Write a commentThe Planning Application for the section of Carlingford Lough Greenway from Victoria Lock to the border has been submitted by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.
From a cycling and walking safety perspective it will mean that you will be able to cycle off-road from Newry to Omeath/ Carlingford, unlike at present where you have to join the road at Victoria Lock and stay on it to Omeath before re-joining the Greenway to Carlingford.
The application will see construction of a 2km shared walking and cycling greenway with directional signage, 15 bicycle parking spaces within Victoria Lock and vehicle safety barriers. There will be two uncontrolled pedestrian crossings of the R173/B79 Fathom Line Road incorporated.
The new stretch of greenway will cross the road at Victoria Lock travelling along the route of an existing path in Fathom Forest, behind "Patsy's Parlour before following the line of the former Newry to Greenore railway line through Fathom Forest. Shortly before the border it will cross the B79 to continue the route water side to the pier in Omeath. The border to Omeath route is presently going through the planning process as well.
The Carlingford Lough Greenway when finished will create a new cross-border greenway joining Newry City to Carlingford Town. The new stretch will connect to the Newry Towpath (At present via road through the city) a part of National Cycle Route 9. resulting in a total length of 52km of cross-border greenway from Carlingford to Portadown.
The completed Greenway will form the northern section of a proposed greenway link from Belfast to Dublin often referred to as the Great Eastern Greenway. This greenway will ultimately enable walkers and cyclists to travel off-road between Belfast and Dublin.
The Carlingford Lough Greenway is a cross border project which has been developed through a signed Memorandum of Understanding between Newry, Mourne and Down Council, Louth County Council, and the East Border Region. It is financed by the European Union's INTERREG VA Programme which is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body. Doran Consulting has been appointed by Louth County Council to carry out the construction of the new sections of greenway.
The new greenway plans to inspire active travel, meet local and regional strategies in terms of tourism and healthy and active living, enable more sustainable forms of mobility on a cross-border basis, increase cross-border commuting by cycling or walking, improve cross-border social cohesion, improve cyclist safety through the construction of mostly off road shared cycle/pedestrian network. It is also considered that the proposed greenway will make an overall positive contribution with respect to air quality locally.
