IWAI Kildare

Kildare County Council are seeking additional approval for the Grand Canal Greenway Phase 2.  This Part 8 is for two new pedestrian bridges on the Grand Canal in Kildare.  To peruse the documents and make a submission before Sep 25 2024, see Part 8 KCC Additional Bridges Ref P82024.07

Fehily Timoney Engineers responsible for the development of the Grand Canal Greenway, state in their report ‘Grand Canal Greenway Phase 2 – Additional Bridges’: 

The proposed Grand Canal Greenway is a 38.5km walking and cycling facility in Co. Kildare which follows the route of the existing Grand Canal towpath. The towpath stretches from Kildare’s border with Dublin to Kildare’s border with Offaly and runs through the following townlands; Lyons, Clonaghlis, Tipperstown, Ardclough, Boston, Clownings, Baronrath, Keeloges, Alasty, Killeenmore, Kileenbeg, Sherlocktown, Kerdiffstown, Sallins Osberstown, Waterstown, Burgettstown, Landenstown, Donore, Goatstown, Downings South, Moods Mylerstown, Robertstown, Lowtown, Derrymullen, Allenwood, Killinagh, Ballybrack, Kilpatrick, Ticknevin, Ballyhagan, and Clonkeen. It is intended that the Grand Canal Greenway will eventually extend from Grand Canal Dock in Dublin to Shannon Harbour and that it will become an international Greenway of significance capturing the essence of rural Ireland. This will promote Kildare as a tourist destination and provide opportunities for new visitor growth as well as providing linkage between communities.

The Grand Canal Greenway consists of two phases. Phase 1 stretches from Aylmers Bridge on the Kildare-Dublin border to the pedestrian bridge in Sallins, Co. Kildare. Phase 2 stretches from Sallins to Clonkeen on the Offaly border. Phase 1 of the greenway route is completed and has been open to the public since late 2023. Phase 2 has previously received Part VIII consent and is currently at the detailed design stage.

Kildare County Council (KCC) are seeking Part VIII planning approval for the addition of 2 pedestrian bridges to the scheme. The proposed additional bridges seek to improve on the safety and user experience for all. The proposed bridges will allow greenway users to move safely across the canal with one bridge located in Lowtown, and the second adjacent to Healy’s/Bonynge Bridge in Co. Kildare.