Over €10 Million Allocated For Midlands Walking And Cycling Routes

School zones are a key part of the plans unveiled by the Transport Minister and the NTA.

Over €10 million in funding has been allocated to improve walking and cycling routes in the midlands.

Westmeath has received the largest allocation in the region, at €3.9 million.

That's followed by €3.3 million in Laois, and just over €3 million in Offaly.

School zones are a key part of the plans unveiled by the Transport Minister, Eamon Ryan, and the National Transport Authority.

Colm Ryder from Cyclist.ie says facilities will see a significant improvement over the next few years:

Laois Offaly TD Sean Fleming says:

"I am especially pleased that so much funding for the Safe Routes to School Programme will continue to improve safety measures for many students going to and from school.

The benefits of this investment are immense, locally and nationally.  This is very welcome news and will benefit many people, both young and old throughout the county.  

I look forward to work on these projects in Laois commencing as soon as possible which will allow everyone in our communities to enjoy and have access to safer routes whether it’s for their travel to work, school or to exercise in their local areas.

I am asking Laois County Council to progress all these projects as a priority now that the Government has been allocated this funding."

Laois County Council

Father Browne Avenue Cycle Scheme, Portlaoise €40,000
Active Travel Scheme, Beladd, Portlaoise €30,000 
Active Travel Scheme, Dublin Road, Portlaoise €40,000
Footpath Scheme - Carlow Road, Stradbally €6,000
Active Travel Scheme, Ballyroan Road, Abbeyleix €60,000
Low Cost Junction Tightening / Pedestrian Crossing Schemes €250,000
SRTS - St Paul's N.S., Mountmellick €40,000
Portlaoise Local Transport Plan €330,000
Footpath Scheme - Shanboe, Borris in Ossory €20,000
Footpath Scheme - Ballinakill Swimming Pool €9,500
Footpath Scheme - Ballyroan Footpath to GAA Club €3,500
Active Travel Office - Staff Costs €271,000
Portlaoise - Bus Stop Accessibility €60,000
Rapid Deployment - Dublin Road, Portlaoise €500,000
Active Travel Scheme - Southern Circular Road, Portlaoise €350,000
Rapid Deployment - R445 Mountrath Rd, Portlaoise €250,000
Active Travel, Permeability Scheme, Mountmellick €100,000
Active Travel, Stradbally Road, Portlaoise €100,000
Active Travel, Permeability Scheme, Portarlington €70,000
Active Travel Scheme, Borris Rd, Portlaoise €40,000

Footpath Scheme, R433 Rathdowney €110,000
SRTS - Maryborough NS, Portlaoise €100,000
Triogue Way, Portlaoise - Phase 2 €100,000
SRTS - Scoil Phadraig Naofa, Mountmellick €100,000
SRTS - Scoil Mhuire, Abbeyleix €100,000
Active Travel Scheme - Rathleague, Portlaoise €100,000
Triogue Way, Portlaoise - Phase 3 €80,000
SRTS - Camross National School, Camross €40,000
Total: € 3,300,000

Offaly County Council

Tullamore Transport Plan €134,448
Tullamore Cycle Network Phase 1 €358,231
Active Travel Footpaths Improvements: Birr & Crinkill €100,563
Active Travel Footpaths Improvements Clara €298,882
Active Travel Footpath Improvements Cloghan €38,000
Tullamore - Spollenstown Road Active Travel scheme €191,104
Countywide Pedestrian Crossings €26,212
SRTS Support Infrastructure Fredrick Street Clara €9,382
Junction Tightening : Edenderry & Birr €110,449
Tullamore Urban Greenway Project €50,000
Edenderry - R402-1 Junction Upgrade €183,055
Tullamore - Collins Lane Junction - Advance Scheme €99,473
Birr - Riverside Walk Upgrade Links €147,500
Rhode - Pedestrian Crossings & Footpath €185,000
Mucklagh - Brocca Road - Junction/Footpath €191,083
Shinrone - Cloughjordan Road Active Travel scheme €140,000
Ballycumber Active Travel elements €125,000
Active Travel Office - Staff Costs €271,000
Edenderry - SRTS (R1) Design & Cycle Links €75,000
Edenderry Active Travel elements €50,000

Arden View Tullamore Active Travel elements €75,000
Banagher SRTS (R1) Design Links €75,000
Kilcormac Village, Kinnity Road Active Travel elements €75,000
Total: € 3,009,382

Westmeath County Council

Mullingar Transport Plan €390,000
Saunders Bridge, Mullingar €770,000
Ardmore Road Active Travel scheme, Mullingar €250,000
Harbour Street Active Travel scheme, Mullingar €50,000 
Dublin Road Active Travel scheme, Mullingar €50,000
Mount Street Lower Pedestrian Interventions, Mullingar €50,000
Grange South to Orbital C-Link Active Travel scheme, Mullingar €50,000

National Science Park Junction Improvements, Mullingar €50,000

Sundays Well/Lynn Road - Auburn Road/Millmount Road Pedestrian & Cycling Improvements, Mullingar €50,000

Marlinstown Roundabout to Royal Canal Pedestrian & Cycling Improvements, Mullingar €100,000

Athlone - Footpath & Cycleway Improvements for Six Strategic Routes €300,000
Moate - Footpath & Cycleway Improvements €270,000
Cycle Parking €90,000
Low Cost Junction Tightening/Pedestrian Crossing Schemes €100,000
Low-Cost Permeability Measures €100,000
Active Travel Office - Staff Costs €270,000
Delvin Active Travel scheme €100,000
Athlone Transport Plan €30,000
Ardmore Road Active Travel scheme, Mullingar Phase 2 €230,000
Kilbeggan R446 Infrastructure to facilitate National & Secondary Schools €480,000

Scoil an Chlochair, Kilbeggan €10,000
Athlone Community College €10,000
Scoil Chroí Naofa, Rochfortbridge €50,000
St Joseph's secondary school, Rochfortbridge €50,000
Total: €3,900,000