"Whoever designed it should be fired" - Kilkenny's Ring Road draws yet more fury

As 2025  comes to an end and another calendar year beckons, ongoing traffic management issues in Kilkenny City remains top of the political agenda with no signs of the pushback to certain council issues waning in 2026 (A full round-up is available in this week's Kilkenny People).

Amongst the topics discussed at the final meeting of the Kilkenny City Municipal District in 2025, was the ongoing issue of safety for pedestrians and drivers on the Ring Road.

According to a traffic management report at the meeting, a strategy has been agreed with the TII for a phased approach to implement active travel measures (cycling, walking options including a crossing) with the project currently at the options stage.

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It’s understood that leg of the scheme will be completed next year and a planning stage will begin.

Earlier this year, a plan costing an estimated €6.5 million was announced which will seek to make the N10 Ring Road safer and more accessible for pedestrians and cyclists.

Upgrades include the introduction of safe crossings at several points along the ring road, with overhauls of key junctions.

"This has to be done in a way that doesn’t affect the strategic use of the Ring Road or drive traffic away and into town," said a council spokesperson.

Cllr Andrew McGuinness (FF) voiced explicit anger at the ongoing Ring Ring delays.

 "I don’t trust the TII as far as I can throw them," he said, criticising the construction of a footpath at the Ring  Road/Bennettsbridge Road junction.

"I think whoever designed it should be fired. It’s disgraceful," he added.

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