TO: A/Senior Executive Officer, Strategic Projects and Public Realm Team, Housing and Regeneration Dept, Level 3, Kildare County Council Aras Chill Dara, Devoy Park, Naas
Overview and Historic Perspective
Sallins is the gem in Ireland's transport heritage crown. The arrival of the Greenway in 2023 added another instalment to the localities witness to transport innovation in Ireland. The Leinster Aqueduct built in 1783 enabled the progress of the Grand Canal, the engineering wonder of the 18th century, the Tullow railway link from Sallins in 1883 highlighted the dominance of rail in the 19th century while the Naas Bypass, part of the M7 motorway to the south of Sallins was the first instalment in the Republic's extensive motorway network. Sallins was again bypassed ina north south axis in 2021 providing much relief to congestion in Sallins Village. The new bypass has removed much through traffic from the village centre which in turn has created the space to enhance cycling and walking infrastructure with the provision of segregated cycle tracks and footpaths and connectivity to existing active travel routes including the new Grand Canal Greenway. In addition, the bypass has improved access to public transport routes, in particular Sallins train station.
Now, in the 21st century the Grand Canal Greenway heralds the emphasis on a sustainable, low-impact modal travel shift, making use of a canal-side routeway which blends in with the natural and built environment.
The purpose of the Grand Canal Greenway
Each of the previous iterations of lines of communication down through the centuries, be it Grand canal, rail or roadway, were each perceived as progressive and timely modal shifts to the next best mode of transport. Now, in the 21st century, a new modal shift Is required to;
(1) align with the hierarchy of roads users prioritising safe segregation of vulnerable road users, namely pedestrians and cyclists,
(2) to shift from fossil fuelled vehicular travel to active travel, that's walking and cycling and progressively embrace e-bikes and scooters powered from our increasingly decarbonizing National Grid using sustainable and renewable energy to replace carbon emitting fossil fuels sources.
While this part 8 is localised to Sallins it does form part of the 38.5 km long Grand Canal Greenway in Kildare which is completed from the eastern county border with Dublin and work is to progress on the Western stretch to the townland of Clonkeen on the Offaly border. However this huge project of National and indeed International significance, which extends beyond the Kildare border will link Dublin city centre all the way across the Midlands through the Bog of Allen to the Shannon at Shannonbridge. Southwards from past Lowtown the canal joins with the Barrow Blueway which opens up parts of our county which are otherwise rarely visited by tourists. Indeed examples of potential tourism focal points which will develop as a result of Greenway and Blueway development are the canalside village of Robertstown, the proposed national peatlands park at Umeras, the “Venice of Ireland” which is Monasterevin and the Athy Shackleton heritage Museum currently under renovation.
The Grand Canal Greenway will also facilitate local commutes using active travel to schools, shops, sports facilities and entertainment hotspots as envisioned by the 10 minute town model.
The centuries old legacy of Sallins as a Tranport focal point hub continues with the opening of the Grand Canal Greenway
Specifically regarding the proposed R407 crossing point at the heart of Sallins, it should be noted that the two ramps were not originally designed for private car use. Moreover, the ramps were to facilitate “active travel” of the four legged variety, namely the stable of draught horses that were originally employed to pull the canal barges, laden down with agricultural produce such as cereals and timber and foot passengers enroute to Dublin. Upon return, the hold would be filled with manufactured goods to supply midland provincial towns and sometimes wooden barrels of Guinness!
Unusually, when compared with other bridges traversing the Grand canal, the canal bridge in Sallins was not built sufficiently wide enough to allow the towpath to continue beneath the bridge and thus the ramps were constructed to allow the untethered towing horses to cross the R407 road.
The perpendicular and rigidly square design of the bridge off ramps which are set at sharp right angles to the main road were designed to facilitate the passage of a handful of horses and barge crew to cross the R407 daily at walking pace. The ramps were not designed to accommodate high volumes of cars, vans and trucks to make a sharp right angled turn near the summit of the bridge where oncoming traffic, including vulnerable road users, thats cyclists and pedestrians on the adjoining pathway, are not visible to the turning drivers.
Indeed in the time of the horse drawn barges it would not have been possible to park any other horse drawn carriages or pony & traps, the modern equivalent being trucks, SUV’s and private cars, along the canalside as they would have snagged the towrope harnessing the canal barge to the draught horses.
Conclusion
This Part 8, the proposed creation of a Grand Canal Greenway link through Sallins is a continuation of the progressive role “Na Solláin” has played as a fulcrum for progressing major lines of communication and transport across the country throughout the centuries.
Tuairimí
TO: A/Senior Executive Officer, Strategic Projects and Public Realm Team, Housing and Regeneration Dept, Level 3, Kildare County Council Aras Chill Dara, Devoy Park, Naas
Overview and Historic Perspective
Sallins is the gem in Ireland's transport heritage crown. The arrival of the Greenway in 2023 added another instalment to the localities witness to transport innovation in Ireland. The Leinster Aqueduct built in 1783 enabled the progress of the Grand Canal, the engineering wonder of the 18th century, the Tullow railway link from Sallins in 1883 highlighted the dominance of rail in the 19th century while the Naas Bypass, part of the M7 motorway to the south of Sallins was the first instalment in the Republic's extensive motorway network. Sallins was again bypassed ina north south axis in 2021 providing much relief to congestion in Sallins Village. The new bypass has removed much through traffic from the village centre which in turn has created the space to enhance cycling and walking infrastructure with the provision of segregated cycle tracks and footpaths and connectivity to existing active travel routes including the new Grand Canal Greenway. In addition, the bypass has improved access to public transport routes, in particular Sallins train station.
Now, in the 21st century the Grand Canal Greenway heralds the emphasis on a sustainable, low-impact modal travel shift, making use of a canal-side routeway which blends in with the natural and built environment.
The purpose of the Grand Canal Greenway
Each of the previous iterations of lines of communication down through the centuries, be it Grand canal, rail or roadway, were each perceived as progressive and timely modal shifts to the next best mode of transport. Now, in the 21st century, a new modal shift Is required to;
(1) align with the hierarchy of roads users prioritising safe segregation of vulnerable road users, namely pedestrians and cyclists,
(2) to shift from fossil fuelled vehicular travel to active travel, that's walking and cycling and progressively embrace e-bikes and scooters powered from our increasingly decarbonizing National Grid using sustainable and renewable energy to replace carbon emitting fossil fuels sources.
While this part 8 is localised to Sallins it does form part of the 38.5 km long Grand Canal Greenway in Kildare which is completed from the eastern county border with Dublin and work is to progress on the Western stretch to the townland of Clonkeen on the Offaly border. However this huge project of National and indeed International significance, which extends beyond the Kildare border will link Dublin city centre all the way across the Midlands through the Bog of Allen to the Shannon at Shannonbridge. Southwards from past Lowtown the canal joins with the Barrow Blueway which opens up parts of our county which are otherwise rarely visited by tourists. Indeed examples of potential tourism focal points which will develop as a result of Greenway and Blueway development are the canalside village of Robertstown, the proposed national peatlands park at Umeras, the “Venice of Ireland” which is Monasterevin and the Athy Shackleton heritage Museum currently under renovation.
The Grand Canal Greenway will also facilitate local commutes using active travel to schools, shops, sports facilities and entertainment hotspots as envisioned by the 10 minute town model.
The centuries old legacy of Sallins as a Tranport focal point hub continues with the opening of the Grand Canal Greenway
Specifically regarding the proposed R407 crossing point at the heart of Sallins, it should be noted that the two ramps were not originally designed for private car use. Moreover, the ramps were to facilitate “active travel” of the four legged variety, namely the stable of draught horses that were originally employed to pull the canal barges, laden down with agricultural produce such as cereals and timber and foot passengers enroute to Dublin. Upon return, the hold would be filled with manufactured goods to supply midland provincial towns and sometimes wooden barrels of Guinness!
Unusually, when compared with other bridges traversing the Grand canal, the canal bridge in Sallins was not built sufficiently wide enough to allow the towpath to continue beneath the bridge and thus the ramps were constructed to allow the untethered towing horses to cross the R407 road.
The perpendicular and rigidly square design of the bridge off ramps which are set at sharp right angles to the main road were designed to facilitate the passage of a handful of horses and barge crew to cross the R407 daily at walking pace. The ramps were not designed to accommodate high volumes of cars, vans and trucks to make a sharp right angled turn near the summit of the bridge where oncoming traffic, including vulnerable road users, thats cyclists and pedestrians on the adjoining pathway, are not visible to the turning drivers.
Indeed in the time of the horse drawn barges it would not have been possible to park any other horse drawn carriages or pony & traps, the modern equivalent being trucks, SUV’s and private cars, along the canalside as they would have snagged the towrope harnessing the canal barge to the draught horses.
Conclusion
This Part 8, the proposed creation of a Grand Canal Greenway link through Sallins is a continuation of the progressive role “Na Solláin” has played as a fulcrum for progressing major lines of communication and transport across the country throughout the centuries.