One of the sections of Athlone's new cycleway bridge, pictured today (Friday) ahead of its removal from Wansboro Park to the bridge site. Photo: Paul Molloy.

Installation of Athlone's new cycleway bridge about to get underway

Adrian Cusack

Published: Fri 2 Sep 2022, 5:48 PM

The installation of the new cycleway bridge over the River Shannon in Athlone is about to get underway.

Work was taking place today (Friday) to get the first of the three sections of the bridge structure ready for loading onto a barge from a compound at Wansboro Park in the town.

From there, it will be transported down the river and specialised equipment will be used to install it at the bridge site, between the Radisson Blu Hotel and the Luan Gallery.

A Westmeath County Council representative indicated that the installation of the first bridge section could be carried out this weekend.

The second and third sections of the bridge would then be brought by barge to the bridge site next week.

Another view today of a section of the new cycleway bridge loaded at Wansboro Park and ready to be brought down the river. Photo: Paul Molloy.

The three parts will form the core structure of the bridge, but Westmeath County Council engineer Michael Kelly said there would still be plenty more work to be done before it would be ready for use by the public.

The bridge is scheduled to open next April.