Anyone know when this is due to finish?
Seems to be taken an age on the project and seems to be very little progress whats the hold up?
The part between Confey and Louisa Bridge which is under development atm is due to open at some stage this month afaik.
No idea about the rest of it around Leixlip or Maynooth.
Anyone know if it's planned to do work between Maynooth and Kilcock? Part of that is pretty rough and would be great if they'd a track there better suited to cycling.
The greenway between Maynooth and Kilcock is long since finished.
That's disappointing I must say. It's more like a dirt track than a pathway, slightest bit of rain and it's barely accessbile in parts.
You’re confusing what’s between Maynooth and Leixlip.
I get that, Maynooth to Leixlip is a disgrace. However Maynooth to Kilcock is also pretty crap too. Both should be properly paved.
There's nothing wrong with Maynooth -> Kilcock in my opinion.
If you've ever been on Grand Canal from Lucan towards Dublin it's night and day compared to the Maynooth / Kilcock section
The only issue with Maynooth to Kilcock is that the closest part to Maynooth (where it backs on to the university) isn’t great after heavy rain.
Other than that it is fine for walkers, runners, cyclists, even people with prams and buggies.
Any word on when the section between Maynooth and Leixlip Louisa will be carried out?
As soon as the Confey to Louisa section is done
"Fine" - as in enough to do the job, yes.
It's OK. There's still puddles, sludgey bits, gravel all over it.
Compared to other greenways and parts of the canal, it's crap.
Maynooth-Leixlip is far worse, but that doesn't make Maynooth-Kilcock good.
Its basically an old canal towpath, that's what they are like. Some walkers like them like that. But not so good for other people on road bike, wheelchairs etc.
But the entire route (Shannon to Liffey quays) is due to be upgraded to a high standard of tarmc with concrete kerbs.
It appears to be completed from Louisabridge to Confey - but still fenced off. Does anyone know when this stretch will open?
I see the works are still going on on the louisa bridge to confey section, must be the slowest build ever.
looks at though it will continue on until end of June at least, does the same contractor have the next section between maynooth and louisa bridge?
Yes, its still fenced off. Its shocking how long its been closed for. It actually looked like it was completed back in March/April, but was fenced off. How long has it been closed in total?
Is this site correct that it was closed in November 2022? (originally for "3 months"!)
https://royalcanalrunner.com/2020/06/27/walking-on-the-royal-canal-confey-to-maynooth/
That's correct. Originally due to open around St. Patrick's Day.
Hard to understand the delay. Seems like a very simple job. If it takes that long for a short section, it will be years before the Leixlip-Maynooth section is ready.
Any update on the greenway at Leixlip? (if anyones been up there) Is it open now, or other sections closed off? thanks
Last weekend it was accessable from the Confey end from route under bridge with a wire fence slightly ajar that you could exit on the LB end.
A lot of ground works took place, noticably raised path stretches to prevent flooding... (Speculation) And path significantly widened throughout. There are lamp posts awaiting light fittings. Otherwise it looks finished.
Seems like they’ve sealed off both ends again, and are still doing the final cleanup jobs.
Another point re: Maynooth - Kilcock - presumably light fittings are required and not present. I hope the powers that be do not accept Maynooth - Kilcock stretch of the greenway to be completed.
Maynooth to Kilcock was completed years ago and won't be touched now.
Are you referring to Maynooth to Louisa Bridge?
No I mean Maynooth to Kilcock. It's a dirt track as a pathway - that's not what a greenway should be.
It's fine. It doesn't need to be tarmac. Walkers, joggers, cyclists, buggies, wheelchairs and so on all are fine on it.
I agree, but “greenway” standard will mean wide tarmac all the way.
they are even ripping up old concrete and tarmac on the canal in Dublin City to meet the new requirements.
The sections in the city are also getting other infra works under the surface (e.g. ESB) along with reinforcement (I think). In addition, much of surface along the sections there is absolute crap and would need to be replaced. These sections are expected to be used quite heavily so a grit surface simply wouldn't cope.
I'm not saying that the pathway / greenway from Maynooth to Kilcock is in dire need of upgrade and nowhere near as bad as Maynooth - Leixlip is or was, but the surface is poor in many parts. If you walk along it your shoes are filthy as it's a dirt track. I can't believe the surface is in anyway suitable for wheelchairs and it's not ideal for cycling either. Maynooth and Kilcock should be significant parts of the greenway with lots of stop off points for anyone cycling along there and it's not good enough to have the path in it's current format.
With a finite budget available and also with limited availability of workers to work on our greenways (actually, blueways!), I'd rather they did up the hundreds of kilometres of greenway/canal paths that are currently in an extremely poor state (to the point of being unusable for many) over the upgrade of sections simply because your shoes might get a bit dirty.
Well that was just one point. It's also completely impassable after a period of rain, so where you've got the view that its fit for purpose for wheelchair users is beyond me. There's no lighting either. So by a very very low standard yes it ticks the box.
You ever walked it after the rain?
I use hiking boots mostly when walking on trails in damp weather.
If I’m running, wet runners are the price you have to pay for getting your exercise on soft ground that’s less damaging to you joints than concrete or tarmac.
There was a proposal to tarmac the barrow way years back, and it was opposed, locals mostly felt that overall something was being lost forever, worth more than what they’d gain.
tarmac still seems to be rejected
As much as I enjoy cycling too, the “nature” aspect of the towpaths are killed off by the wide tarmac greenway standard which goes almost right up to the water. And the modern streetlights on the Leixlip sections. The space
maybe limited in parts, but there isn’t much consideration for mixed-use activities. I.e. the hikers, runners, bird watchers, anglers etc.
Id imagine it will kill of most of the long-distance hiking, not many will want to do the “national famine way” all the way on tarmac.
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