Construction work has been completed on the Orange Loop one way westbound traffic system in Athlone, Co Westmeath, as part of the €4 million Church Street Enhancement Project.

The scheme aims to revitalise Athlone's central shopping area.

The Orange Loop will reopen for all vehicles except HGVs this Friday, 11 May.

Works to the top of Griffith Street are also expected to be completed on schedule, allowing one way westbound traffic to flow through the town.

As the works progress along Church Street there will be diversions of traffic onto the Strand but vehicle and pedestrian access to Church Street will continue to be maintained throughout.

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Major Aegnus O'Rourke said: "The newly enhanced, high quality area, due to be completed in 2018, will be an inviting, welcoming space for shoppers, tourists, pedestrians and the wider local community, allowing the area to flourish as a thriving shopping, business and social district.

"The overall aim of the project is to reinvigorate the retail viability of the area by creating more opportunities for people to gather and spend time, contributing to the economic development of the town centre.

"A new public space at Custume Place will provide a greatly improved image of Church Street when approaching from the heritage/Shannon area of the town. This will include a plaza area complete with street furniture, bicycle stands and street lighting, as well as planters with flower beds, foliage and native trees. Natural native materials, including granite and Irish blue limestone will be used throughout."

(CM/MH)