Kerry County Council has confirmed that the estimated cost of the South Kerry Greenway project now stands at €72 million.

The local authority and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) are currently working on the 27km greenway from Glenbeigh to Cahersiveen.

In November 2020, An Bord Pleanála approved the project, along with an accompanying compulsory purchase order (CPO) for the lands required.

A spokesperson for Kerry County Council told Agriland: "Land acquisition continues with some cases having had to go to arbitration – with independently agreed payments".

"Just under half of all cases have been finalised at this point," they added.

South Kerry Greenway

An oral hearing on the South Kerry Greenway in 2019 was told that the estimated cost of the project would be around €20 million.

Kerry County Council outlined several factors which have now contributed to the significant increase in the estimate, including land acquisition costs under the CPO.

The local authority pointed to "increased construction costs, which continue to rise in the current geopolitical environment", along with specialist rehabilitation works for historic structures.

The "very challenging terrain" and mitigation works arising from the Environmental Impact Assessment were also cited as reasons for the increased cost.

Kerry County Council said that its ambition is to have the South Kerry Greenway, which was first mooted in 2011, fully open by the end of the decade.

A 3km stretch between Kells Station to Golden opened before Christmas, while an additional 4km at Glenbeigh trailhead will open on Thursday (April 2).

The completion of this newest section means that 7km or one quarter of the entire greenway will be in public use from this weekend.

The council said a further 2km section towards Mountain Stage will open in the coming months, with plans for a 7km section to open by summer 2027.

Opening

Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, Cllr Michael Foley welcomed the latest development on the route.

"The feedback from those who have visited the 3km section at Kells which opened in December has been incredibly positive and is very encouraging.

"I want to acknowledge local landowners for their cooperation and support as well as our partners in the Department of Transport and Transport Infrastructure Ireland," he said.

Kerry County Council chief executive Fearghal Reidy recently described the South Kerry Greenway as the equivalent of a new factory for Cahersiveen.

Based on data from PWC, he said that up to 542 jobs could be created with an annual economic impact of up to €38 million for the local economy.

It was also estimated that the greenway will attract between 232,000 and 428,000 visitors annually.