New Bridge and Walking/Cycling routes get the go-ahead in South Dublin County
Back to List31/10/2013
Archived item. This item is published here for historical reasons. The information below may be out of date.
New Bridge and Walking/Cycling routes get the go-ahead in South Dublin County
South Dublin County Council has secured more than €1.5 million euro from the National Transport Authority to deliver a significant new landmark pedestrian and cycle bridge together with new footpaths and cycleways at the point where two planned cycle routes meet in the Dodder Valley Park.
The bridge will join Firhouse and Tallaght mid-way between Old Bawn and the M50 and will form part of both the Tallaght to Ballyboden and Dodder Valley Greenway cycle routes. Funding for the Project is being provided by the National Transport Authority (NTA) as part of the NTA Sustainable Transport Measures Grants – ‘STMG’ programme.
On Friday 18th October last South Dublin County Council signed a contract with Clonmel Enterprises to construct the new bridge and a network of linking footpaths/cycleways. The design of the bridge was approved by the Council in 2012 and is a single-span, steel suspended structure that will provide near level access between both sides of the River Valley. It will be assembled off-site, with works on-site expected to commence in spring 2014 and scheduled completion by June 2014.
As well as linking the existing communities of Tallaght and Firhouse by providing a new shorter and more direct route, the bridge will form part of a wider network of new high quality cycleways throughout the Dublin region.
Mayor Dermot Looney is very supportive of the project and said “These routes are aimed at serving commuter and school cyclists in line with planning, transport and health policies to encourage a greater uptake of cycling, better alternatives to the car and more physical activity”.
The County Manager, Daniel McLoughlin added “Given its attractive, riverside and parkland setting, the Dodder Valley route has significant potential for leisure and tourism as well as commuter cycling”.
In addition to improving the physical infrastructure with the support of the NTA, South Dublin County Council is working with Dublin City Council to develop the route as a ‘Greenway’ that will extend from Grand Canal Dock in Dublin City Centre to the Bohernabreena reservoirs in the Dublin Mountains.
The new feature bridge at Firhouse will be an important landmark in establishing a connected, high quality off-road cycle road. It is intended that as part of a wider cycle network that this will facilitate economic opportunities by enabling local families to enjoy a day out in a safe cycling environment and visitors to Dublin to take a relatively short, but physically active day-trip out of the City.
-ENDS-
For further information contact communications@sdublincoco.ie
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