Kerry County Council is opening the second section of the South Kerry Greenway this afternoon, with a 4km segment of the route from Glenbeigh to Drom West to be opened from 2pm today. Following the opening of the first section of the South Kerry Greenway to the public at Kells before Christmas, a further 4km of the amenity will be open by the end of this week. The new section between Glenbeigh and Mountain Stage will be accessible to walkers and cyclists from 2pm on Thursday afternoon just ahead of the Easter weekend, said Kerry County Council. The project now estimated to cost at least 72 million is to open in stages between Glenbeigh and Cahersiveen, with the section between Cahersiveen and Reenard Point to be built afterwards.Another 2km section is expected to be added to the Glenbeigh part of the route before the summer. Although linking the two open sections is expected to take some time because the middle section between them is the most complicated part of the project, with old railway tunnels to be restored and new bridges to be built. IMAGE: IrishCycle.com.The new section opening today starts with a quiet road treatment, in which the greenway route is on a short section of a low-traffic local road. A spokesperson for the council said: Car parking will be available at the Glenbeigh Trailhead carpark, which is located a short distance from Behy Bridge in Glenbeigh. Greenway users are reminded that the first section of the incorporates a quiet road which is a shared space used by vehicles, walkers and cyclists. Advisory signage has been installed in this regard.IMAGE: A map of the sections with the current estimated opening dates, where available. Kerry County Council added: A huge thank you to the hardworking Kerry County Council crew and sub-contractors who have helped to get the new section of the South Kerry Greenway at Glenbeigh open on schedule today. Go raibh mle maith agaibh.IMAGE: A photo of the workers who built the newly opened section (Photo: Kerry County Council).Cost estimates jump over 70m and landowners to be paidFearghal Reidy, the chief executive of Kerry County Council, said at a recent council meeting that the current cost estimate of 72 million was just that an estimate but that officials would be working to keep the project on target.According to local media reports, when pressed by Cllr Jackie Healy-Rae, Reidy admitted that only half of landowners had been paid so far, but he said that the council would be making every effort to finalise the process by the end of 2026. At least part of the slowness in paying landowners is understood to relate to arbitration between the council and landowners.In a post on Facebook afterwards, Cllr Jackie Healy-Rae said: The South Kerry Greenway has the potential to bring huge benefits and real opportunities to our local communities from increased tourism to supporting local businesses and creating jobs. I fully recognise that and I support the project. But that doesnt mean as councillors we shouldnt scrutinise costs.It is not acceptable that less than half of the landowners involved have been paid to date. These are the people who are facilitating this greenway on their lands, and they must be treated fairly and with respect.If this project is to succeed, it must carry the support and goodwill of the community, and that starts with ensuring landowners are properly engaged with and paid without delay. We need to get this right, he said.