Athlone's cycleway bridge opened last August, but the onward development of the route to Galway has run into difficulty.

Main contractor gone from Athlone to Galway greenway project

Adrian Cusack

Published: Thu 1 Feb 2024, 5:10 PM

Last updated: Thu 1 Feb 2024, 5:28 PM

The main consultant that had been appointed to work on the development of a greenway between Athlone and Galway is no longer involved with the project, it has emerged.

Engineering and environmental consultants RPS spent nearly four years working on the proposed greenway, but its contract with Westmeath County Council was mutually terminated in December.

RPS had suspended its work on the project three months earlier, saying its involvement was "no longer financially viable" for the company.

The news that it won't be resuming its preparatory work on the greenway is another setback for a project that has been beset by a number of delays and hurdles over the years.

The development of the greenway is being led by Westmeath County Council. After the departure of RPS, the council said it was now "exploring a project recovery plan" in an effort to salvage it.

It's understood that meetings between the council and the Department of Transport, to discuss the future direction of the project, are due to take place in Dublin this week.

"Following a dispute resolution process, in the latter part of 2023, the contract with RPS was mutually terminated in December 2023," the council stated.

"Westmeath County Council as the lead authority, in conjunction with Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the other local authorities, is currently exploring a project recovery plan to progress the scheme through the design and environmental evaluation processes to planning stage."

The Athlone to Galway section is part of the national Dublin to Galway greenway, but planning for it was "paused" in 2015 due to opposition from rural landowners.

Work on advancing the greenway project resumed in 2019, and a "highly scenic" preferred route for the cycleway was chosen last March.

However, opposition to the project has continued to be voiced by some landowners in parts of rural county Galway.

The preferred route, announced last year, for the Galway to Athlone national cycleway.

The preferred route chosen for the cycleway follows an indirect path of almost 200km from Athlone to Galway. It takes in Shannonbridge, Meelick, Portumna, Gort, Kinvara, Kilcolgan and Oranmore before reaching Galway city.

Ballinasloe is also due to be connected to the greenway through a 'spur' or extension starting to the south of Shannonbridge.