Work on a new €100m bridge to link counties Louth and Down officially gets under way today.
When complete, the 195-metre cable-stayed bridge will connect the R173 in Omeath with the A2 Newry to Warrenpoint dual carriageway.
There will be vehicle, cycle and pedestrian lanes and the bridge will have the ability to open to allow for the passage of ships through and on to the Newry Canal.
All of the funding for the project is being provided by the Government’s Shared Island Unit, which has allocated €102m + VAT.
Taoiseach Simon Harris, Tánaiste Micheál Martin, and Minister of State Malcolm Noonan will visit the Omeath site of the bridge this morning to announce that construction work is officially under way, although preparation works have been taking place for a number of weeks.
They will be joined by Northern Ireland Minister for Infrastructure John O’Dowd.
In a statement, the Government said the ambitious infrastructure project will provide new tourism and connectivity potential to the east border region and aid local economic development by increasing employment levels and visitor footfall.
The bridge is also intended to act as a lynchpin connection for cross-border travel and recreational activities in the Carlingford Lough region including greenways, mountain bike trails, walking routes and beaches.
Taoiseach Simon Harris said he wanted to pay tribute to communities and politicians in both the Republic and Northern Ireland who campaigned for the Narrow Water bridge for decades.
“The mountains meet the sea all along this stretch of stunning coastline and this bridge will be a game-changer for commerce, daily life and tourism in this part of our shared island,” he said.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin, who established the Shared Island Unit, said the project “embodies our ambition for reconciliation, a closer relationship between north and south, and progress”.
He added: “Today is the realisation of a vision long shared across this stretch of water, delivering on the desire of both communities to reach out, to connect and to grow together.”
Minister of State Malcom Noonan said the project was already creating new opportunities and deepening connections between communities on both sides of the border, and “will endure as an outstretched hand of friendship between communities”.
