Leixlip Cycle Pathway Canal

I'd much prefer a hard-surface too and I'd say most people would agree tbh. It's nice to be able to just throw on a pair of runners and go for a walk. It's a pain having to stick the hiking boots on and everything else that goes along with it, especially in/after the rain. The path then is essentially only useable by a very small amount of people.

It looks finished, even the lights have been installed now. Why can't they just remove the fences? This has been a complete joke so far.

Big unofficial gap in the fences either end still. Dispute still ongoing with no details given by either side still.

I got out at Lousia Bridge yesterday. Seems like the section west towards Maynooth is as before. I cycled back to the city. The section to Leixslip Confey is complete and accessible. Very nice too. Needs some planting to finish off though at the pathway side adjacent to fields. Lighting and seating and lock stations along the way. Abrupt stop at Confey Bridge with no throughpoint i.e. under the bridge. No further works evident beyond that all the way to the Deep Sinking where the nimbys live. At this rate it will be years before there is a Maynooth to Docklands clear run.

Do the lights on the 'new' section between Confey and Louisa Bridge stations work yet?

Noticed they weren't on at around 7pm, but it wasn't very dark yet - I was thinking they might turn on later in the evening.

The council's track record isn't great in that regard!

Seems like half the lights - the LB half - are now connected.

https://www.kfmradio.com/news/localnews/construction-works-on-the-royal-canal-greenway-from-maynooth-to-leixlip-continue-this-week/

I'm glad at least they seem to be doing different parts in parallel.

I followed up recently with Fingal CC on the Royal Canal Urban Greenway and they said they've had to re-do their internal plans, this was the response:

"As the project is currently at pre-planning stage there is a requirement to ensure the project preliminary design complies with the new cycling manual which was recently published. Therefore, this has resulted in the need to revise the preliminary design drawing for the project. These changes in the preliminary design requires the need to hold additional meetings with all the relevant key stakeholders to agree the revised design. These meetings will continue over the coming monthly to ensure a coordinated, high quality final design which compiles with the new cycling manual is achieved at interfaces between existing facilities and the proposed scheme.

Following completion of the preliminary design, all the required documents including the Environmental Impact Assessment Report will be prepared for a planning application to An Bord Pleanála."

So probably be waiting a good while yet for any progress from Leixlip into the city.

Edit: the updated manual was published a year ago this month it seems…