Springfield tunnel to accommodate pedestrians

As part of work on the new trunk sewer in Mullingar, a tunnelled walkway for pedestrians will be provided at the Springfield approach to Mullingar"s town centre, replacing the existing tunnel linking Springfield with the end of Friar"s Mill Road, Cllr. Mick Dollard was told.In a letter to Cllr. Dollard, Ray Kenny, Westmeath County Council"s Water Services and Environment Director, said that during work on the new trunk sewer, the Council is required by Waterways Ireland to close the Royal Canal.'It is the Council"s intention, subject to a successful Part 8 planning process, to also place a new Brosna River culvert and new pedestrian sub-way under the canal during this period,' Mr. Kenny said.The Council intends to place the new trunk sewer under the Royal Canal, just east of the existing pedestrian tunnel at Springfield.Cllr. Dollard said that the new tunnel will be three metres (just under ten feet) wide and two metres (just over six and half feet) high, and will be floodlit.The work will commence in mid February, and will be completed in mid May. As a result of the development, the existing tunnel at Springfield will be blocked off by the Council.