Plans for a new cycleway connecting Athlone to Galway have hit a stumbling block with confirmation that RPS, the consultants behind the project, are stepping away.
In a statement from Westmeath County Council today, it said that RPS had informed the local authority that the project is no longer financially viable, citing the complexity and scale of the route and upward market pressures.
"Due to the complexity and scale of the 200km Preferred Route together with upward market pressures in recent years RPS have advised Westmeath County Council that the project is no longer financially viable, having regard to the fixed price tender sum for the contract as signed in 2019 and have sought mutual termination under the contract with immediate effect," the statement said.
RPS Consulting Engineers were appointed to provide engineering, planning, environmental and other services for the cycleway.
Westmeath County Council said in a statement that to "minimise any delay on the project, the parties have agreed to now enter into a process to deal with the issues to hand".
It said that as the lead authority, it is exploring various approaches to identify the "most appropriate and effective mechanism for progressing and delivering the scheme".
The local authority said that landowner liaison will continue and will not be impacted.
The development comes following the opening of a new cycleway bridge across the River Shannon in Athlone in August.
The cycleway is part of a national route from Dublin to Galway, with the project moving through counties Westmeath, Roscommon and Galway.
It is intended to form part of an international network of long-distance cycling trails in Europe.
