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The Department for Infrastructure is planning to appoint design consultants in the coming months to investigate a 'Newry inner city greenway' which it is hoped would link the Newry Canal Towpath to the Carlingford Lough Greenway (although DfI would only say that they will 'consider' that linkage)
Whether it is actually delivered would be the big question with DfI adding "Future delivery will be subject to successful design, planning and construction processes and budget availability."
The initiative is part of the Department for Infrastructure's Active Travel Delivery Plan which underwent a consultation process earlier this year. In the plan it was suggested that Newry would get the 'Newry Inner City Greenway' in addition to an active travel priority route which they suggested would be from the A25 Camlough Road to Needham Bridge via Jennings Park although this 'priority route' could take up to ten years to build.
In November 2022 Newry, Mourne and Down District Council produced a 'Newry Greenway Feasibility Study' with two suggested routes a purple corridor and a red corridor. The purple corridor basically doesn't offer anything new but just follows existing infrastructure while the red corridor is much more ambitious travelling as it does across a lock gate beyond WIN Business Park and staying between the Newry Canal and Clanrye River, through the Translink station all the way to the Albert Basin and greenway. A suggested diversion would take it along The Mall to avoid the bus station, although this wouldn't be ideal.
In reply to a query from Newry.ie enquiring about the potential route a DfI spokesperson said: “ The Newry Inner City Greenway will consider linkages between existing active travel infrastructure such as Newry Canal Towpath and Carlingford Lough Greenway. It is anticipated that design consultants will be appointed in the coming months to commence scheme design. Future delivery will be subject to successful design, planning and construction processes and budget availability."
A safe linkage between Newry Canal Towpath and the Carlingford Lough Greenway for walkers and cyclists is something that would contribute majorly to the city, lets hope it happens.
