Funding of over €8m announced for Athlone greenway projects
More than €8 million in funding has been announced for Greenway projects in the Athlone area, including €5 million to complete the new bridge over the Shannon for pedestrians and cyclists.
The funding allocations from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) for county councils' greenway and road projects were announced this afternoon (Thursday).
The €5 million for the new Athlone bridge was Westmeath County Council's largest funding allocation for a single project.
In August of 2021, Jons Civil Engineering Ltd signed a contract worth approximately €13 million for the construction of the bridge, and the majority of the €5 million announced today will go towards the cost of that contract.
The bridge itself is nearing completion, and the current indications are that it will open to the public at some stage in April or May.
Westmeath County Council was also granted €2.75 million towards the Galway to Athlone cycleway project, the route for which is due to be finalised in the coming months.
It's understood the €2.75m sum will be spent over the next twelve months, with much of it going towards design work. The money will also help to fund advance works contracts such as surveying, ground investigation, and public consultation.
Another proposed Greenway project in the Athlone area was given a boost with Roscommon County Council being awarded funding for the development of the proposed 'Lough Ree Greenway'.
Some €600,000 was granted to Roscommon County Council for the lakeside amenity, which would link Athlone with the Lanesborough and Ballyleague area.
Funding of €100,000 was also given to Roscommon County Council towards support for the Athlone to Galway cycleway.
The roads funding allocations in this area included more than €1 million for projects on the N55 (Ballymahon Road), north of Athlone.
A sum of €1 million was earmarked for pavement works on the N55, between Glasson and Lissoy, while a further €150,000 was announced for minor works on other stretches of the N55 between Athlone and Ballymahon.
In addition, €275,000 was granted for pavement works on the N62 in Athlone, between Clonbonny and Garrycastle.
The TII funding allocations were announced by Transport Minister Eamon Ryan and Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Jack Chambers.
In welcoming the funding, Minister of State Chambers singled out the new bridge in Athlone, which he described as the 'Athlone Active Travel Bridge'.
"The Athlone Active Travel Bridge, which is a major piece of cycling infrastructure, forming part of the Dublin to Galway Greenway, will be completed in the first half of this year," he stated.