The Neil Armstrong Way in Tralee, a 50m-long stretch through the rear of Tralee town park named recently in memory of the late astronaut’s visit in 1997, is to become “an essential part” of a new €5.6 million traffic plan set to transform the town.
The council intends to turn the Neil Armstrong Way, at the rear of the Ashe Memorial Hall and Siamsa Tíre, into a shuttle system for diverting traffic in a new two-way system for Denny Street, which will pave the way for a pedestrianised town centre.
The plans unveiled yesterday in the council chambers in Tralee are now open for public consultation. However, it is already provoking protests from people who want the leafy, gated road left as it is in memory of the astronaut. Others say the town park, known as the green, should not be touched.
Senior executive engineer with Kerry County Council Frank Hartnett said yesterday: “The use of the road is essential for the whole town centre traffic plan.”
He promised that “not a blade of grass will be moved” and trees would be left.
However, Tralee mayor Johnny Wall (FF), a member of Tralee Town Council, said he would oppose plans for a roadway through any section of the town park, regardless of how small it might be.
“As long as I am in the council I would be totally against any section of the town park being used as a roadway, and I have always said that I would never touch the green.”