Appointment of Narrow Water Bridge contractor welcomed
Write a commentThe proposed Narrow Water Bridge. Image: Roughan and O'Donovan
The proposed Narrow Water Bridge. Image: Roughan and O'Donovan
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Public representatives have universally welcomed the news that a contractor has been appointed to build the long discussed Narrow Water Bridge between Warrenpoint and Omeath. BAM was awarded the contract yesterday. The opening bridge was forecast to cost €60m in 2022 and will take approximately 3 years to build. It seems that work could start as early as this month.
The Narrow Water Bridge will link from Narrow Water townland, Warrenpoint across the Newry River to Cornamucklagh townland, Omeath. The bridge will be cable-stayed with rolling bascule opening span that enables tall ships, leisure craft and other marine vessels access to the Victoria Lock and the Albert Basin in Newry, Co. Down. A control building is planned on the southern approach to the bridge to facilitate the opening of the bridge. The bridge will also connect to the Carlingford Lough Greenway giving walkers and cyclists a safe route from Newry, Omeath and Carlingford to Narrow Water.
Unbelievably while the bridge in its description specifically say it is to allow tall ships and leisure craft to access the Albert Basin in Newry, a decision made earlier this month by Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd in relation to another bridge will ensure this won't happen. The proposed Southern Relief Road bridge will sit over Newry Ship Canal just 3 miles away, and this bridge is to be a fixed bridge which will stop vessels from getting to Newry, including the colourful tall ships that take part each year in Iur Cinn Fleadh.
Transformative
Welcoming the news First Minister Michelle O'Neill said "I am absolutely delighted that the contract for the Narrow Water Bridge has been awarded, with work due to begin within weeks. This will be transformative for South Down and the Cooley areas, creating a wealth of opportunities and unlocking the huge potential to create good quality jobs, boost tourism and create a stronger, all-Ireland economy. An exciting time ahead for local communities in South Down and Louth!"
Unlocking South Down's potential
South Down MP Chris Hazzard also welcomed the announcement saying the delivery of this project is key to ‘unlocking South Down’s potential’. “It is welcome that a €60 million contract has been awarded to BAM for the building of the Narrow Water Bridge project.
“This long awaited project is moving another step closer to reality with work set to start in the coming fortnight for a period of 36 months." said Mr Hazzard.
The MP continued “It will be transformational for the local area and is key to unlocking South Down’s huge potential to create good quality jobs, boost tourism and to create a stronger, all-Ireland economy.
“Sinn Féin will continue supporting the Narrow Water Bridge project to ensure it is delivered to improve the lives of workers, families and local businesses across South Down.”
Bureaucratic small minded no vision nonsense
While welcoming the transformative bridge Newry and Armagh MLA Justin McNulty also spoke of the 'ill guided' decision to make the proposed Southern Relief Road Bridge fixed. "First and foremost I think today of the late SDLP South Down MLA PJ Bradley whose vision for a bridge at Narrow Water never wavered. Even when some said that would never happen and others said that it shouldn't happen PJ Bradley never lost faith in making that vision a reality. Indeed, even after PJ's passing his daughter Sinead Bradley, who succeeded him as an MLA fought tooth and nail to ensure that the Narrow Water Bridge Project was included in the New Decade New Approach deal in 2020.
"The announcement that Narrow Water Bridge is most definitely happening is extraordinary and transformative news for communities on both sides of Carlingford Lough, and all those who campaigned for many years to see the vision for this iconic cross border project realised. I want to pay tribute to the Irish government for their commitment to the Narrow Water Bridge Project. It is worth noting that they are the sole funders of this project and through the auspices of the then Taoiseach Micheal Martin Shared Island Unit they had the foresight and the wisdom to facilitate the inclusion of a lifting bridge to keep the local maritime history alive and to preserve access to the historic Albert Basin and Newry Ship Canal, the oldest shipping canal on these islands."
Mr McNulty spoke of what he called a short sighted decision to build a fixed bridge over Newry Ship Canal, "Ceann Comhairle I must confess, however that some of my delight is tinged with dismay. And I'm scratching my head literally scratching my head at the fact that the forward thinking nature of this project is presently being undermined by the short sighted and ill guided decision in the same month by a Sinn Fein Infrastructure Minister to cement the decision on a fixed bridge, merely a few 100 metres upstream in the estuary. My party's vision for the delivery of a truly north-south project at Narrow Water has been countermanded by the baffling fixed bridge decision on the Southern Relief Road.
He concluded "So much for Sinn Fein's all Ireland vision, or is that just for posters and echo chambers? I have lobbied extremely extensively for the reverse of this decision. My colleagues on Newry, Mourne and Down District Council have called on the Minister to see sense I hope beyond hope that today's announcement and the realisation that Narrow Water Bridge is progressing at pace will encourage the Minister to wake up and see the error of his ways. That is my message and I won't be letting it go. We have come too far and too many have fought too hard to have this visionary project overshadowed by bureaucratic small minded no vision nonsense."