Part of the new White Gates (Ballymahon Road) to Athlone Marina section of cycleway, pictured in August.

Slight delay to opening of new Athlone cycleway extension

Adrian Cusack

Published: Mon 4 Oct 2021, 12:29 PM

Last updated: Mon 4 Oct 2021, 1:15 PM

The extension to Athlone's cycleway is now expected to open to the public tomorrow (Tuesday), after its scheduled opening last Friday was delayed by lighting installation work.

Last week, Westmeath County Council announced that the 1.1km stretch from the White Gates (Ballymahon Road) to Athlone Marina would be opening to the public on Friday, October 1.

However, barriers preventing access to the new cycleway section remained in place on Friday and over the weekend.

This morning, Athlone Moate Municipal District Manager Jackie Finney said the opening did not go ahead on Friday because there was still work being completed on the lighting for the new cycleway section.

"We didn't want to open it without it being fully-lit," Ms Finney told the Westmeath Independent.

She said the lighting work was currently being finished and it was now anticipated that the cycleway extension would be opening tomorrow, or possibly later this evening (Monday).

A ceremony is scheduled to take place on Monday next, October 11, to officially open the cycleway extension, and also to 'turn the sod' to mark the beginning of construction on the cycleway bridge over the River Shannon.