Section of greenway outside Athlone to close for week-long paving project

A stretch of the Old Rail Trail greenway between Athlone and Moate is expected to be closed to the public next week in order to facilitate a paving project costing more than €20,000.

Westmeath County Council recently announced that the popular amenity would be closed to the public between Garrycastle, Athlone, and Tully, beyond Fardrum.

A local authority representative said a paving contractor will be commencing "targeted pavement recycle works" on Monday next, October 12, and that the 24-hour closure would be in place "for one week, weather-permitting".

Members of the public will still be able to access the remainder of the Old Rail Trail greenway from Tully carpark, and it will also remain open between Garrycastle and the Mary O'Rourke bridge in Athlone.

The cost of the paving work is an estimated €21,500.

The Old Rail Trail greenway between Garrycastle and Mullingar was officially opened by then-Taoiseach Enda Kenny in 2015.

It has since been extended into Athlone town and is due to form part of the national Dublin to Galway greenway route, which is still awaiting the start of construction west of the Shannon.