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The Department for Infrastructure has confirmed that a non-opening 50 metre fixed bridge has been adopted as its preferred option for Newry Ship Canal citing poor value for money as its reasoning!
The proposed bridge is to form part of the Newry Southern Relief Road (NSRR) and the bridge will end shipping traffic in Newry Ship Canal forever.
The Department say they will now proceed with the preparation of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report and associated consultation based on a fixed bridge.
The proposed new bridge will provide clearance for vessels under 12 metres in height, a clearance that wouldn't allow most of the ships currently in the Albert Basin to get in or out.
In the absence of a Minister, the Permanent Secretary for the Department has made the decision under the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2022. The decision has been taken after detailed consideration of a range of factors, including engineering, economic, heritage impact and environmental assessments.
Careful consideration has also been given to whether it is in the public interest to take a decision at this stage. The decision has been taken on the basis of poor value for money associated with an opening bridge option, the fact that scheme will be subject to further public consultation as well as the negative financial and economic impacts associated with project delays.
The Southern Relief Road is planned to link the A1/N1 Belfast to Dublin road and the A2 Warrenpoint Road, bypassing Newry City Centre. Belfast Region City Deal, has allocated £93.4m to the project.
Separately the cross border Narrow Water Bridge project championed by the Irish Government just a couple of km away, linking Warrenpoint to the Omeath area is planned as an opening bridge. The tender document for the project explaining the bridge says "It is a cable-stayed bridge 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."
