The proposed widening of the main tourist road to Dingle, Co Kerry, would have a profound impact on the landscape, would “be at the expense of the character” of the road and would destroy its personality, objectors have told the planning appeals board.
An Bord Pleanála is to hold an oral hearing into the proposal. The major scheme along 28km of the N86, at an expected overall cost of €69 million, would remove the notorious hairpin bends and involve a new three-lane carriageway scheme to provide for cyclists.
However, environmentalists, tourism operators and a group of Dingle residents are questioning the need for it. They say the “personality” and character of the existing fuchsia-covered road, which winds through protected landscape at the gateway to the peninsula, would be destroyed.