Plan to reduce car usage on key Athlone roads

Some 15 kilometres of key access routes into Athlone are to be redesigned to encourage more pedestrian and cycling usage.

Westmeath County Council has now appointed design consultants for what is known as the Athlone Active Travel Schemes scheme.

The scheme is funded by the Department of Transport through the National Transport Authority’s Active Travel Programme.

Key routes in both Athlone and Mullingar along which to provide enhanced Active Travel facilities for pedestrians and cyclists have been identified

These enhanced facilities will generally be provided within the existing road footprint and will allow school-goers, commuters and visitors to travel safely and sustainably to work, school, leisure and retail destinations in each town.

Multidisciplinary services provided by Atkins, in both Athlone and Mullingar, will include concept design and option development, preliminary design, and planning processes.

The combined length of the proposed routes is approximately 15 kilometres in Athlone and nine kilometres in Mullingar and these include advance Pathfinder Projects in both towns. These are flagship transport projects with innovative and transformative improvements for walking and cycling.

The Cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council, Councillor Liam McDaniel, welcomed the signing of the contract, stating that it demonstrates Westmeath County Council’s ongoing commitment to the development of Active Travel infrastructure.

The Chief Executive of Westmeath County Council, Pat Gallagher also welcomed the appointment of Atkins stating that the projects will contribute to the delivery of Active Travel infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists in Athlone and Mullingar. It will provide commuters with alternative travel options and help reduce car dependency in accordance with the National Sustainable Mobility Policy and the Climate Action Plan.

Ursula O’Higgins, Technical Director, Atkins Ireland, said “Active travel schemes connect communities in a safe, convenient, and environmentally sustainable way. We are pleased to support Westmeath County Council with the design of these exciting schemes.”