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Plans seem to be progressing once again on the stretch of greenway which will link Victoria Lock to the border and hence make the journey by foot or bike to Carlingford much safer. It appears the new stretch of greenway will see a boardwalk linking the lock to the border, along the scenic stretch commanding stunning views of Narrow Water Keep and the mouth of the Newry River.
Since the Carlingford Lough Greenway stretch from Albert Basin to Victoria Lock opened in 2018 it has always been the plan to link this through all the way to Carlingford, and eventually to Dundalk and onwards. An original plan to cross the Omeath Road at Victoria Lock, travel through Fathom Forest and then cross the road again at the border was beset by planning issues with DFI Roads not approving the crossings on the busy road.
The main reason for putting the route through Fathom Forest was the lack of space between road and water on the left hand side going towards Omeath. Now it seems that will be the chosen route. Originally it was one of the options ruled out but looking at drawings submitted on the planning portal it appears to be back in the mix. The solution will see a boardwalk travel along much of the route to the border with a gravel path in parts.
The proposed 4 metre wide timber boardwalk with steel structure and piles will be supplemented with a gravel path and timber post and rail fence in a middle section where land width is available.
Currently planning permission is only being sought for 75 metre and 130 metre sections at either end of the project but it is expected that planning permission will be applied for, for the remaining section shortly.
This project is funded by the European Union INTERREG VA programme managed by SEUPB who have agreed to an extension of the project to December 2023.
