A new €1million pedestrian bridge is to be built over the Eglinton Canal, running from the Fisheries Field over to the grounds of NUI, Galway.
Plans for the proposed new bridge will go on public display in early June and people will be able to submit their views, recommendations, criticisms, and observations.
The process will be completed by the end of the summer and if planning permission is granted, tenders will be invited in October with construction beginning in early December.
The Galway City Council’s transport committee has been working on developing and extending the green belt along the Corrib River linking the green way from Dangan to Salmon Weir bridge through NUIG and opening up connectivity across the canal.
This led to the proposal for a new pedestrian bridge over the Eglinton Canal and the committee applied for a grant for the project to the Department of Transport under the Smarter Travel Projects fund earlier this year.
The overall cost of this bridge will be in the region of €1 million and the plan has also received the approval of the Lough Corrib Navigation Trustees.
The pathway through the Fisheries Field has been upgraded, and the development of the bridge is the second phase. The final phase will involves the upgrading of the walkway from the canal right to the sports field in Dangan.
Fianna Fáil councillor Michael J Crowe, chair of the transport committee, said the bridge will involve “minimal land take” and provide “good aesthetics, sufficient navigation clearance” and provide “connectivity to the green belt and college grounds”.
He also said that when built there would be “sufficient funding for on-going maintenance” for the bridge.
“There is nothing worse than seeing good pieces of infrastructure not been clean and maintained when built,” he said.
“I think we have achieved all of these things but the public display will bring to the fore anything we may have possibly missed.”
Cllr Crowe said the proposed bridge “will also give good access to the university and as a board member of NUIG, I would like to thank the management team and in particular Keith Warnock for the on-going co-operation.”
Cllr Crowe said the project is a “positive development for Galway” that will also be welcomed by tourists “many of whom make a point of going to the Salmon Weir and university area.”
