Preferred route of cycleway to Shannonbridge chosen

The preferred route for the Athlone to Galway cycleway project has been chosen and will be outlined to the public at four information events later this month.

A planning application for the route, which travels via Shannonbridge, could be lodged in the second half of 2024, it has emerged.

The highly-scenic cycleway, which connects to the existing Dublin-Athlone Greenway, is intended to form part of an international network of long-distance cycling trails in Europe.

Landowners, farmers, cyclists, those in the hospitality industry and the wider community are all invited to view the preferred route for the 205km stretch.

Although the preferred route has been chosen, exact details have not, at the current time, been made publicly available. However, representatives of the project team will be on hand to answer questions about the route at each of the four events.

The public information events, open from 3pm to 8pm, will take place at the:

* Oranmore Lodge Hotel on Tuesday, March 28;

* Lady Gregory Hotel, Gort, on Wednesday, March 29;

* Portumna Town and Community Hall on Thursday, March 30 and

* Shearwater Hotel, Ballinasloe, on Friday, March 31.

The general trajectory of the route as it leaves Athlone is known, however. It will cross the new greenway bridge over the Shannon, the cycleway before skirting along the river side of Athlone Castle as far as the Big Meadow.

It will then cross the Shannon Callows on top of the recently constructed flood defences before travelling south west of the existing Clonown Road, close to Cornafulla and Johnstown, and onto Shannonbridge.

The cycleway route will not pass directly through Ballinasloe, but, just beyond Shannonbridge, a branch will extend from it in order to link it with the East Galway town.

From there, the route goes on through east and south Galway, via Meelick, Portumna, Gort, Kinvara and Oranmore, before reaching Galway city.

The details of the exact preferred route will be of significant interest to individual landowners in the Shannonbridge area.

“We are seeking to continue dialogue at the public information events, and I urge everybody with an interest to attend,” said Michael Kelly, project co-ordinator with Westmeath County Council.

“The goodwill and co-operation of the farming community is important to make the cycleway a success - and includes real and open engagement with landowners and communities.

“Where feasible, the route has been amended to address issues identified in our meetings with landowners over the last two years.

“Meeting one-to-one is best for all concerned so that issues can be discussed in-depth and possible solutions identified.”

Approximately half of the route will pass through publicly-owned land and the remaining half through privately owned lands. In the vast majority of cases where private lands are required, the route traverses around the perimeter of the land holding to avoid severance of that land.

Engagement with the landowners within the consultation areas and particularly those affected by the preferred route, has been a priority for the project team since the emerging preferred route corridor was published in late 2021.

A planning application will be lodged with An Bord Pleanála in Q3 2024, after which an oral hearing will take place.

A Code of Best Practice for National and Regional Greenways has been agreed with the main farming organisations and published by the Government.

Further information on the Galway-Athlone National Cycleway Project is available at galwaytoathlonecycleway.com.

The project team can be contacted during office hours at 091-509267 (weekdays 9am-5pm) and at: info@galwaytoathlonecycleway.com.