Cycling the grand canal

Is it possible to cycle the canal from the 12 Lock to Sallins on a road bike - aka, are the cycle path upgrade works substantionally finished?

Great to see the 12th lock to Hazelhatch is finally open. Looking forward to trying it out soon. Just Sallins to Edenderry to be upgraded now. Hopefully Kildare County Council are a lot more effective than their counterparts in Fingal where the missing link on the Royal Canal Greenway is taking forever.

Just did it yesterday, it's about 26km. Switching to the North bank at McEvoy's and back at the 12th lock

@Seth Brundle already mentioned that

Quick update on the footbridge over the Barrow Line

Looks like the last bits to do are tie the ramp into the first suspended section, and finish the ramp to ground level

Finally got to head out the Grand Canal this morning joining it at Rialto and going as far as Ardclough. The new section of Greenway is perfect and the surface is well compacted. Two cyclists and three dog-walkers encountered.

Cycled from 12th Lock to Sallins today. Bike got distroyed on the new gravel paths with grit getting everywhere. Be warned!

Isn't this why we have winter/beater bikes? Something you mind but don't care deeply for, and perhaps costing sub-5k although I reckon @fat bloke could sorely test those parameters.

Having taken the train to Monasterevin, cycled to Edenderry and then on to Tullamore on the Greenway a few months ago, I decided to complete the Tullamore to the Shannon section today. The east wind certainly helped although there was no sunshine this time but overall it didn't seem as enjoyable as the sections further east. Other than a few interesting ruined castles and Canal hotels, there were no towns, very few locks and virtually no visible wildlife. The fresh tarmac surface from near Pollagh onwards together with the wind helped the average speed of 26kph.

At Shannon Harbour, it was almost impossible to figure out where the canal stopped and the river began given the amount of flooding in the area. I continued on to Shannon Bridge where I crossed into Connaught and made it to Ballinasloe in good time for a coffee before catching the 1.50pm train back home. That leaves the Lowtown to Edenderry section still to do but I might need a gravel bike for that unless Kildare CoCo get their act together soon.

Sallins to Digby Bridge is fine on a road bike.

Digby Bridge to Robertstown is not at all doable on a road bike. I've done it on a gravel bike with 40mm tyres, but even that's slow going in spots. You'd probably put a road route together handy enough, though.

Robertstown to Edenderry is similar to the Digby bridge Robertstown section. Not suitable for a road bike, but there are roads you can follow.

If you get to Robertstown, might be worth following the Barrow Blueway heading towards Athy. You could stop and turn at any number of towns; Rathangan, Monasterevin, Fishers town, Vicarstown, or the whole way to Athy. Plenty of options for spots to stop for coffee and food too.

Was just about to ask the same question? Thanks for description by others. Are there any works going on by Kikdare Cc? Hopefully they can move things along quickly.

What's the deal with the new timber kissing gates at Hazelhatch? Do McEvoys own the towpath here? Every time I pass, it's more difficult to negotiate, not impossible, but definitely not accessible.