Kerry County Council has been accused of refusing to listen to concerns of the public.
It came during an hour of intense talks at the Killarney Municipal District meeting in relation to the N72 Fossa road project.
Elected members were told that the aim of the project is to reduce speed in the area and it will continue as planned.
Cathaoirleach of Killarney MD, Cllr Maura Healy-Rae raised a motion in relation the N72 at Fossa asking the council and TII if they are satisfied that buses, HGVs and agricultural machinery will be able to pass safely and adequately through the route.
The independent councillor said she has never experienced frustration like this before from the public in relation to a project.
She added that bus and plant operators in the area have been telling elected representatives that the road width won’t work, which has been reiterated to the council, claiming this has fallen on deaf ears.
Independent councillor Brendan Cronin, who also raised a motion, said once the second kerb was installed on the road, concerns were raised and re-laid to the council, in particular around large vehicles.
He claimed any concern he raised has been completely ignored by the local authority, adding the kerb to the white line in the centre is 9ft 9 inches, however, the vast majority of large machines on the back of lorries are 10ft wide.
He described the N72 roadworks as a concrete tunnel and said the mindset of the council must change, and they need to listen to those who are always on the road in large vehicles.
Kerry Independent Alliance councillor, John O’Donoghue, asked as this road was built and designed with the urban design manual, whether it’s appropriate that every area deemed urban is designed the same; adding Killiney in Dublin may be deemed urban, but it wouldn’t have any agricultural vehicles passing like Fossa.
In response, Director of Roads at Kerry County Council, Frank Hartnett read a statement outlining the background and chronology of the project.
This outlined that the expected daily traffic of the road is 8,800 vehicles, of which 3% will be heavy good vehicles – this point drew a sigh of frustration from members in the chamber.
He continued that planning was granted to the project in July 2022, with a number of criteria including the main carriageway at a width of six metres.
This was to discourage speeding in this area, with the six metre width necessary given a school is located along the route.
Independent councillor, Martin Grady stated the kerb is too high and there’s already tire marks and chips on it.
He added that he was in the area on Tuesday evening, and advised there was sections of the road which were 6.2 metres; he asked that the rest of the road be stretched to 6.2 if planning is so vital; the council responded that this will have to be rectified.
Cllr Cronin proposed that the church side of the road is not yet finished and proposed this section be widened, which received support from fellow councillors.
The council advised that planning has already been granted and this will not be changed, adding that the TII are aware of concerns brought by elected members.
