Galway City Council to spend €600,000 on bridge plans despite state funding withdrawal
The local authority is set to spend up to €600,000 on consultants despite the National Transport Authority withdrawing funding for the Clifden Railway Bridge last year
Galway City Council is planning to spend up to €600,000 on consultants to develop plans for the Clifden Railway Pedestrian Bridge despite the fact that state funding for the project was withdrawn last year.
The local authority sought tenders this week for a contract to design a pedestrian and cycle bridge over the surviving masonry piers of the Clifden Railway line, linking Woodquay to the University of Galway campus.
The cost of the project was estimated at €14.4 million in 2023, and Galway City Council acknowledges in tender documents that the “all-in” cost of the bridge could now hit €20 million due to inflation and other factors.
However, it also admitted that the National Transport Authority (NTA) had withdrawn its funding commitment for the project in May 2025. The NTA pointed out that it had already funded the Salmon Weir pedestrian bridge less than 0.5km from the site.
Despite the withdrawal of funding for the construction of the Clifden Railway Bridge, Galway City Council is pressing ahead with the appointment of a multidisciplinary consultancy team in respect of the project.
It will avail of funding from the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) to progress the development of plans, using money from its own Development Contribution Scheme to provide 25% of these costs.
The consultants will be tasked with validating the structural feasibility and loading capacity of the surviving piers, as well as conducting surveys and flood risk assessments at the location.
They will also deliver preliminary civil and bridge designs, and will assist with the planning application process.
The tender documents also acknowledge that it will be necessary to acquire lands from the University of Galway and Corrib Rowing Club to facilitate the development, and Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) may be required if voluntary agreements cannot be reached.
The value of the contract for the provision of a multidisciplinary consultancy team for the project is estimated at €600,000 plus VAT, according to statutory public procurement filings. The duration of the contract is 18 months.
A spokeswoman for Galway City Council confirmed that funding to support plans for the development remains available from the URDF.
“In recognition of the strategic significance of this project, Galway City Council has secured matched funding using monies from within its Development Contribution Scheme,” she said.
“This has enabled the council to begin the process to appoint a multidisciplinary consultancy team to prepare preliminary designs and to prepare a planning application.”
It is hoped that planning works under the contract will commence in the first quarter of next year, with planning permission in respect of the project submitted in late 2027.
“Galway City Council is working to identify additional funding opportunities to allow this project to be constructed in the coming years, pending a successful outcome to the planning process,” added the spokeswoman.