By Paul O’Malley

A Swinford area councillor has proposed that the old bridge at Cloongullane should become part of an eight-mile walking and cycling track between Swinford and Foxford.

Cllr Neil Cruise welcomed the impending opening of the new Cloongullane bridge and said it has provided a fantastic opportunity for the area in terms of active travel.

“It has been highlighted to us that there is a lack of capital projects in this area. A cycling and walking track between Swinford and Foxford would be an ideal capital project for this area. It is a greenway that would use existing infrastructure and that would cut the cost of investment.”

He suggested using the old bridge as part of this new project, adding: “It is a no-brainer.”

Cllr Cruise said the opening of the new bridge is a milestone success for the municipal district.

“In 2015, we removed the Cloongullane area from the funding for the N26 and the N5 and it is great to come to a meeting just over seven years later having removed one of county Mayo’s most notorious accident blackspots.”