New cycle lane plans from Cornamaddy to Dublin Road published

Design drawings for a new network of cycle lanes which is due to be introduced from the Cornamaddy roundabout through to Garrycastle and the old Dublin Road in Athlone have been published by Westmeath County Council.

The project is the latest in an ongoing series of 'active travel' schemes being developed by the local authority in an effort to facilitate more walking and cycling in Athlone.

In this case, work will centre on the R916 regional road from the Cornamaddy roundabout to the Wash House Turn roundabout at the Dublin Road, close to the TUS Athlone campus.

The plans are designed to provide dedicated cycle lanes and pedestrian paths along the full extent of the R916, which takes in a prominent local premises such as the Ericsson Athlone campus and the Athlone Training Centre in Garrycastle.

The council indicated that, as part of the project, it intends to acquire additional land to facilitate a section of new cycle track and footpath close to the access point off the R916 and into the IDA Business and Technology Park.

In addition, the plans include changes to the existing roundabouts at the Daybreak shop in Garrycastle, and at the Wash House Turn on the Dublin Road, in order to provide priority crossing facilities for walkers and cyclists on all four 'arms' of each roundabout.

While the plans make provision for significant stretches of new cycle lanes, along with some new footpaths, at both the Dublin Road and Cornamaddy ends of the R916, the existing 'active travel' footpaths and cycle lanes in the Garrycastle area are set be retained as they stand currently.

The new cycle lanes, which will be on each side of the road, will vary in width from 1.4 metres to 2.2 metres.

The council held a public consultation event on the plans in Athlone Civic Centre on Tuesday last, September 23, from 4pm to 8pm. We contacted the local authority to ask about the level of public engagement with the plans to date, but at the time of writing we had not yet received a response.

The designs for this section of the town's new active travel infrastructure (named 'Route F') can be found online at: athloneactivetravel.com

The Cornamaddy to Wash House Turn Roundabout project is the second route to be advertised as part of the Athlone Active Travel Scheme. The first was the 2.7km stretch of the R446 Old Dublin Road, from the Ankers Bower Roundabout to the Creggan Roundabout.

The active travel measures planned for Athlone are part of a €13 million plan to develop a 15.4km network of schemes on six approach roads into the town.