While progress on the Broadmeadow Way is visible from passing trains, Fingal County Council has explained that due to measures to protect wildlife, work on the project is limited to certain times of the year, and the project is set to be opened in 2026.
The shared surface greenway will be around 6km long between Malahide and Newbridge Demesne in Donabate.
The €30 million route will run alongside the Irish Rail northern line on the railway company’s structures and a new bridge linking those, as well as via existing roads and paths and through a small section of agricultural land in Donabate.
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In a project update last week, the council stated: “The estuary is designated as a Special Area of Conservation and a Special Protection Area, so works within the estuary are limited to certain times of the year. Construction has been divided into different works packages which will be delivered in stages. The opening of Broadmeadow Way will be in 2026.”
“The construction of the Broadmeadow Way is well underway, a new greenway (shared footpath and cycleway) between Malahide Demense and Newbridge Demense via the railway causeway along the Malahide Estuary,” the council said.
It said that the provision of the greenway is a long-standing objective for the area and is being delivered by the Council with funding provided by the National Transport Authority and facilitated by Irish Rail.
Fingal said: “Walkers and cyclists will enjoy breath-taking views across Broadmeadow Estuary, with its rich variety of flora and fauna. The greenway will benefit tourists, day trippers and locals alike and will positively impact the local economy and environment by offering an alternative to car journeys from Malahide to Donabate and back.”
The council said that the greenway will connect to the proposed Sutton to Malahide Greenway at Malahide and the proposed Fingal Coastal Way at Newbridge Demesne. All three projects are eventually expected to come under the Fingal Coastal Way brand and will also form part of the even longer East Coast Trail, which is planned to join up sections across different council areas.
The route will also link with the Donabate Distributor Road and Corballis East lands through the proposed Nature Park, south of the Donabate Distributor Road.
The council added: “It will be an important link in developing the network of sustainable transport routes in Fingal. The Broadmeadow Way will stand alone as a beautiful, coastal walking and cycling amenity.”
