Irish Transport Minister, Noel Dempsey has opened a new walking and cycling Greenway in Westport Town.

The 2.5km Greenway links Westport Quay to Altamount Street and creates new cycling and walking links between Westport’s urban areas, residential areas and schools.

The new greenway aims to encourage a shift to cycling and walking over short urban journeys. This is the first phase of the project, and the route will be extended to Knockranny later this year. The Greenway will then pass close by up to 60% of Westport Town’s urban population.

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The Department of Transport contributed €620,000 to the project, with Westport Town Council providing a further €420,000.

Other aspects of the project include the provision of bike stands and shelters in Westport and the Quay areas, the promotion of the route through the Green Schools programme, community awareness schemes, and monitoring and measurement of outcomes of the project.

The main target of the project is that 10% of all trips in the housing catchment of the greenway to be by bicycle by 2012.

Speaking at the opening, Minister Dempsey said: "It is this mix of infrastructure improvement, changing mindsets, community involvement, and measuring outcomes, that I am convinced will deliver a sustainable transport future for Ireland.

"This new project has a catchment area of over 3,000 people and is in a town that attracts around 950,000 visitors annually, so it really can make a difference."

(NS/GK)