Pedestrian bridge over Grand Canal in Tullamore reopens to public

THE pedestrian bridge over the Grand Canal linking Convent View and Convent Road in Tullamore reponed on Friday afternoon.

The footbridge had been closed for almost two months due to health and safety concerns as work took place on the greenway along the stretch of the canal from Kilbeggan Bridge to the Fiona Pender Memorial.

Cllr Declan Harvey – who was on hand at the informal reopening of the bridge – paid tribute to the construction team in Tower Civil engineering for their work on the multi-million greenway project.

Work on the new widened footpath has now been completed and the second layer of tarmac on the roadway at Convent View will be laid next week.

Thanks in part to the dry weather work progressed at a fast pace over the past number of weeks on the stretch of greenway linking Kilbeggan bridge and the eastern end of Convent View.

A one-way system is still in place along Convent View and no parking is allowed during the duration of the works though residents, with permits, can park on nearby Store St and St Brigid's Place.

The one way system runs east to west along Convent View and vehicles travelling in a west to east direction are being diverted through Davitt St, Callary St and the by-pass.

The works at Convent View include widening of footpaths to two metres along the canal bank, undergrounding of cables and street enhancement, new paving and kerbs, road realignment, resurfacing and relining, traffic calming features, signage and new lighting.

The Grand Canal Urban Greenway project, funded under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, will complement the previously completed URDF funded Tullamore Town Centre enhancement works, a statement from Offaly County Council said.

"This will effectively provide an attractive and easily accessible vibrant town centre destination for all greenway users which will in turn benefit all local businesses."

Chief Executive of Offaly County Council, Anna Marie Delaney, confirmed: “These works will complete the Grand Canal greenway through Offaly, a total distance of 70kms, and are an integral part of the proposed Greenway link from the Grand Canal Dock Dublin to Shannon Harbour in west Offaly.”

"The completion of these works will further strengthen Offaly’s tourism offering as greenway users will be spoilt for choice. Both new and returning visitors to Tullamore will experience a wealth of attractions, enhanced public realm features while also being an enhanced amenity for local users."