Eight new bus shelters under construction in Athlone

Eight new bus shelters, costing in the region of half a million euros, are currently under construction in Athlone.

The shelters are being provided by Westmeath County Council, with the help of the National Transport Authority (NTA) and the project has been warmly welcomed by local Fianna Fail Cllr, Aengus O'Rourke.

"Given our climate, waiting for a bus outdoors any time of the year can be difficult, and it's my view that bus stops should always have a shelter, provided the area/space is there to install it" said the local Cllr who has been advocating for many years at council level for the provision of bus shelters in Athlone.

"Until now there has been no funding stream in place to install bus shelters around Athlone. While some might assume its a low-cost exercise to install a bus shelter, it certainly is not" said Cllr O'Rourke who outlined how the installation of eight bus shelters across the town, which is currently underway, is set to cost "in the region of half a million euro."

He added that "if we are serious about encouraging people to use public transport, then we need to provide the infrastructure to enable them to use public transport."

The new shelters this year are being provided at the following locations in Athlone:

1. Athlone Regional Sports Centre at existing bus stop.

2. MacDonagh Road, adjacent to Temple Printing at existing bus stop.

3. Plunkett Road, beside new HSE CNU at existing bus stop which was in grass verge.

4. Plunkett Road, beside Applegreen at existing bus stop which wasn’t posted.

5. Dr Jim Keane Road, at The Glen at existing bus stop.

6. Dr Jim Keane Road, at new development, Dún na Rí at existing bus stop.

7. MacDiarmada Road, upgrade existing shelter at Golden Island.

8. MacDiarmada Road, at existing bus stop beside Moldova.