There's been a broad welcome for the announcement of over eight million euro in funding for a bridge over the River Shannon in Athlone as part of the Athlone to Galway Cycleway.
The €8.1 million for Athlone is part of an overall national package of more than €63 million announced by Transport Minister Eamon Ryan.
The cash injection is set to bring the cycleway across the Shannon to Athlone Castle as well as bringing the route on to Ballinasloe along the Grand Canal and the River Suck Blueways and Marina .
Possible route corridors are also being examined to link the route from East Galway on further West to the Spanish Arch in Galway.
Roscommon Galway Deputy Denis Naughten says it's great that the bridge build hasn't been further delayed by the East Galway design phase.
Elsewhere, a further €172 thousand euro has been allocated for the Longford Canal Greenway for the refurbishment of the existing Longford Canal and to improve infrastructure along the cycleway.
