The Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) previously recommended funding of approximately €17.4m from the INTERREG IVA programme for the bridge across the Newry River at Narrow Water. This then required the sanction of the Dept of Finance & Personnel as the accountable department in Northern Ireland.
The SEUPB is responsible for managing two EU structural funds programmes - PEACE III and INTERREG IVA - designed to enhance cross-border co-operation, promote reconciliation and create a more peaceful and prosperous society. The programmes operate in Northern Ireland, the Border Region of Ireland and, in the case of INTERREG IVA, Western Scotland.
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The €18.3m project was also approved last year by the planning authorities in Northern Ireland and by An Bord Pleanála in the Republic of Ireland.
The single-carriageway, 195 metres cable-stayed Narrow Water Bridge will connect Cornamucklagh near Omeath, Co Louth with Narrow Water near Warrenpoint, Co Down and the total length of the proposed scheme is 620m while the towers have a height of 90m and 37m respectively.
The current Narrow Water Bridge project commenced in 2008 when Louth County Council engaged Roughan O’Donovan Consulting Engineers to design a bridge in keeping with the outstanding natural beauty in the area. The same company designed the soon-to-be named Mary McAleese Boyne Valley Bridge on the M1 Dublin-Belfast motorway.
Cllr Finnan McCoy, Cathaoirleach, Louth County Council, said: "This bridge has tremendous potential to unlock some of the finest natural amenities on this island with wonderful mountain ranges and seascapes easily accessible to a much wider audience. There is a natural visitor area that is currently artificially split by the river and this bridge will help to bring that together and make much more complete touring possible for locals and visitors alike. Delivering the physical infrastructure of the bridge and approach roads will obviously have a very positive spinoff in terms of direct construction and engineering jobs but it’s the longer legacy benefits that will bring the real return on investment. Given this, it’s great to see a further milestone reached on the project."
(CD/MH)
