WHEELS need to be put in motion for the inclusion of a cycle lane on Athlunkard Bridge.
Proceeds from the Active Travel scheme must be used by Clare County Council to install a cycle lane between Ardnacrusha and Athlunkard Bridge, Cllr Rachel Hartigan (FF) has said.
In response to growing concerns, Cllr Hartigan shared that many local residents have raised the issue with her, particularly regarding the narrowness of the bridge’s footpath. “The actual footpath on that bridge is quite narrow and often times you get a lot of kids cycling from West Bridge and Shannon Banks with their parents, or even just walking with their parents. There can be a lot of mothers and children with buggies, and that footpath is very narrow”.
Cllr James Ryan (SF), expressed his support for the idea but raised concerns about the bridge’s capacity to handle both traffic and cyclists. “Is there not an issue there because of the traffic flow if you had an actual cycle lane, because the bridge is so narrow anyway? I think it’s a fantastic idea if they can all fit in”.
Tom Mellet, senior executive engineer with the Shannon Municipal District, acknowledged the constraints along the route, stating that the design phase would specifically address these challenges. “There are physical constraints throughout the route. But that’s what will be addressed. We will be looking at where the constraints are and thinking of designs to work through them. The design process will run through all those”.
Clare County Council has appointed Clandillon Consulting Engineers for the Option Development and Preliminary Design Phase of the scheme, with any proposals for Athlunkard Bridge to be developed in conjunction with Limerick County Council’s Active Travel Office. As the process moves forward, the inclusion of a cycle lane remains a point of consideration in the plans for the bridge.
