles per day.

The N70 Kilderry Bends Improvement Scheme was officially opened by the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Brendan Griffin TD and the Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, Cllr Norma Foley.

Replacing a series of sharp bends at Kilderry on the old N70 road, the €11m project which was completed on time and on budget by contractors, Sorensen Civil Engineering Limited, provides improved access on the main route from Tralee and north Kerry to the Ring of Kerry and southwest Kerry.

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Planning approval for the scheme was granted in January 2014 and the Compulsory Purchase Order for the required lands was completed in June 2016. The scheme was developed by the Kerry National Roads Office based in Castleisland.

Today’s opening was attended by the Chief Executive of Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Michael Nolan and the Chief Executive of Kerry County Council, Moira Murrell.

Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, Cllr Norma Foley said the opening of a piece of infrastructure worth €11m represented a very good day for the county.

She said the N70 is a critical part of the roads network of mid-Kerry, County Kerry as a whole and the wider region.

Cllr Foley remarked that the road offers spectacular views of mid-Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula: “I think it is fair to say that it offers one of the most beautiful and remarkable panoramas in the county, if not the country. The view over Callinafercy, Killorglin, Cromane, the mouth of the River Laune and beyond to the Dingle Peninsula is a sight to behold.”

Kerry County Council Chief Executive Moira Murrell thanked all 28 local landowners for their cooperation in providing the 42 acres of land required for the project. She added that the new scheme was vital for the mid-Kerry area:

“This new road connects Milltown and Killorglin in the first instance. Milltown is a growing and vibrant town which has seen a huge increase in population over the past number of years and the development of two new schools, a new community centre and other facilities. Killorglin is a strategically important town which is home to a number of established industries including; Fujisawa Ireland Limited Pharmaceuticals, Astellas Pharma and Temmler Ireland. One of the primary employers in the town is FEXCO Financial Services, which provides global payment services. It is crucial that those employers have improved access to their offices and factories,” said Ms Murrell.