The skeleton of the new cycle and pedestrian bridge across the Shannon in Athlone should be in place by the end of September this year.
Work is due to start in earnest on the construction of the bridge early next month in order to abide by rules set out from Waterways Ireland.
No work can take place in the water during the salmon spawning season over the winter months and the aim is to have the main structure finished over the summer months.
Michael Kelly , who's Senior Executive Engineer with Westmeath Council explains that the first month will be taken up in putting a "cofferdam" in place which will allow building work to begin in the river:
"That gives them a dry working area to pile and cast the pilecap for the central pier and the plan is to get that done during May, June and July. The bridge itself is being fabricated in Spain, and being brought to Wansboro park in thirteen pieces and will be put together there like a jigsaw and taken down the river and lifted in three pieces and to get all that done and out of the river by the 30th of September."
