An Taoiseach Simon Harris TD, Opens New N69 Listowel Bypass

The Taoiseach, Simon Harris TD, has officially opened the new Listowel Bypass which will divert 7,000 vehicles per day away from Listowel town centre and which will greatly enhance infrastructure and accessibility in north Kerry.

The €62m N69 Listowel Bypassis a six-kilometre western and northern bypass of Listowel town centre and consists of approximately 3.6km of new road, 2.3km of on-line improvement of the existing network and 1.5km of new roundabouts and improvements at junctions.

The Taoiseach was joined at the official opening by the Cathaoirleach and Chief Executive of Kerry County Council, the Chief Executive of Transport Infrastructure Ireland and local landowners who facilitated the construction of the road.

Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, Cllr Breandán Fitzgerald described it a historic day for the county: 'Traffic congestion in Listowel has long been identified as hampering transport and commercial activity. The bypass will divert some 250 heavy goods vehicles away from the town centre each day which will also greatly enhance the safety of motorists and pedestrians in the town.'

Taoiseach Simon Harris: 'This new road is a major boost for north Kerry in terms of transport, accessibility, commercial activity and tourism. It greatly improves movement across the region including along the busy N69 road between Listowel and Limerick. My government is committed to delivering projects such as this across the country with the support of local authorities and Transport Infrastructure Ireland.'

Chief Executive Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Peter Walsh said: 'The official opening of the N69 Listowel Bypass highlights the on-going improvements being made to the national road network in County Kerry by Transport Infrastructure Ireland and Kerry County Council. This project offers road safety benefits as well as improved regional accessibility. There is a quality-of-life improvement for the residents and businesses of Listowel with the reduction of unnecessary through traffic. Reducing unnecessary HGV traffic alone by nearly 50%, whilst supporting those HGV drivers that deliver goods and services throughout country by providing a section of national road built to a modern engineering standard.'

The designers of the scheme were Jacobs Engineering (Dublin) and the main contractor was Wills Brothers (Mayo). The project was overseen by the Kerry National Roads Office.