Kildare-based Bord na Móna seeking tenders for €30m walking and cycling network across the Midlands

Kildare-based Bord na Móna PLC has revealed details of a walking and cycling trails network across the Midlands - as part of an overall project worth €30m.

Fáilte Ireland has secured EU Just Transition Funding to implement a Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme for Ireland’s Midlands.

The focus of the scheme is to provide new employment opportunities for workers and communities that were heavily dependent on peat by diversifying the local economy, which will include new opportunities for tourism.

The scheme encompasses Trail Development as one of the strands and will be developed predominantly on Bord na Móna lands that were formerly used for peat extraction.

Bord na Móna has now issued tenders for traffic consultancy services for the project which will include areas such as traffic monitoring services, road traffic control equipment and a traffic flow measuring system.

The purpose of the overall project is to deliver a strategic network of connected walking and cycling trails across the Midlands.

Trails will interconnect with the existing and emerging arterial Greenway network, including the re-purposing of former narrow gauge rail track beds, culverts, underpasses etc.

The project includes related infrastructure and enhancing the experience e.g., re-imagine industrial bridges formerly used to transport peat to factories across the Just Transition Fund (JTF) Region to thematic experiences; place-making and art installations; signage and interpretation to create a sense of connectivity across the towns and villages, bogs and waterways of the JTF region.

Construction of appropriate car parking at Gateways for the proposed recreational development is also envisaged. 

Installation of surface water drainage, signage, fencing and all associated site works will be included. It is proposed to apply for planning permission for the proposed trails on Bord na Móna lands that spans several counties.

Bord na Móna said that it is envisaged at this stage that there may be number of individual stand-alone applications to a number of different local authorities.

Bord na Móna will appoint a specialist hydrology consultant to the project to prepare traffic assessments, including traffic and transport assessments and road safety audits, for proposed planning applications.