€10 million boost for greenway from Athlone to Offaly
The development of a major new pedestrian and cycling link to West Offaly has been given a boost this week with news that transport officials have given their approval for a 27-kilometre greenway linking Athlone with Shannonbridge.
The Athlone to Shannonbridge stretch has been approved for €10 million in State funding and is due to be the initial 'priority' section of the long-promised greenway between Athlone and Galway.
Minister of State Kevin 'Boxer' Moran warmly welcomed the announcement, describing it as "a brilliant news story for the people of Athlone and the people of Shannonbridge."
He said plans for the Athlone to Galway greenway had effectively been dormant for a number of years, and that he had been doing a lot of work with various Ministers to ensure the project got moving again.
The €10 million in funding for the greenway to progress to Shannonbridge was also welcomed by Offaly TD John Clendennen, who said it was a "major infrastructural investment" that would "boost the local economy" and "further cement Offaly’s reputation as a premier destination" within Fáilte Ireland’s 'Hidden Heartlands' tourism region.
“The announcement of the development of the Shannonbridge to Athlone Greenway is very welcome news and represents another substantial investment in the Offaly tourism sector,” said Deputy Clendennen.
“I have been engaging with the Department of Transport and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) on the progression of this greenway, and I am delighted to confirm this investment.”
He added that it followed on from another €10 million investment in the area through the now-underway Clonmacnoise Visitor Centre redevelopment which was launched in April.
In a statement on Monday, Offaly County Council said that after “extensive engagement” with local authorities involved, TII had “approved the further progression” of the Galway to Athlone greenway project”.
It said the greenway to the City of the Tribes would now be developed “in phases” - starting with the first 27km section from Athlone to Shannonbridge.
Offaly County Council said the progress of the Athlone to Galway greenway had been subject to “careful and thorough assessment” over recent months.
The council added that, after a review of the “complexities” associated with the delivery of the greenway project as a whole, it was decided to first advance “two priority sections” at either end - one from Athlone to Shannonbridge, and another from Galway city to Kinvara.
Of these, Athlone to Shannonbridge is to be the “priority phase” and is due to be developed “as a standalone scheme in accordance with TII project management guidelines,” the council said.
“Progression of the remaining sections will be contingent upon several factors including funding, portfolio prioritisation, and overcoming environmental constraints. We will continue to work with TII and our neighbouring counties to progress the route,” it added.
The local authority said the delivery of a cycleway between Athlone and Shannonbridge would bring tourism benefits for the Midlands.
It said that, by linking Athlone with West Offaly, the route would “strengthen and enhance the collective tourism offering in the Midlands while creating potential for separate extended connectivity to Clonmacnoise and beyond when linked to the broader trails and cycleways under development”.
The Athlone to Shannonbridge greenway will still require formal planning approval and the projected timeline for its delivery is not yet known.