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Opinion piece
A letter written to Newry, Mourne and Down District Council from Dr Julie Harrison, Permanent Secretary of the Department for Infrastructure regarding their planned fixed bridge over Newry Ship Canal just doesn't hold water (pardon the pun).
It's related to DfI plans to build a fixed bridge over Newry Ship Canal as part of their Southern Relief Road project that aims to link the Warrenpoint Dual Carriageway with the A1 to facilitate the movement of traffic to and from Warrenpoint Port.
'Adversely impacts'
Perhaps the most incredible line of all in the letter states the Department's 'concern' in regards to the structure of the bridge that "Any supported span less than 50m adversely impacts on the scheduled monument of Newry Canal." What a strange thing to say - seemingly indicating they are concerned about adversely impacting Newry Canal even though there is absolutely NOTHING that could adversely impact Newry Canal more than their plans to cut off the Canal from shipping traffic forever with the fixed bridge they are building!
At the 3 July Council meeting on the proposal of Councillor Michael Savage, seconded by Councillor Declan McAteer it was agreed that Council write to the Permanent Secretary to ask if engagement could be sought from the Shared Island Unit in the Department of the Taoiseach for an engineering solution to allow access for tall ships and vessels to the Newry Canal and ask what other potential engineering opportunities were there aside from a lifting bridge and if they had all been explored and exhausted. Council at the time also agreed to write to the Shared Island Unit in the Department of the Taoiseach to ask if there was a possibility of bridging the gap in funding for the project but no reply to this has been published as yet.
Dr Harrisons letter goes into great detail about a £50m+ suggestion that the department apparently has looked at, involving putting a lock structure in which would have taken a full day to allow one vessel through! The letter explained it as "a lock gate option which would have necessitated extensive engineering works to achieve the additional 25m clearance required, significantly impacting on the Scheduled Monument. The cost of this option was estimated to exceed £50m. Operation of the lock would have required a significant volume of water (75,000m3) to be pumped in and out for one vessel which would have taken a full day to achieve." Again that would have "significantly" impacted on the Scheduled Monument ... oh please...
Mind-you while mentioning their super expensive £50m+ option, no figure was mentioned for the 'short mid-span' opening, believed to be a 20 metre span that would have allowed shipping traffic through. According to DfI figures via an enquiry from Newry.ie a 20m span opening bridge would cost just an additional £10.4m which INCLUDED an operating and maintenence figure of £4.58m. Even though the letter doesn't include figures for the cheapest option it does add the worrying line that "However, experience confirms that cost savings in construction would be outweighed by the implications of operation and maintenance." even though the O&M figure is already costed in at £4.58m.
Don't mess with our plans
All in all the letter appears to be a 'warning' to Councillors that plans shouldn't be changed at this stage and suggests the fixed bridge is a 'done deal'. The final shot across the bow (obviously the bow of a ship that's mast is less than 12m in height) is another warning that any changes at this stage would delay the scheme.
I think Newry people would be happy with as much delay as is necessary to ensure that the City's best asset is protected and left open to tall ships and yachts for generations to come.
The Letter
Dear Marie,
EMERGENCY NOTICE OF MOTION - FIXED BRIDGE DESIGN FOR NEWRY SOUTHERN RELIEF ROAD
Thank you for your letter dated 7 July 2023 regarding the decision by the Department for Infrastructure to adopt a non-opening 50-metre fixed bridge as its preference for the Newry Southern Relief Road.
It is my understanding from your letter that Newry Mourne and Down District Council has suggested that the Department engage with the Shared Island Unit. Departmental colleagues will continue to advance the project, however, any contribution or support for any project from the Irish Government would be a matter for them to consider.
To be clear again, the Department explored all engineering options for the crossing of Newry Canal. These included a lock gate option which would have necessitated extensive engineering works to achieve the additional 25m clearance required, significantly impacting on the Scheduled Monument. The cost of this option was estimated to exceed £50m. Operation of the lock would have required a significant volume of water (75,000m3) to be pumped in and out for one vessel which would have taken a full day to achieve.
Any supported span less than 50m adversely impacts on the scheduled monument of Newry Canal. Unsupported spans opening less than 10m, that would accommodate a mast, were also considered. Designs included a short mid-span opening or sliding section. However, experience confirms that cost savings in construction would be outweighed by the implications of operation and maintenance. These forms of openings settle over time, because of their function and traffic loading making them inappropriate for the loading imposed by a strategic road of this significance.
I would also note that any change to the design of the bridge at this stage would ultimately delay the delivery of the scheme. The period of delay would be subject to the level of amendments required.
Yours sincerely
Julie Harrison
