A temporary road through a farmer's land will open this weekend, allowing traffic to once again undertake the Slea Head loop on the Dingle peninsula, Kerry County Council said yesterday.
After a major cliff fall near Dún Chaoin, in which tonnes of earth and rock fell into the sea and major cracks appeared on the main road, it was feared that the road would remain closed for the season, which would badly affect tourism throughout the peninsula.
Contractors who were due to start work on Monday on a separate cliff fall in January threatening the road at Inch, also on the Dingle peninsula, were instead diverted to the Slea Head route.
With lorries and equipment as well as material in place, this ensured work could begin immediately, local Fine Gael councillor, Séamus Cosaí Fitzgerald, said.
Conditions, including the underlying surface, were also ideal, he added.
He paid tribute to the county council and the Ó Dálaigh family of Dún Chaoin for their speedy response in lending their land.
Initially, it was feared that the world-famous Slea Head drive would be closed to tourists for the peak summer tourism season, but the council's swift work had prevented this, Mr Fitzgerald said.
"Kerry County Council are doing a fantastic job in reaction to this issue and it now looks as if the temporary road will be completed by next Sunday," he added.
A council spokesman also paid tribute to the local landowners, the Ó Dálaigh family of Dún Chaoin, for allowing matters to proceed with such speed, and to the council workers, who completed the road in record time.
Negotiations for a more permanent arrangement involving complete realignment, are under way but are likely to take some time. Once the new arrangements are completed, the temporary road will be restored and handed back. The council is likely to go down the compulsory purchase order route if agreement is not reached.