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All has been quiet in recent months on progress of the Newry Southern Relief Road and its controversial plan to close the historic Newry Ship Canal to Tall Ships and high masted craft with the provision of a proposed 12 metre fixed bridge over the waterway. The bridge would bring to an end nearly 300 years of maritime history for Newry.
The Southern Relief Road plans to build a road from the Warrenpoint Dual Carriageway across the Clanrye River and Newry Ship Canal, over Fathom and Flagstaff to the A1 with the aim of making it easier for heavy goods vehicles to access and leave Warrenpoint Port.
A public consultation on the project was carried out in February/ March 2025 but results haven't been published to date. Newry.ie has managed to obtain a copy of the letter sent by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council opposing a fixed bridge. The letter followed a proposal by Newry City Councillor Doire Finn at the full Council meeting on 3 February. At that meeting Cllr Finn said "I'd like to ask that council reaffirms our opposition for any proposal for a fixed bridge through that consultation process".
On 27 February, Conor Mallon, Director of Enterprise, Regeneration and Tourism sent a short email to the consultation as follows:
"On behalf of Newry Mourne & Down District Council I respond to the public consultation as follows,
"At the Council meeting of 3rd February 2025 Newry Mourne and Down District Council agreed to respond to the
ongoing consultation by the Department for Infrastructure on the Newry Southern Relief Road to affirm its opposition for any proposal on a fixed bridge."
It's not known how much weight this will carry as part of the consultation but as owners of Newry Ship Canal the decision by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council to declare they are opposed to a fixed bridge over what is their property must be taken seriously by the Department for Infrastructure.
We have asked DfI for information regarding the consultation.
