*Photograph: IrishCycling.com
CLARE REPRESENTATIVES need “to keep an eye” on how the UL to Montpelier Greenway is progressing, a South-East Clare councillor has flagged.
The UL to Montpelier Greenway Project is currently at the Options Selection which is Phase 2. This represents the third of seven steps that are required to bring a project from concept to completion. Its second round of public consultation concluded on December 15th.
Montpelier is a village in east county Limerick, on the east bank of the River Shannon, and is connected to O’Briensbridge across the river in Co Clare by a 14-arch stone bridge.
In 2021, it was one of four new greenways included in a €3m investment announced in 2021 alongside the Shannon Airport to Limerick City and Patrickswell, Rathkeale to Limerick City, Shannon Airport to Limerick City and Patrickswell plus Abbeyfeale to Listowel.
Advantages of the greenway include promoting active healthy lifestyles for all, promoting tourism and economic development, creating a new recreation trail for residents, promoting sustainable transport and connecting communities.
Speaking at a meeting of the Shannon Municipal District, Cllr Michael Begley (IND) observed of the UL to Montpelier Greenway, “it is of interest to us and we do need to keep an eye on it”.
Mention of UL also prompted Cllr Begley to seek an update for the January meeting of the Shannon MD on the status of the South Clare/UL strategic development zone
Speaking in the Dáil over the summer, Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan (GP) detailed that €63m has been allocated by his Department to Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) in 2023 for the delivery of its Greenway Programme. Of this, €2.1m has allocated to Clare County Council for Greenway projects under their remit.
€780,000 has been allocated to the Limerick to Scariff Greenway. The proposed 40km of Greenway will begin in Limerick City Centre, travelling along the Park Canal to Black Bridge, Plassey and will then continue along the Errina Canal to Clonlara before arriving at the Ardnacrusha Headrace. From Lough Derg, the Greenway will continue through Killaloe before reaching Scariff Harbour. This Greenway will form part of the proposed Shannon Greenway which will run from the river’s source to the estuary. It is currently at Phase 1 – Concept and Feasibility of the TII Project Management Guidelines.
In addition, €300,000 has been allocated to progress the Shannon to Limerick Greenway. The proposed Greenway will connect Shannon Town, Bunratty and onto Limerick city environs and will be approximately 18km in length, offering both a tourist route for cyclists between Shannon and Limerick with potential commuting options. This project is at Phase 0 – Scope and Pre-Appraisal. It is envisaged that technical advisors will be appointed in late 2023 with a target date for completion of Phase 0 of mid-2024. There is potential for the scheme to be delivered on a phased basis. In that regard, Clare County Council are well advanced in the completion of a feasibility study for the early delivery of the section from Shannon to Bunratty, and thereafter a link to Sixmilebridge.
