Greenways, Active Travel & National Cycle Network
Greenways & Active Travel
In September 2021, TII became the approving authority for greenways on behalf of the Department of Transport. TII is investing €60m a year in greenways up to 2030, supporting local authorities to deliver more than 200km of greenways as part of the National Cycle Network, and a further 100km of recreational greenways.
We delivered 36km of greenways in 2023, with a further 53.2km under construction across 10 different projects. 41 active travel projects received funding for planning and design works in 2023, with a further 18.5km of segregated cycleway completed along major and minor road projects.
Click on below links to learn more about our Greenways projects;
- Inishowen Greenway (Bridgend to Buncrana with a connection to Newtown Cunningham)
- Ulster Canal Greenway (Smithborough - Clones)
- NCN - Galway to Dublin
- NCN - Galway to Athlone
- West Clare Railway (Kilrush to Kilkee)
- Midleton to Youghal Greenway
- Mallow to Dungarvan Greenway (Mallow - Cork/Waterford Border)
- Limerick Greenway (Rathkeale to Abbeyfeale)
- Fingal Coastal Way (Donabate - Fingal Co Bdy, N of Balbriggan)
- Boyne Greenway & Navigation Scheme (Oldbridge Est. Entrance, Navan)
- Grand Canal - 12th lock to Hazelhatch Bridge
- Connemara Greenway (Galway to Oughterard)
- Active Travel - N60 Castlebar to Breaffy
- Waterford Greenway (2018 reallocation) (Waterford to Dungarvan)
National Cycle Network
TII is leading the development of an ambitious new National Cycle Network for Ireland. The proposed National Cycling Network will span 3,500km, linking over 200 cities, towns, and villages across Ireland.
TII National Roads 2040
TII is also conscious of the need to provide Active Travel (AT) facilities along and across the National Roads network, particularly in urban areas (built-up areas, villages, towns and cities). This need is recognised in TII’s strategy for the National Roads network, NR2040. Improvement of AT facilities in such areas, is seen as vital to developing a meaningful alternative for short distance (possibly sedentary) trips in built-up areas along the National Roads network; and potentially reducing the operational carbon footprint of the same in urban areas. Movement along and across National Roads is seen as important; and is discussed in NR2040 under two of its key investment priorities: ‘Decarbonisation’ and ‘Movement of People and Goods in Urban Areas’.
NR2040 also contain several commitments in this regard (all commitments are set out in Section 6 of the strategy), the commitments relevant to active travel are listed below:
- TII will promote inter-modal solutions that maximise overall transport efficiency in terms of infrastructure and resource use. For example, facilitating safe active travel along National Roads corridors that connect with rail and bus stations.
- TII recognises that busy urban motorways, ring roads and town bypasses can be hostile environments for pedestrians and cyclists wishing to cross. TII will identify and remedy severance impacts from National Roads.
- TII will consider the needs of all road users for all projects. On urban dual carriageways and motorways approaching cities, TII will work with partner agencies to enable public transport and high-quality active travel alternatives.
- Where bypasses are built, urban realm improvements will be required in the bypassed town to enable more sustainable mobility.
- TII will support the provision of segregated or offline active travel infrastructure adjacent to National Roads.
Any new project developed under the aegis of TII should have regard to these commitments. TII is also proud to have recently funded well received schemes such as N59 Mulranny Footpaths, N76 Grangemockler, among several other recent safety and connectivity improvements. To that end, TII is increasingly active in this area; and has recently been undertaking more extensive engagement with Local Authorities to identify locations and opportunities where further AT improvements can be made in built up areas.