Galway City Council is moving ahead with plans for the construction of a pedestrian and cycling bridge across the Corrib next to the Salmon Weir Bridge.
The council has issued a notice that it is making a compulsory purchase order for the land needed to install the bridge between Newtownsmith and Gaol Road.
If this is approved by An Bord Pleanála, the council then intends to submit a planning application to the higher planning authority for the pedestrian bridge.
The bridge will cover a total of approximately 85m across Persse’s Distillery River, Lower River Corrib and Friar’s River in three spans of 13m, 54m and 18m respectively.
The project will also involve alterations to the existing stone masonry walls to allow the new footpaths and approach areas, and upgrading the existing footpaths at either end of the bridge.
A copy of the plans, and the Natura Impact Statement which has been prepared as part of the application, will be available for public viewing at City Hall from today until January 21.
The projected has already secured €3.5 million in funding from the government, which has been allocated under the Designated Urban Centres grant scheme.
An Bord Pleanála already ruled in October that an Environmental Impact Statement is not required for the development, as there will be no permanent structure actually sitting in the river.
If no objections are made to the compulsory purchase order by the city council, it may be confirmed by An Bord Pleanála without holding an oral hearing.
This pedestrian bridge project is part of the Galway Transport Strategy, which ultimately aims to take private car traffic out of the city centre, and have the Salmon Weir Bridge solely used for public transport.
