Council to publish plans for second Active Travel Scheme
Westmeath County Council is inviting members of the public to have their say on a radical overhaul of a 2.3km stretch of the R916 road from the Cornamaddy Roundabout to Wash House Turn Roundabout on the Dublin Road as part of their Active Travel Scheme to promote walking and cycling in the urban area.
The road realignment project along the R916 is the second of the six planned Active Travel projects for Athlone to be advertised by Westmeath County Council under the Part 8 planning process, by which local authorities and other bodies consult with the public about their own projects.
The R916 road realignment project – known as Route F – is currently at the” preliminary design stage” which means the local authority is examining the ermerging preferred route options and carrying out an assessment and appraisal of the these options.
As part of this phase of the project, the council is inviting members of the public to attend a public information and feedback session on the initial design for the R916 road at the Athlone Civic Centre on Tuesday next, September 23, between the hours of 4pm and 8pm.
The initial design for the latest phase of the Athlone Active Travel Scheme – which has not yet been published - will be on display and staff/designers will be on hand to answer any queries on the day.
Feedback on the proposals for active travel measures on the 2.3km stretch of road, which take in Bushfield Road, Garrycastle Road and University Road, will be accepted until close of business on Friday, October 3 next, and can be made in wirting to the Active Travel Section, Athlone Civic Offices or by email to activetravel@westmeathcoco.ie
The first project to be advertised as part of the Athlone Active Travel Scheme 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 Athlone aimed at encouraging people to cycle and walk instead of using their cars.