€2m for Ardmore Road and €500,000 for Saunders Bridge

€4.5 million for Active Travel Westmeath; Ardmore Road Receives one of highest allocations nationwide

Westmeath has received €4.5 million in the first ever major active travel investment programme for rural Ireland.

The total fund of €72.8m announced on Monday for rural counties is greater than the entire 2019 funding for national walking and cycling programme.

Westmeath has received a total of €4.5 million, most going to Mullingar and 64% going to Mullingar projects on the Ardmore Road.

The Ardmore Road received one of the highest allocations in the country under this scheme.

It includes €500,000 for Saunders Bridge, €2 million for Ardmore Road footpath and cycleway, €50,000 for each for Dublin Road, Harbour Street, Mount Street, Grange South and Sundays Well Road for footpaths and cycleways on each, €400,000 for improvements at the National Science Park Junction and €250,000 for improvements at the Marlinstown Roundabout up to the Royal Canal.

Minister Peter Burke said that also included was funding for a transportation study, €100,000 for Safe to Schools Programme infrastructure and other measures which will enable children and adults to cycle safely throughout the town.

The NTA had originally earmarked €50m for this scheme but due to the volume of project proposals being developed by local authorities, it has been increased to more than €70m.

Minister Burke said this was a hugely positive day for the residents of Mullingar, and in particular those on the Ardmore Road, who have been waiting for these measures for quite some time.

“We want to create a safe environment for so that all of our students have the option to cycle to school, especially since we have our state-of-the-art Holy Family NS up and running now on the Ardmore Road.

“The Saunders Bridge replacement has been long heralded and having been in touch with the council and Cllr Andrew Duncan on this issue over a number of months, I understand the design is almost ready to go to tender.

“We have a lot of traffic on the Dublin Road at present and at the junction with the National Science Park so I am glad to see further investment is going here.

“Across the town, we have investments in our cycleways and footpaths, which will see improved safety for both cyclists, pedestrians and motorists alike.

“I am particularly pleased to see specific projects receiving funding as part of the Safe Routes to School programme, which was launched earlier this month. This safe and accessible infrastructure will ensure that our local communities are better connected, and that healthier forms of travel continue to be supported and utilised.

“I thank my colleague Minister Hildegarde Naughten for providing this large-scale funding and Westmeath County Council for preparing such an ambitious proposal on behalf of the community”.

Minister Robert Troy also welcomed the announcement this morning from the NTA. “I am delighted to confirm this substantial allocation which will see Westmeath projects benefit to the tune of €4.5m and advance some key projects, including the Ardmore Road, Saunders Bridge and the roundabout at the National Science Park.

“Each of these are essential projects in terms of safety for all road users and both projects on the Ardmore Rd will be of huge benefit to residents of the road and students at Holy Family School alike.”

Westmeath was among the counties to benefit most from this scheme, and 19 separate projects have received funding, said Minister Troy.

“Through the active travel scheme, funding has also been awarded towards pedestrian and cyclist improvements from the Marlinstown Roundabout to the Royal Canal, and junction improvements at Sundays Well Road, Lynn Road, Auburn Road and Millmount Junctions.

“I have worked closely with our county councillors in these areas in terms of highlighting the issues and ensuring their prominence in funding considerations.

“ I would also like to pay tribute to the staff in Westmeath County Council who have worked on preparing background information and applications on these significant projects,” concluded Minister Troy.