New travel path to run from St Finian’s to the Park Hotel

A major new cycle path cum walking route is to be created that will cover the entire distance between St Finian’s College and the Mullingar Park Hotel.

District engineer Pat Kavanagh told members of the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad at their September meeting that consultants have already been appointed and are working on a preliminary design.

His revelation came in response to Cllr Mick Dollard, who asked at the meeting if the Harbour Bridge would be upgraded as it was a “key focal point” for those entering and leaving Mullingar.

The formal reply stated that the bridge location is currently being examined as part of the Active Travel ‘Path Finder’ programme and Mr Kavanagh said the intention is that the route should run from St Finian’s College along Harbour Road, then beside the canal and then on to the hotel.

“So it’s a pretty major project. And my understanding is they’ll be getting into the detailed design very soon,” Mr Kavanagh said.

Cllr Dollard wondered what the cost was going to be, to which Mr Kavanagh responded that at the moment, the Municipal District doesn’t have that information.

“It’s being funded by the Active Travel department within the Department of Transport – but it’s my understanding that it is one of the priority projects,” Mr Kavanagh explained.

Separately, a request that seating and a floral display be put in place on the public open space between Newlands and the adjoining Railway Bridge was also made by Cllr Dollard at the meeting.

To that the response was that the request would be examined, to find a suitable location.

At the same meeting, Cllr Dollard asked that signs be erected near Loreto College indicating where the Primary Care Centre is, and he was satisfied with the reply, which stated that the work will be done in the course of the next four weeks.

He also asked that the district carry out works to the road ramp opposite Dunnes Stores on the Friars Mill Road “at an early date” and was told that repairs will be carried out in the next four weeks. Cllr Ken Glynn backed Cllr Dollard’s call for action on that issue, stating that he had raised it recently, and was told the work would be done before the fleadh, but that had not happened.

Cllr Dollard also asked that the district put in place additional road markings opposite Coralstown NS in order to regularise car parking.

To that, the written response provided stated that staff will examine the present arrangement to see if additional road markings are required.