Funding secured for design of new Salmon Weir footbridge

Galway City Council has secured funding for the design of a new pedestrian footbridge which will sit beside the existing Salmon Weir Bridge.

The proposal – first mooted more than a decade ago – is an integral part of the Galway Transport Strategy, which would eventually see the existing bridge used only for buses, taxis and cyclists.

The City Council has confirmed that Transport Infrastructure Ireland has agreed to fund the design phase of the new footbridge and discussions are taking place with the National Transport Authority and progress is expected to be made in the coming weeks.

Because of its environmentally-sensitive location, and Environmental Impact Study would have to be carried out, which would dictate the design of the bridge.

“It is proposed to remove all through-traffic such that the bridge is used only by buses, taxis and cyclists, with a new pedestrian bridge alongside,” the Galway Transport Strategy (GTS) document reads.

The GTS also identifies a ‘Cross-City Link’ public transport route along University Road, Salmon Weir Bridge, Eglinton Street, around Eyre Square, Forster Street and College Road.

For the rest of this story, see this week’s Galway City Tribune. Buy a digital edition of this week’s paper here, or download the app for Android or iPhone.