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Newry and Armagh MLA Justin McNulty has said that he is baffled by the Infrastructure Minister’s decision to proceed with a fixed bridge on the Southern Relief Road that will block access to Newry Canal forever to the yachts and tall ships that can currently use it. It's part of the Southern Relief Road Project that involves a road being built from the Warrenpoint Dual Carriageway to the A1 Belfast to Dublin Road.
Speaking on the announcement by Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd to build a fixed bridge over the protected monument Mr McNulty said “I find this decision to be extraordinarily short-sighted and completely baffling. We already know that the Irish Government is funding the construction of a lifting bridge on the Narrow Water Bridge Project to allow ships to come up Newry Canal into the Albert Basin.
“Why then has the Infrastructure Minister decided to go on a solo run, and completely countermand the Irish Government’s initiative to protect Newry’s proud history as a maritime town?"
The Newry and Armagh MLA added “I am at a loss to understand why a Sinn Féin Minister is failing to grasp the opportunity to work in tandem with the Irish Government to deliver a transformative project that would see the completion of a key infrastructure project, whilst maintaining harmony between waterways North and South, as well as protecting the integrity of Newry’s proud history as a shipping town.
“There is no logic in this decision, and there would be no coming back from a wrong decision. The Minister needs to hold his hands up, admit how ridiculous the proposal is, and do the sensible thing. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity, let’s not miss it because of a lack of vision or ambition for Newry.”
