Write a commentThe long anticipated 5.7km stretch of the New Carlingford Lough Greenway will be open for use from this Friday 4 May.
The section of the Carlingford Lough Greenway, from Dublin Road Bridge in Newry through the Albert Basin site and along Middlebank as far as Victoria Lock, has now been completed.
Phase 1 of the Greenway from Newry to the Weir on the Middlebank was funded by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council through the Landfill Communities Fund administered by Ulster Wildlife.
The Council, in partnership with Louth County Council, secured funding of 3.46 million euros from the European Union’s INTEREGG VA, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), to deliver Phase 2 of the Carlingford Lough Greenway from the Weir on the Middlebank to Omeath, and from Carlingford Marina to Carlingford. Phase 2 will build on the recently completed, and already popular, Carlingford Marina to Omeath Greenway and is scheduled to be completed in 2020. Once open it will be known as the Carlingford Lough Greenway.
The completed Greenway will provide a world class cross-border green travel route, extending for approximately 25 km from Newry City to Carlingford, and providing a much needed recreational facility for this area. The Greenway will link with the existing Newry/ Portadown Cycleway/Towpath, resulting in 52km of Greenway along the east coast of Ireland, enabling walkers and cyclists to travel off-road between Belfast and Dublin using Sustrans Route 9 (The Great Eastern Greenway).
The completion of the project in 2020 will see commuters and tourists alike able to travel from Carlingford to Newry on foot or by bike on a scenic, safe and traffic-free route.
The Council hopes that 1,500 people will take part in the associated cross-border Greenway Activity Programme, which will be developed under the themes of sustainable transport, active travel, healthy living and social cohesion. Businesses that employ significant numbers of cross-border workers, as well as education institutions will be encouraged to promote the use of the Greenway for their commute.
The official opening of the section from Newry to Victoria Lock will happen at a later date.
Newry Mourne and Down Council ask all users of the Greenway to use the facility in a safe, considerate, and respectful manner so that everyone can enjoy it fully.
Code of conduct for Users
Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times and all dog fouling collected and placed in the bins provided
Cyclists must ensure that their bicycles are in good working order with working bells and lights
Cycling and walking events are not permitted on the Greenway without prior consent of all Council areas involved
Motor cycles and quad bikes are not permitted on the Greenway, other than Council maintenance vehicles
Pedestrians have priority on the Greenway but should be vigilant and considerate of other users
Cyclists must not use excessive speeds and should be prepared to slow down or stop if necessary
Keep to the Path – there is deep water at either side of path
Take your litter homeProtect wildlife, trees and plants
