DfI announce Southern Relief Road EIA Consultation

The Department for Infrastructure have launched an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Consultation in relation to the Southern Relief Road project that plans to build a road over the Clanrye River and Newry Ship Canal to link the A2 Warrenpoint dual carriageway with the A1 Belfast to Dublin Road.

One of the most contentious parts of the project is the plan to build a fixed bridge over Newry Ship Canal which would bring to an end over 250 years of maritime heritage in Newry.

The EIA process gives consultees and the public the opportunity to express their opinion on the development of the Proposed Scheme, the EIA in general, and the published EIA Report (EIAR). 

Subsequent progression of the scheme to construction remains subject to the Proposed Scheme clearing the statutory procedures, having a satisfactory economic appraisal and, given other competing priorities, is dependent on funding made available in future budget settlements.

The Department for Infrastructure (DfI explains that "The Proposed Scheme would provide approximately 3.1km of high standard single carriageway that would reduce journey times for strategic traffic, improve journey time reliability and reduce conflict between strategic and local traffic movements. It would contribute positively to road safety and transport economic efficiency, while achieving value for money and reducing impact on the environment." They are currently in Stage 3 (development and refinement of the Proposed Scheme) of the project.

If you would like to contribute you should send your comments to nsrrConsultations@aecom.com as soon as possible, but no later than 25th September 2023.

Key design elements

• a single carriageway strategic link road through Gerry Brown Park, crossing the Newry River and Ship Canal on a fixed bridge structure, to a new at-grade roundabout, west of B79 Fathom Line
• an at-grade roundabout on the A2 Warrenpoint Road, in the vicinity of the Greenbank Industrial Estate;
• a pedestrian/cyclist bridge connecting the Carlingford Lough Greenway (along the Middlebank) to the Greenbank Trail (along the flood rampart adjacent to Greenbank Industrial Estate);
• a single carriageway link between the new at-grade Fathom Roundabout and the B79 Fathom Line;
• a single carriageway strategic link road, with a wide single climbing lane section, westbound between the new Fathom Roundabout and a new at-grade roundabout on the Dublin Road, immediately west of the Belfast-Dublin Railway, that crosses the northern edge of Benson’s Glen;
• a single carriageway link road between the new Dublin Road Roundabout and Brogies Road;
• a single carriageway strategic link between the new Dublin Road Roundabout and A1 Ellisholding Junction,
• immediately east of the existing Dublin Road;
• an enhanced A1 Ellisholding Junction providing connections to and from the A1 for both northbound and southbound traffic; and
• a shared use active travel facility to the west of the A2 Warrenpoint Road, along Ballinacraig Way, providing connectivity to the existing NMU provision to the north and west, with further provision to the west of the Belfast-Dublin Railway, linking the existing NMU provision, north of Brogies Road to the A1 Ellisholding Junction.