Design Consultants Approved For Midlands Active Travel Scheme

Thursday, 3 August 2023 17:36

It will provide safe and sustainable means of travel.

Design consultants have been approved for a midlands Active Travel Scheme.

Westmeath County Council has identified key routes in Athlone and Mullingar along which to provide enhanced Active Travel facilities for pedestrians and cyclists.

It is funded by the Department of Transport through the National Transport Authority’s Active Travel Programme,

Facilities will allow school-goers, commuters and visitors to travel safely and sustainably to work, school and to leisure and retail destinations in each town.

Atkins has been appointed as design consultant for the projects.

The combined length of the proposed routes is approximately 15 kilometres in Athlone and 9 kilometres in Mullingar and these include advance Pathfinder Projects in both towns.

The Pathfinder Projects are to be exemplar transport projects with 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 in the county.

The Chief Executive of Westmeath County Council, Pat Gallagher also welcomed the appointment of Atkins saying that the projects will contribute to the delivery of Active Travel infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists in Athlone and Mullingar.

It will give people 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. Our appointment builds on our existing work with local authorities across the country, the National Transport Authority and Transport infrastructure Ireland, on the delivery of approximately 150km of urban active travel routes and 200km of interurban greenways in Ireland.”