New link will enhance riverside walking and cycling trail in Tipperary

The link between the Suir Blueway riverside walking and cycling track and the Old Bridge area of Clonmel is expected to be constructed in 2027, a meeting of Clonmel Borough District has heard.

In a report presented to the meeting, it was stated that the proposed project consists of an approximately 345 metres active travel link between Dungarvan Road and the Suir Blueway.

The Blueway link runs from the Dungarvan Road/William O’Brien Street junction in a northerly direction for approximately 100 metres before connecting to the top of the existing flood defence embankment.

The route then travels in a south-westerly direction along the top of the embankment for approximately 70 metres before turning in a northerly direction again for approximately 175 metres to meet the existing Suir Blueway. The maximum proposed grades on the Blueway Link will be five percent.

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The existing footpath on the northern side of Dungarvan Road will be reconstructed and widened along a length of approximately 75 metres to provide safe access to the Blueway link for cyclists and pedestrians.

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Where the existing vehicle access route to Old Bridge soccer club interacts with the proposed Blueway link, new pedestrian and vehicular gates will be provided. Ball-stop netting will be provided behind the existing goal posts on the eastern end of the soccer pitch.

The proposed project consists of a three metres-wide shared use path, with 0.5-one metre grass verges between Dungarvan Road and the Suir Blueway. Grass verges of one metre are provided for the majority of the project, except where space is constricted on top of the embankment, where verges will reduce to 0.5 metres along this section.

New car-parking facilities with 12 parking spaces will be provided at the rear of Michael Collins Row in the Old Bridge to service the Blueway Link.

The proposed car park entrance will be located on Dungarvan Road opposite William O’Brien Street. Removal of a tree and some existing vegetation is required at the car park entrance.

An existing outhouse including approximately 14 metre of wall, adjacent to an existing unoccupied house, is to be demolished to provide access to the car park. The unoccupied house will remain in place.

A controlled pedestrian crossing facility will be provided on Dungarvan Road to the east of the proposed Blueway Link.


A new culvert crossing of the existing watercourse along the north side of the existing flood defence embankment will be provided under the Blueway Link.

The proposed Blueway Link will have an asphalt surface finish and the reconstructed footpath will have a concrete surface finish.

Proposed drainage will generally consist of over-the-edge drainage along the Blueway Link route, relocated gullies connecting to existing drainage pipes along Dungarvan Road and new drainage pipes at the new car parking facilities.

Existing traffic signs, public lighting columns, utilities and drainage manholes may need to be relocated or removed as part of the works and new public lighting columns will be provided along the full length of the proposed Blueway Link.


Timber stud fencing will be provided along the majority of the Blueway Link route and around the proposed car park, with metal mesh fencing provided within the soccer club at both sides of the ball-stop netting.

Cllr Siobhán Ambrose said that overall it is a wonderful project.

She stated that submissions had been made by residents about the possibility for traffic calming for the section of the road outside Michael Collins Row and also at St Kevin’s Terrace.

She said that following representations, the pedestrian crossing would be a raised platform, but she didn’t think there was anything to slow traffic coming from the Dungarvan side.

The Mayor, Pat English, said the residents were happy enough with the proposal and he wished it well.

Kieran McKenna, Tipperary County Council’s Senior Executive Engineer, said the council would also have to work with the OPW on the project.

He acknowledged the concerns raised by the residents and said they would be taken into consideration.

A slow speed environment would be created in the area and this was something that would have to be monitored.