Galway City Council has been granted approval to develop the Salmon Weir Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge by An Bord Pleanála.
Set to be constructed parallel to the existing Salmon Weir Bridge, the new bridge will draw pedestrians and cyclists and facilitate a seamless and natural flow from either side of the river, while creating an iconic focal point for locals and tourists alike to take in the views of the River Corrib, the Salmon Weir, the Cathedral, wildlife, natural and built heritage in the area.
Speaking on the decision, Chief Executive of Galway City Council, Brendan McGrath commented: "The proposed Salmon Weir Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge forms part of the Galway Transport Strategy (GTS) - the objective of which is to enhance sustainable travel within the city centre and reduce dependency on the private motor vehicle, in line with national transport and planning policies.
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"This decision to approve the project is great news, and now allows us to progress it to the next stage. This significant development will tie in closely with other projects such as BusConnects Galway, public realm improvements on Newtownsmith; and the creation of a Civic Plaza at the Cathedral/Gaol Road. These will all work together to create safer spaces for pedestrians and cyclists as they move through the city, as well as a more enjoyable public realm for all."
Galway City Council undertook significant stakeholder feedback and public consultation on the project last summer, with virtual information rooms put in place to counter the effects of the pandemic on face-to-face meetings.
Galway City Council secured co-funding for the proposed development under the European Regional Development Fund with matched funding from the National Transport Authority.
The next stages in the process will be to complete the detailed design and tender documentation for the construction phase; then to invite tenders and award the contract, with construction hoped to commence in the early part of 2022.
