Plans for new greenway/shared cycling and walking facility are to go on view in Alley Theatre, Strabane and Donegal County Council Offices, Lifford next week
The emerging design proposals for the planned cycling and walking route that will link Strabane in County Tyrone to Lifford in County Donegal will go on display on 24 and 25 October. The two local authorities – Donegal County Council and Derry City and Strabane District Council - are planning to construct a segregated shared looped cycle route connecting some of the key residential, commercial and civic centres in the two towns. The key linkages are as follows:
The North West Greenway Network communications manager, Ronan Gallagher said: “Both Councils are working closely as part of the North West City Region. Working in partnership it is our joint goal to strengthen and improve existing cross border transportation links, including cycling and walking routes, while supporting the development of new links to enable spatial and economic development in both Strabane and Lifford. We are very confident that the emerging design will help to transform how people move between the two towns.”
After these events, both local authorities will proceed to lodge formal planning permissions in both jurisdictions and will engage with any affected landowners along the route to agree accommodation works. The Councils are keen to liaise with residents while minimising disruption during construction. Subject to the approval of planning consent in both jurisdictions, it is hoped that construction work can commence by late 2019.
The spokesperson added: “One of our key objectives is to build infrastructure that will encourage people to cycle and walk to and from their destination in either town. Once completed, not only will we link Lifford to Strabane, but several schools will have access to a safe and segregated cycling and walking route.’
The Strabane to Lifford route forms part of an overall INTERREG-funded greenway project that will see three routes developed: Derry to Buncrana and Muff to Derry. On completion, the three routes will comprise 46.5 km of new cross-border greenway that will help reduce carbon emissions by encouraging commuters to leave their cars at home. The c.€18 million project is part-funded under the EU’s INTERREG VA Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). Match-funding for the project has been provided by the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland and the Department for Transport, Tourism and Sport in Ireland.
The preferred route corridors for the other two sections are scheduled to be announced before December.
Information days
Wednesday 24 October – Alley Theatre, Strabane, from 14.00 to 18.00
Thursday 25 October – Old Courthouse, Lifford, from 14.00 to 18.00
Find out more about this project at www.nwgreenway.com.