No government funding for N85 Kilnamona Re-alignment project
Transport Infrastruture Ireland have not approved funding for the project in 2023 or 2024
Clare County Council have received no funding for the past two years for the N85 Kilnamona Re-alignment project.
Transport infrastructure Ireland (TII), the funding authority for National Roads, which includes the N85 at Kilnamona, have not approved for progressing this scheme in 2023 or 2024.
According to Clare County Council senior engineer Cyril Feeney, the council "cannot progress the appointment of consultants for the scheme at this time".
Mr Feeney's comments on the N85 Kilnamona Re-alignment project were in reply to a joint motion from councillors put forward at the April full council meeting.
Cllrs Shane Talty, Clare Colleran Molloy and Joe Killeen submitted a motion calling on the council, TII and the Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan to "re-commence the N85 Kilnamona Re-Alignment project immediately".
"The road is an embarrassing national road, for both Clare residents and also over one million visitors to North and West Clare with a series of narrow and dangerous bends", the motion from the three councillors stated.
"Crashes along this road are a regular occurrence."
Mr Feeney's reply also stated that a delegation of elected members and officials "are currently scheduled to meet the Minister for Transport in the near future and we will discuss the progression of this scheme at that meeting".