Galway to Athlone Cycleway Update

The emerging preferred route corridor includes a link with Ballinasloe, before travelling through east and south Galway, visiting Portumna, Gort, Kinvara and Oranmore until it reaches Galway city

 The Galway to Athlone Cycleway project team have confirmed the options selection report confirming the preferred Route Selection 5 corridor will issue shortly.
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It  will outline the benefits and advantages of the Route 5 corridor from Athlone to Shannonbridge via Ballinasloe to Portumna, Gort, Kinvara, Oranmore and Galway. And so many communities outside of the main route are also looking at regional cycleway options to connect with the national route. The Cycleway to Ballinasloe will come from Kylemore along the towpath of the Grand Canal and potentially under the motorway bridge, beside the lock and through the village of Poolboy following the Grand Canal to arrive in Ballinasloe at the Marina. 

This option 5 selection report brings Phase 2 to an end and the project team are already working on Phase 3 of preliminary design and environmental evaluations. Public Liaison Officers are engaging with landowners to finalise the precise route and hope to have an initial update in roughly 3 months time. The officers are committed to work with the farmers and landowners to identify a route that minimises any impacts on farming activities.

Senator Aisling Dolan stated “There is a lot of anticipation for the Galway to Athlone cycleway coming into Ballinasloe and a phenomenal level of support through submissions and petitions at each stage of the consultation. Families will now have places to walk & cycle off-road and it will bring so many opportunities for our town. We can see the construction of the cycleway bridge across the Shannon in Athlone at the Radisson Hotel – bringing it one step closer into the West.”

“Phase 3 will take roughly 18 months with detailed environmental assessments on the route and an application to be prepared for submission to An Bord Pléanala in early 2024 with construction anticipated in 2025. This is a priority national cycleway project – even international as people can cycle to Dublin & all the way to Moscow under the Eurovélo route.” Senator Dolan concluded.