Construction began today on the first new pedestrian bridge to be built across the River Shannon from east to west in the last 50 years.
There will be €3.2m spent on the new walkway, which is to be built on top of an historic weir, linking Offaly and Galway.
The walkway will be over 300m in length, three times the size of the pedestrian bridge proposed for Athlone and is expected to be concluded by 2020.
Limerick and Athlone have both been locked in a planning race for months to try to start work on the bridge, but today a small Co Galway community will steal the honours.
Meelick Weir was originally built in the 1790s as part of the work done by British authorities to control the flow of water on the River Shannon and leave it at safe levels for boat users.
It links the historic village in Galway with Lusmagh, Co Offaly through Victoria Lock, but was severely damaged in the storms of 2009 and 2015.
Waterways Ireland is to repair the weir and the works will involve the restoration of the weir boards, as well as replacement of lock gates and jetties.
However, special focus will be placed on strengthening the infrastructure and re-opening the pedestrian and hiking route for tourists travelling from east to west.
Éanna Rowe of Waterways Ireland says the development is truly historical.
He said: "Re-opening the connectivity between the communities of Lusmagh in Leinster and Meelick in Connacht and the re-instatement of the walking link to the historic Hymanny tourism trail is a hugely positive and significant development for both communities."
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