Tralee Northern Relief Road Section B - Preferred Route Corridor and the Proposed Options for the crossing of the L-6093 Doon Road
Introduction
Kerry County Council in collaboration with the Department of Transport propose to complete the development of the Tralee Northern Relief Road Scheme.
This Public Consultation is intended to present the Preferred Route Corridor for the Tralee Northern Relief Road – Section B and the Proposed Options for the crossing of the L6093 Doon Road.
Progress of the Tralee Northern Relief Road
The complete length of the Tralee Northern Relief Road Scheme is 2.5km providing a connection from the R878 Oakpark Road to the Bracker O’Regan Road. The delivery of the Tralee Northern Relief Road Scheme is divided into 2 sections - Section A & Section B.
Section A (1.25km in length) extends from the existing Forge Cross roundabout on the R878 Oakpark Road to a new roundabout currently under construction on the R556 Ballybunion Road. Advance Works Contracts including Contracts for site clearance, fencing, utility diversions and for the construction of 3 structures comprising 2 underpasses and a bridge demolition and re-construction over the Big River have been completed on Section A. The Main Contract for the completion of Section A was awarded in January 2025 with the construction works to be completed early in 2026.
Section B (1.25km in length) extends from the new roundabout being constructed on the R556 Ballybunion Road to the Bracker O’Regan Road and is the subject of this Public Consultation.
Need for the Scheme
The development of the Tralee Northern Relief Road Scheme has been an objective of National, Regional and Local Policy documents since 2002. The Scheme aligns with National, Regional and Local Policy documents, including:
- Project Ireland 2040 - National Planning Framework.
- Project Ireland 2040 – National Development Plan 2018-2027.
- Road Safety Authority Road Safety Strategy 2021 – 2030.
- National Cycle Policy Framework 2009 – 2020.
- Sustainable Mobility Policy (2022).
- Regional Spatial & Economic Strategy for the Southern Region.
- Kerry County Development Plan 2022-2028.
- Tralee Municipal District Local Area Plan 2018-2024.
- Kerry Cycle Network.
- Draft Tralee Town Local Transport Plan.
Key Benefits of the Tralee Northern Relief Road Section B
- It will provide the final link in the development of the Tralee Northern Relief Road.
- It will remove through traffic including a substantial number of heavy goods vehicles and alleviate traffic congestion within Tralee Town.
- It will provide a more accessible and safer environment for vulnerable road users and local traffic within the Tralee Town Centre area.
- It will provide safe, dedicated infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians.
- It will provide a safer and more efficient route with improved journey times around the town for traffic travelling to and from locations to the West and North-West of Tralee.
- It will improve access to the Tralee to Fenit Greenway.
- It will Improve access to and from Fenit Harbour in conjunction with further road improvement works.
- It will improve access to the Munster Technological University and Kerry Technology Park from the West and North-West of Tralee.
How the Preferred Route Corridor Was Selected
An options selection process examined the route options for Section B through the Study Area in two stages.
Stage 1
Preliminary Options Appraisal: Eight feasible options were developed for the project and were comparatively assessed. In developing these initial options, the Project Team gave due regard to the constraints within the Study Area as defined in a Constraints Study that was carried out for the Scheme. Following the preliminary appraisal the eight options were reduced to three feasible Route Corridor Options to bring forward to the Stage 2 appraisal.
Stage 2
Detailed Options Appraisal: The three shortlisted Route Corridor Options were subjected to a more detailed assessment process against standard criteria.
Option C was selected as the Preferred Route Corridor having been assessed as providing the optimum balance of benefits versus impacts with regard to the following standard criteria:
• Economy
• Land Use Impacts
• Safety Impacts
• Local Environmental Impacts
Public Consultation
The Project Team has undertaken a Constraints Study of the study area of the Scheme and an appraisal of the feasible options for the completion of Tralee Northern Relief Road – Section B.
The Preferred Route Corridor for the Tralee Northern Relief Road – Section B has been assessed as Route Corridor C. The Route Corridor will comprise of road carriageway, cycle tracks and footpaths with a similar cross section to that of Tralee Northern Relief Road - Section A currently under construction.
The Project Team would like to hear your views in relation to the Preferred Route Corridor and the following three Proposed Options under consideration for the crossing of the L6093 Doon Road.
Option 1
The L6093 Doon Road will be severed by the Tralee Northern Relief Road with a cul-de-sac to be formed on the L6093 south of the Relief Road. A junction will be formed on the north side of the Relief Road to tie in with the L6093 and an Active Travel Link will be provided for the L6093.
Option 2
The L6093 Doon Road will intersect the Tralee Northern Relief Road at a staggered junction.
Option 3
The Tralee Northern Relief Road will be bridged over the L6093 Doon Road with no access from the L6093 onto the new Tralee Northern Relief Road.
Your submissions will inform the development of the Preferred Option for the crossing of the L6093 Doon Road.
Project Timeline
How to make a submission
Submissions can be made using :
Make your Submission Here on the Kerry County Council Consultations Portal Website.
By Email to info@kerrynro.ie.
By Post to Kerry National Roads Office, Kerry County Council, The Island Centre, Castleisland, Freepost FKY 7494, Co. Kerry, V92 T0CP.
Please ensure to reference the Tralee Northern Relief Road - Section B in the subject line of any email or letter submission.
Latest date for receipt of Submissions is the 25th of July 2025.
Next Steps
Comments/Information received from this Public Consultation will be considered by the Project Team before finalizing a Preferred Option for the completion of the Tralee Northern Relief Road – Section B Scheme.
After finalising the Preferred Option, the next phase of the planning and design process will commence in 2025, subject to the relevant approvals.