A significant moment in the recent history of Athlone will unfold on Tuesday, August 8, when the new cycleway bridge will be officially opened.
Traversing the River Shannon from the Radisson Blu Hotel to the Luan Gallery, the cycleway bridge will be the fourth such structure to cross the River Shannon and is the first to be constructed since the relief road bridge opened to traffic over 30 years ago in March 1991.
Speaking to the Athlone Advertiser on Tuesday morning, Mr Michael Kelly, Westmeath County Council cycleway project co-ordinator, stated the intention to open the bridge to the public on August 8 with work still progressing on the structure.
"While it is our intention to formally open the new cycleway bridge for use to the public on August 8, the project contractor, Jons Civil Engineering Ltd, is completing works on the structure and a safety audit will need to be conducted before we can proceed with our intentions," Mr Kelly stated.
Initial construction of the cycleway bridge commenced in September 2021, the focal structure being moved into position in August 2022.
"Comprising 13 focal points, the cycleway bridge was constructed in Seville, Spain. Upon completion, it was then transferred to a construction compound in Wansboro Park from where the three main sections of the structure were transported along the River Shannon and using specialised equipment, placed in position from the Radisson Blu Hotel to the Luan Gallery," Mr Kelly added.
Appreciating the structure as public use of the cycleway fast approaches, Mr Kelly noted that the bridge would allow for a "sustainable modal shift" in terms of active travel.
"The cycleway bridge will certainly provide for a sustainable modal shift with a wealth of users now having the option of walking or cycling from east to west and vice versa, benefiting the local community immensely upon its opening in August. Both nationally and internationally, we now have a product which is certain to appeal with visitors in a position to appreciate the main town bridge and White bridge from a central panoramic vista on the new structure," Mr Kelly commented.
When opened, the new cycleway bridge will form the midway point of the planned 270 kilometre Dublin-Galway greenway with work presently continuing on the next phase of development as the route proceeds from Athlone towards its final destination.
"Phase 3 of this project is presently ongoing and is now at the planning, design and environmental evaluation phase. We aim to make a planning application on the selected preferred route (which was chosen in March ) to An Bord Pleanála in early 2025, a feat in itself, as we strive to harness a 180km route that will bring the greenway from Athlone Castle to its final destination in Galway. This is when the cycleway bridge in Athlone will prove pivotal from a linkage perspective, our overall vision being the construction of a coast to coast greenway from Dublin to Galway," Mr Kelly said.
At the time of going to press, confirmation of the Minister who shall perform the official opening of the much vaunted €13 million structure, had yet to be revealed.
