Monaghan County Council is pleased to announce the commencement of construction on the new Horseshoe Active Travel Bridge, a dedicated crossing adjacent to the existing vehicle bridge on Park Road over the Ulster Canal in Monaghan Town.
The Active Travel scheme will improve safety for vulnerable road users by providing a segregated pedestrian & cycle bridge connecting to the Ulster Canal Greenway.
The project introduces a dedicated 3.0m wide shared facility connecting the existing footpaths to the Greenway. To ensure inclusivity, features such as tactile paving, flush kerbs, and raised crossings will be provided throughout the route, benefiting users with visual or mobility impairments.
The development includes:
- Construction of a new single-span, 29m-long precast beam and slab Active Travel Bridge over piled foundations
- Introduction of a signalised traffic shuttle system for vehicles over the existing bridge and from the Mullaghmatt Road junction with Park Road.
- New raised pedestrian crossings with demand-activated push buttons at both ends of the bridge.
- Integration with the existing Ulster Canal Greenway and existing footpaths.
The overall purpose of the project is to provide linkage and permeability to existing and proposed active travel provisions in the town which will integrate with the overall active travel policy for Monaghan Town. This will improve safety and contribute towards an increased number of trips in the area by pedestrians and cyclists.
Speaking at the commencement of works, the P.J. O’Hanlon Cathaoirleach of the Monaghan County Council Cllr. said “With a total project value of €1,275,000, this initiative supports Monaghan County Council’s commitment to sustainable transport, offering a safer, greener alternative for students, workers, and residents. It also enhances local leisure infrastructure and encourages active travel over motorised transport in line with the National Sustainable Mobility Policy and Monaghan County Development Plan.
Robert Burns, Chief Executive of Monaghan County Council, said: “This scheme advances our ambitious plans for better sustainable transport across Monaghan Town and countywide. It demonstrates our climate action leadership while improving citizens’ quality of life through strategic transport planning. This is one of serval active travel schemes and initiatives being rolled out across the county as part of a long-term vison for greener healthier and more connected communities”
Bernadette McArdle, Senior Executive Engineer in Active Travel Monaghan County Council said: “This Active Travel Scheme is part of an active travel network of routes being delivered by the local authority aimed at making walking and cycling attractive modes of transport. The dedicated infrastructure will be a huge boost for vulnerable road users and will encourage more people to travel in an active manner. It also provides improved connections to the 4.5km Greenway that runs through the Town which has received significant upgrades in recent years.”
The project is funded by the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the Active travel Investment Grants. The design team, Atkins Realis have been working on the design of the project since 2021 and will continue to oversee construction stage of the works to be delivered by Donnolly Civil Engineering.
Construction is underway and expected to complete by late 2025 to early 2026.
Left to right- Hugh Donnelly (Donnelly Civil Engineering Ltd), Frankie Murphy, Seamus Treanor, PJ O’Hanlon, Robert Burns, Nial O Connor, Robert Morgan (Atkins), Curtis Swanepoel ( Atkins), Michael Rushe ( Atkins), Bernadette McArdle, John Cooke ( Donnelly Civil Engineering Ltd)