Sod turned on construction of Harry Reynolds Road Pedestrian and Cycle Route

Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Adrian Henchy, has turned the sod on construction of the Harry Reynolds Road Pedestrian and Cycle Route in Balbriggan.

Fingal County Council appointed engineering firm Jons Civil Engineering Ltd., have now moved on site in Balbriggan to begin the extensive programme of works that will bring this important cycling and walking route to life.

The Harry Reynolds Road Pedestrian and Cycle Route will provide a cycle-link between Drogheda Street and Hamilton Road in Balbriggan.

Sod turning by Mayor Adrian Henchy. Photo – Paul Sherwood / Coalesce

The route will serve 3 key school campuses at Ardgillan Community College, St. Molagas and Balbriggan Educate Together National School, as well as offering a safe cycling and walking route to shops, childcare facilities and community amenities including Millpond Park and Flemington Community Centre.

The route will make travelling by Active Travel in Balbriggan safer and more convenient, particularly for children, older people and less experienced cyclists.

Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Adrian Henchy said: ‘Today is a great day for the town of Balbriggan as we formally kick off the work on-site. Over the next number of months, the contractors and design team will work together to deliver extensive infrastructure for people on bikes and walking, that will make travelling locally safer, more climate friendly and more enjoyable.’

To improve the experience of walking and cycling in Balbriggan, the route includes:

• Segregated cycle tracks and footpaths
• New pedestrian crossings, Zebra crossings, raised tables and other traffic calming measures
• Pedestrian and cycle-friendly roundabouts
• Existing Traffic Signal Junctions upgrades along the route
• Extensive tree and hedgerow planting
• Safe cycling and traffic calming measures at Ardgillan Community College and Bracken Educate Together NS

Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly said: “Everyone in Balbriggan will benefit from this route.

“We know that most local trips to the shops, schools, library, sports training and so on can very easily be done on foot or by hopping on a bike or scooter.

“The Harry Reynolds Road Pedestrian and Cycle Route has been designed to make that safer and to reduce our impulse to use the car for local journeys and instead enjoy Active Travel.”

The project is fully funded by the National Transport Authority and will form part of the Greater Dublin Area cycle network.

It will serve Balbriggan residents, businesses and visitors and construction works are expected to finish in the second half of 2024.

Project updates can be found at www.fingal.ie/balbriggan/harry-reynolds-road