New bridge - a hugely positive addition
The new bridge over the Shannon in Athlone has opened amid much fanfare and publicity recently – and as locals begin to get accustomed to this new piece of infrastructure in the heart of our town the reaction has been increasingly positive.
To stroll over the bridge in the late evenings last week was to encounter numerous others taking the same journey, and for the same reason: to enjoy fine views of Athlone and to experience only the fourth bridge to be built over the Shannon in the town.
In the mild summer evenings, as people stood on the river side, sat on the deck of the Radisson Blu Hotel or simply gathered to chat on the bridge and its surroundings, it was possible to imagine oneself in one of the Mediterranean countries who know how to make the public realm precisely that, a place where the public is more than content to loiter and relax.
It took a degree of courage and a leap of faith by Westmeath County Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland to push on with the project, amid criticisms and concerns. Our timeline of the project on Page 12 of this issue shows it required significant debate to get it correct. And make no mistake about it, it is right.
Granted, at the moment, it's somewhat of a bridge to nowhere in that cyclists travelling on the Maynooth to Athone section of the greenway have no further specialised facilities beyond the west bank of the Shannon.
However, that is to ignore the connectivity benefits the new bridge brings within the town of Athlone alone, providing different routes and journeys for pedestrians and cyclists.
Nevertheless, it's imperative, that progress be made and be made quickly on the proposed Athlone to Galway section of the greenway. It would even be beneficial to have the Athlone to Shannonbridge section constructed so that visitors and locals can, at least, travel onwards over the new bridge and down past Clonmacnois.
There are those who criticise the expenditure (€15m is an admittedly eye-catching sum) arguing the funding could have been better spent on other crisis areas. However, that argument, if carried through, would mean that any spending on arts, culture, sport and recreation or other such discretionary expenditure should be ceased. It is possible to invest in more than one area at one time.
There are some small safety concerns at the moment that hopefully will be resolved shortly, but, overall, the new bridge is a hugely welcome addition to the townscape.