Cycling the grand canal

Yep - have done it a couple of times the last few weeks - nothing happening there. Its fairly rough with dried out ruts making it bumpy ride.

From Edenderry to Daingean today. I got quite annoyed with the number of gates built. By all means have sets say 20m East and West of all road junctions to keep horses, motorcycles etc out, but a second pair tight to the tow path under each bridge was uncalled for. Such traffic calming on the long level is a bit ott. Further construction should revisit this build pattern.

They do read this thread, right?

As a Northsider, I'm a lot more familiar with the Royal Canal as I cycle and walk sections of it fairly frequently. The Grand has been a bit of a mystery so I decided I would explore some of the nearer wilder sections on the bike last Monday. I started from just beyond Adamstown on the R120 and headed west to Robertstown. I knew a gravel bike would be more suitable but, in the absence of same, relied on my Cannondale Synapse with 28mm tyres.

The first 4.5km to Hazelhatch was certainly wild and a good test of the Synapse's flexibility and my concentration. After a longish dry period, the surface was rock hard with a narrow bumpy clay strip running through the grass. Keeping up any kind of decent average was hard on the body and the bike. The next 6.5km to Ponsonby Bridge beyond Ardclough was the other extreme being either compacted grit or tarmac with the slight disadvantage of sharing the narrow road with the odd car or two. 6km of relatively flat clay and grass brought me to Sallins and a very welcome coffee and scone. I was able to average about 20km/h on this without too much bouncing around. The next 4km to Digby Bridge was paved but but with plenty of potholes from what I remember before a km of clay to Landenstown, another km of roadway with the final 5km or so to Robertstown being relatively smooth clay and grass.

A few observations:

• with the exception of the first stretch to Hazelhatch, 28mm tyres were fine but only because of the effects of the dry spell. I would imagine it would be a verry different story when wet.
• a number of the gates/barriers were worse than any on the Royal and I had to lift the bike over a few.
• the considerable growth along the verge meant that the canal couldn't actually be seen on some of the stretches.
• along most of the 29km the towpath seemed relativey wide with plenty of space for a paved cyclepath.
• there was no sign anywhere of any works being carried out on this section.
• the 17km to Sallins took about an hour (with photo-stops) and the remaining 12km to Robertstown another 40mins.

It’s disappointing that they haven’t even looked like starting the 12th lock to Hazelhatch Section.I understood it was to be finished by the end of the summer this year. I wonder what the hold up is.

Not sure if there's a separate thread on this but I commuted using the grand canal yesterday.

adamstown to city centre in the morning.

I only did this as I met a neighbour of mine on the way in who said it was much improved in the morning.

and it was fine. still in the evening I felt a lot more apprehensive. lots of vaguely dodgy folk around on ebikes and scooters. There were 2 guards patrolling on bikes which was welcome.. I'm still not sure if I'd use it regularly in the evening especially as the light fades

Quick update on the Barrow Way sections near me.

The section from Umeras bridge to McCartney's bridge has the sub base laid about halfway, and then it's grass (muck) to McCartney's.

From McCartney's to Shepard's brook bridge (or the High bridge, if you're local) looks to have top dressing in place and ready to be opened, but it's still fenced off both ends.

Have they actually started the Lucan to Sallins route? Is this the start of it above from the Sallins end?

I saw some signs up for this closure today https://afloat.ie/inland/inland-waterways/item/56905-grand-canal-greenway-closure-between-locks-8-and-9-for-services-works anyone know what the services are or more importantly what the detour route is?

The towpath is completely closed between Parkwest/Fox and Geese and the 9th lock in Clondalkin. There are no diversion signs to follow or any attempt to accommodate canal users part of the footpath on the Nagor road was also closed today with no safe crossing. I pity someone not familiar with the area too it would be easy enough to get lost trying to find your way back to the canal depending on which way you turn at either closure.

It's a disaster heading outbound this evening the layout and traffic on the Nangor road makes it difficult/dangerous to try to turn right on 9th lock road to rejoin the canal. The footpath on the canal side of the Nangor road is actually closed as part of these works for the same distance again with little signage or accommodation for displaced users. So much for promoting active travel this is a key artery into the city and a large section has been closed with zero regards for its users.

I submitted a complaint on the Waterways Ireland page but got no reply. I also mentioned the amount of leaves on the path that should be removed as its very bad in places. The junction with the 9th lock road is particularly bad insult to injury they cleaned the closed section a week or so ago!

Seems like kind of a long time for the distance involved, but progress is progress

I presume the plan to to complete as far as the border, but according to the article above, your looking at 9 months to go, best case 1.6 miles, worst case ⅔ of a mile.

Even if there was a mistake in the article, and they're going to Killeen golf course, not Naas golf course, that's probably still just shy of 3 miles, although it would make more sense (there's a bridge with exits from the canal path to the road)

Vicarstown to Milltown bridge is done, work has commenced on the final few kms from Milltown bridge to Athy

Which lock # is that?

Super pic.