Plans to link Shannonbridge to Dublin/Galway cycleway

A controversial plan to bring a cycleway from Athlone to Galway via Shannonbridge has been resurrected.

Westmeath County Council recently advertised for tenders from consultants to carry out civil engineering consultancy services, highway consultancy work, bridge and engineering design services, for the Athlone Castle to Galway stage of the project.
The latest stage of the cycleway to finalise the 130km path to Galway had been paused at the route selection stage back in 2015, following vociferous opposition by local landowners, particularly in East Galway, due to what they felt was a lack of consultation and the use of CPOs to acquire land.
Then in 2018, Minister Shane Ross announced that the section from Athlone Castle to Galway city would recommence following the publication of 'Strategy for the Future Development of National and Regional Greenways' setting out best practice for engagement with stakeholders on the massive tourism amenity project.
The preferred route is proposed to run from Athlone town to Ballinasloe via Shannonbridge, following the rail line to Daneshill before turning southwards in Roscommon. 
“Land severance here is minimised via skirting privately owned land and Bord na Mona bogs. The route then continues southwards through Crannagh More and Garryngowna before moving south east towards Cregganbeaka, close to the River Shannon with views of Clonmacnoise,” the tender documents state. 
From there the cycleway would run westwards towards Moore, northwest of Clooniff Bog, before moving south the route crosses the R357 north of Shannonbridge, allowing cyclists the option to continue onto Clonmacnoise on their travels. From this point, the route runs westward as far as Oldtown Wood.
“It is then proposed to cross the River Suck at Correen and follow the disused canal as far as Poolboy, before making its way into Ballinasloe town along the old canal,” the tender for the planning and design of the Athlone Castle to Galway section of the greenway reveals. The route then moves west towards Aughrim, to Kilreekil and onto Loughrea, Clarinbridge and Oranmore before making it way into Galway city.
A dedicated Project Office will be set up in Ballinasloe as part of the new commission, the documents also confirm, adding that it will be staffed by council staff and staff from the successful design consultant. The office will be a focal point for the public and for the delivery of this cycleway project, it stresses.
In terms of land acquisition, one of the most contentious aspects of the plan, costs are based on the requirement to compulsory acquire approximately 228 acres between Athlone and Eyre Square in Galway city. GVA Donal O' Buachalla land valuers have estimated the cost of this land acquisition and associated fees at €14,750,000,” according to the tender documents.
On visitor numbers, estimates for the Athlone to Galway section are not specified, however, a “conservative analysis suggests that at least 35,600 overseas visitors” would come annually to use the proposed Dublin to Galway cycle route. If this were to come to pass, the “estimated annual income that is expected to be attracted into Ireland as a result of this scheme is €13.4m, which will be a significant economic boost at both a national and regional level, “ documents setting out the business case for the amenity claim in the tender documents.