150 jobs to be created as contracts are signed for € 97m Tralee bypass
Looking at the plans for the Tralee Bypass at the contract signing on Friday were Mayor of Kerry Cllr Pat Leahy, Mayor of Tralee Cllr Grace O'Donnell, Tracy Smith, Kerry National Road Design Office, and the Minister for Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht...
THE contract for the construction of long awaited Tralee bypass project were signed at County Buildings in Tralee on Friday and work on the €97 million project will get underway within weeks creating 150 jobs in the locality.
In one of his final acts as Mayor of Kerry Cllr Pat Leahy signed the contracts with contractors BAM Civil in front of a large audience including members of Kerry County Council, Tralee Town Council and a number of Kerry's Oireachtas members.
The €97.03 million project will see the construction of an 8km Dual Carriageway to the east of Tralee, as well as a 5.5km single carriageway link road from the Bypass to the N22 Killarney Road at Bealagreallagh.
The scheme will connect four of the five national routes that terminate in Tralee and will improve the road transport corridor between Tralee and Killarney.
Construction of the Bypass is on a 21-month contract and 150 people are expected to be employed during construction.
The outgoing Mayor welcomed the project and said he was looking forward to seeing work begin in the next few weeks.
"This is a fantastic boost for the town of Tralee and for the county as a whole," he said.
"From an economic point of view, there is a benefit to the county from the employment of people who live locally and will be spending their money in local businesses and also for landowners who have had land purchased for the project," Cllr Leahy said.
"There will also be a huge benefit to the town of Tralee in relieving traffic congestion on entering the town.
"Now traffic heading to North, South and West Kerry will be able to avoid the centre of the town, reducing congestion and travel time and Tralee town centre will also benefit," he said.
County Manager Tom Curran said the importance of the road network in Kerry was crucial for the economy, as it facilitated agriculture and tourism, two of Kerry's major employers.
He paid credit to the National Roads Association for their assistance in bringing the project to fruition and also stated that the town of Tralee would benefit greatly.
- SIMON BROUDER
