Viaduct the 'most challenging section' of South Kerry greenway to build
The Glinsk Viaduct and Drung Hill tunnels in South Kerry, one of the rail engineering wonders of the Victorian era and the jewel in the crown of the long awaited South Kerry greenway, is proving "challenging" to turn into a cycleway, a meeting has heard.
'The pace' of the 32km paved greenway project between Glenbeigh and Cahersiveeen, unveiled as a template for all other greenways in June 2014 and billed to open in 2016, was raised at a meeting of the Kenmare Municipal District.
However, planning challenges, including a lengthy oral hearing, and opposition by some of the 197 landowners along the route, meant it finally got the go-ahead in 2020.
Various sections are 'at different stages of construction', with around 8.5km currently being built, but no section will open this year, the council told the meeting.
"The most challenging section' , the 11-span viaduct, 73 ft above the Glinsk Valley and old sandstone tunnels at Drung hill, is now approaching, the meeting was told.
Tender documents are being drawn up for this section between Mountain Stage and Kells Post Office.
'There are engineering challenges,' engineer Padraig Teahan admitted, after Fine Gael councillor Teddy O'Sullivan Casey asked if there were ' issues with the viaduct'.
'It's an old structure and has to be brought up to standard,' Mr Teahan said.
'From an engineering perspective, that section is proving very challenging,' the engineer told Mr Casey.
The viaduct opened for rail traffic in August 1893 as part of one of the most scenic rail journeys ever opened in Ireland.
In its 2013 application to the Department of Transport's national cycle network funding scheme, Kerry County Council said 'initial structural inspection of the Glensk Viaduct and the tunnels at Drung Hill suggest that they will require only minor repair and environmentally sensitive lighting.' The cost estimate at the time was €4.8m with the scheme to be completed in 2016.
Earlier this year, €7.2m, the bulk of the greenway funding for Kerry, was allocated to the South Kerry greenway via the active travel scheme of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).
Kenmare Municipal District Council chairman and Fianna Fáil councillor Tommy Cahill said the failure to open even one section this year was 'very disappointing'.
A number of businesses had closed waiting for the greenway to open.
'It is very disappointing. It is a lifeline for businesses who are only hanging on,' he said.
The current management approach by TII did not allow for separate phases of the project to be opened, the council said.
This article was funded by the Local Democracy Scheme.
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