Construction of the Narrow Water Bridge is to start after a visit this morning (4 June) by Taoiseach Simon Harris, Tánaiste Micheál Martin and Minister Malcolm Byrne to Omeath Pier in Co Louth. The North’s Minister for Infrastructure John O’Dowd MLA will also attend.

The long-awaited structure will consist of a two-span cable-stayed bridge of an asymmetric arrangement with a total bridge structure length of 195 metres. The northern span of the bridge will be a rolling bascule movable span providing, when opened, an unlimited vertical clearance for at least a 20m wide navigational channel.

The bridge will provide for pedestrian, cycle, and vehicular access across its span, with links to the new Carlingford Lough Greenway, and will also provide navigational movements along the Newry River for accessing Victoria Lock and the Albert Basin.

Better access

The bridge will connect the A2 Newry to Warrenpoint dual carriageway in the North with the R173 at Omeath in the Republic and will allow better access between Warrenpoint and Rostrevor in the North and Carlingford in the Republic.

Carlingford Lough is already a popular tourism destination.

An allocation of €102 million, plus VAT, is being made from the Shared Island Fund for the contract to deliver this project, which is expected to provide new tourism and connectivity potential to the east border region.

It will aid cross-border active travel and recreational activities in the Carlingford Lough region – including greenways, mountain-bike trails, and use of walking routes and beaches.

Taoiseach Simon Harris TD said: “I want to pay tribute to the communities and politicians from all parties and none in both Ireland and Northern Ireland who campaigned for a Narrow Water Bridge for decades. The mountains meet the sea all along this stretch of stunning coastline and this bridge will be a game-changer for commerce, daily life and tourism in this part of our shared island.”

Today’s announcement follows a tender process conducted by Louth County Council, in accordance with the Public Spending Code, and overseen by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in consultation with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland.