Press Release: issued 30.04.09

Milestone Reached in Royal Canal Restoration

Waterways Ireland are delighted to announce that Lyneen Bridge, Co Longford, the last bridge to be restored under the programme of work on the Royal Canal has been completed and the road reopened on the 28th April 2009.

The programme of work costing approximately €2.3m, has involved the replacement of the concrete road culvert on the R398 adjacent to the masonry arch Lyneen Canal Bridge; the last structure blocking the Royal Canal channel.

The works also included the vertical and horizontal re-alignment of 680m of the regional road, the R398, and of approximately 200m of the adjacent county road, the importing of 70,000m3 of fill to construct the new embankments, and the replacement and extension of a large culvert on an adjacent salmonid classified river. All works was designed in accordance with the National Road Authority Design Guidelines.

Waterways Ireland project managed the contract and following public tendering procedures, awarded the design to Malachy Walsh & Partners and the works to Jons Civil Engineering.

The remaining works to be undertaken on the Royal Canal include the completion of works at Richmond Harbour, Clondra. Once a sustained water supply has been secured and all the restoration works completed a period of water testing will begin. At that time any remedial works required will be undertaken and the final stretch of the canal will be ready to be reopened to the Shannon Navigation.

Speaking about the project the Chief Executive of Waterways Ireland, John Martin stated 'Lyneen Bridge is the last bridge to be completed in the programme of nine bridges (7 public road bridges) to be refurbished or built to facilitate the reopening of the Royal Canal. Waterways Ireland is delighted to have reached this point and look forward to the completion of the canal and the reopening of the Royal Canal to the Shannon Navigation in 2010.'