Attendees at this week’s public consultation for the Barnesmore Gap Greenway were informed the multi-million project could be fully complete within five years.
Donegal County Council, with the support of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), is progressing the ambitious proposed provision of a walk and cycleway between the towns of Donegal Town and Ballybofey/Stranorlar.
Two public consultation events took place this week in Donegal Town and, yesterday, at Jackson’s Hotel, Ballybofey.
The well attended information sessions heard the project, which will use much of the old railway line, is currently in Phase 3: Design and Environmental Evaluation.
Members of the design team said they hope to make a planning application to An Bord Pleanala (ABP) as early as next year. However, this stage of the process could take between 12 and 18 months. If the green light is given, they will then fine-tune the design element before proceeding to the procurement of a contractor. All going according to plan, the first digger would be on site in mid-2027 and construction would take up to two years. Funding is also said to have been ‘ring fenced.’
One of the proposed Barnesmore Gap Greenway trailheads at Biddy’s of Barnes. A new footbridge over the Lowerymore River can also been seen on the right.
The preferred route for the greenway has now been identified, with the main starting points at the John Bosco Centre in Donegal Town and The BASE Enterprise Centre in Stranorlar. One of the most spectacular legs of the route will no doubt be the old railway line which runs through the centre of Barnesmore Gap. There will also be trailheads/parking areas at Clar Chapel, Biddy’s of Barnes and at The Roadhouse Bar in Ballybofey, as well as a connection around Lough Eske.
Part of the plan will see an underpass under the main Donegal-Ballybofey road and the restoration of the old railway bridge over the River Finn at Navenny, Ballybofey.
For further information, and a map of the preferred route, go to www.barnesmoregapgreenway.ie
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