‘People are gone mad' – Frustration at Kerry roadworks
There is also significant concerns that when completed the road will not be wide enough for trucks and agricultural machinery – a claim engineers have dismissed.
Cllr Brendan Cronin said councillors are fielding daily calls with concerns from the public. He said the works are 'causing much controversy' and they will for some time given they are scheduled to continue until July.
'People are gone mad...There is genuine frustration. People are being held up...People are really angry and frustrated.'
Cllr Cronin said the problems are exacerbated by the length of the required works and the amount of daily traffic on the route as well as the nature of the works which he said are 'tricky'.
'It is a long awkward project,' said Cllr Cronin. 'There are delays and delays and you have to understand the frustration.' But he said that despite this the works are absolutely vital.
'These works are a priority for safety especially from a school perspective, which has been waiting for 20 years for a pedestrian crossing. The works have to be done and we need to see the positive too, not just the negative.'
It is hoped that once this current section is completed that the delays will improve. Tarmac was completed in recent days and that will help but there is still significant works to be completed.
Cllr Cronin said the width of the road has been raised with the engineers who said that it is the standard requirement.
Deputy Michael Cahill said he too has been contacted about the width of the road and has been given similar assurances:
'These are essential works at Fossa and though it is causing a lot of inconvenience during the project, it will be a fantastic job when completed. Some people have voiced the fear that the new route will be too narrow but Senior Executive Engineer Paul Curry with Kerry County Council assures me that it conforms to the European standard of six metres for such a road.'
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