Kerry councillor decries transport agency’s ‘invisible’ management of national roads

By Alastair Tibbs, The Kerryman

A Kerry councillor has called for immediate funding to address the “appalling” surface of one of the county’s busiest roads.

Councillor Tommy Griffin described the N70 Castlemaine to Tralee Road as a “patched quilt” and called Transport Infrastructure Ireland’s (TII) management of national secondary roads “appalling”.

Previous works carried out on that stretch of N70 were done over 25 years ago according to Cllr Griffin, who highlighted the large volumes of traffic travelling the road daily.

He estimated around 6,000 to 7,000 vehicles use the road every day and called for emergency funding to address the damaged infrastructure.

“It’s travelled every day by too many cars to be in such bad condition,” said Cllr Griffin.

“What do TII pass as an emergency? The road is completely closed?”

He pointed to the “patched quilt” along the highest part of the road and to the “caters” outside Larkins Corner in Milltown

The TII, who manage national secondary roads, had never been present at a Castleisland/Corca Dhuibhne Municipal District meeting, according to Cllr Griffin.

“The TII seem to be invisible,” he said,” the national secondary road network in this county is appalling.”

“If TII can’t manage our national secondary road system they should give it back to the council who will make a better job of it.”

The council said the condition of the N70 Castlemaine to Tralee Road will be assessed and the findings will be brought to the attention of TII. In the meantime, they said, targeted repairs will be undertaken “where funding availability permits”.