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Website Update (July 2021) on Galway to Athlone Cycleway Project – Landowner Engagement

Landowner engagement on the proposed new Galway to Athlone section of the Galway to Dublin Greenway is progressing well. 

To launch the new Cycleway Project in 2020, the Project Team, which comprises Staff from Galway County Council, WestmeathCounty Council and Roscommon County Council, together with RPS Consulting Engineers, undertook an early stage public consultation to listen to feedback from the public

Taking the feedback received into consideration, the Project Team identified 5 potential route corridor options, linking key attractions and amenities and using state-owned land as far as possible.   In order to connect the state-owned lands, ‘consultation areas’ have been identified on privately-owned lands, where the Team would like to talk to the landowners and explore possible routes.   These routes would follow existing features and farm boundaries, thereby minimising severance.  

Public Consultations in respect of the 5 route corridor options were held on-line in early 2021, taking account of Covid-19 restrictions, with an unprecedented level of support shown for the route corridor options on display, and over 8000 submissions received.

However, landowner support is key to the success of the Project and engagement with landowners will continue over the next three to four months, following which a preferred corridor will be selected, where the Project Team can be confident that a route can be delivered with the agreement of the large majority of landowners.  Other factors which will determine the preferred route corridor will be the “Five S” criteria, i.e. to be Scenic, Sustainable, Strategic, Segregated with lots to See and do, in conjunction with environmental, engineering and financial considerations.

See attached a short leaflet summarising our approach to Landowner Engagement for this project.

Landowner Leaflet April 2021

The Project Team is available to discuss the project by telephone (091) 509267 or email info@galwaytoathlonecycleway.com.   We would also be happy to organise a virtual meeting if you prefer.

Further information on the project is available on the dedicated project Websitewww.galwaytoathlonecycleway.com

 

Website Update on Galway to Athlone Greenway January 2021

After a five-year pause, the 140km Galway to Athlone section of the Greenway is being developed with a fresh new start. The project is being jointly managed by Westmeath, Galway and Roscommon County Councils in conjunction with TII, with Westmeath as the lead authority.

New consultants, RPS, were appointed in early 2020 to develop a route for the Greenway. RPS have an office in Galway, were consultants on the M6 project, as well as a number of other major projects in Galway, and are very familiar with the area.

A project office has been established above the Library in Ballinasloe, staffed by personnel from the Councils and RPS. It is intended to re-open the Project Office in line with Government health and safety guidance to enable direct contact with the public and landowners as soon as possible. In the mean time the team is working remotely on preparing for public consultation activities in the coming months.

There is a strong emphasis on consultation and there will be 5-6 members of the project team, RPS and Council staff, fully dedicated to landowner liaison.

Currently there are more than 100km of the Galway to Dublin Greenway between Maynooth and Athlone open to the public. A new cycle bridge is to be constructed across the Shannon next year connecting this section to Athlone Castle. The proposed Galway to Athlone greenway will extend from Athlone Castle to a location in Galway City, likely to be at Ballyloughane, on the east side of the City. Galway City Council and the NTA will together undertake the planning and development of the Greenway across the City to link with the proposed Connemara Greenway.

Only connection points at Athlone and Galway have been identified to date. Other than that, the project team will be approaching the selection and location of a new route with a completely open mind. The first stage is a Constraints Study which is underway, and the study area is being considered as a blank canvas. The Project Team are initially assessing and determining the lands within the study area that are already in state ownership, including those owned by Government Agencies, Government Departments and Local Authorities.

Information on the project is available on the dedicated project website www.galwaytoathlonecycleway.com

Public Consultation No 1

Public Consultation No. 1 was held in August 2020, for details refer to brochure below and the project website: www.galwaytoathlonecycleway.com

Galway to Athlone National Cycleway Scheme Public Consultation No. 1‌‌

Public Consultation No. 2 Route Corridor Options

Public Consultation No. 2 will be held in January/February 2021, for details refer to the brochure below and the project website: www.galwaytoathlonecycleway.com

Public Consultation No. 2 Route Corridor Options - Advertisement‌