A further section of the Royal Canal cycleway, as far as the Meath county boundary, was officially opened this week.
Minister for Public and Commuter Transport, Alan Kelly, carried out the official opening on Tuesday of the extension of the Royal Canal towpath from Boardstown Bridge Mullingar to the Meath county boundary.
The 18km cycleway links with the 14km already provided under an earlier scheme. The project aims to utilise designated lengths of the Royal Canal towpaths to encourage people to walk or cycle to their destination along the canal towpaths as well as using them for recreational purposes.
Deputy Kelly was joined by cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council, Cllr Peter Burke, as well as county manager Pat Gallagher.
Westmeath County Council secured grant funding of €630,000 in 2013 to carry out this work, which included upgrading sections of the Royal Canal towpaths. The project was designed and constructed by the staff of Westmeath County Council in collaboration with Waterways Ireland.
The new cycle path is already extensively used by both pedestrians and walkers and is a welcome addition to the recreational facilities in this area of the county.
When the National Cycle Network is completed, cyclists will be able to continue their cycle from Westmeath to Dublin or Galway
