Narrow Water Bridge

ardmacha

Special EU Programmes Body gives funding approval for €18.3m Narrow Water Bridge

The independent steering committee of the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) has today (Wed, Oct 24) approved funding of approximately €17.4 m from the INTERREG IVA programme for a bridge across the Newry River at Narrow Water between Omeath, Co Louth and Warrenpoint, Co Down.

Given the amount of funding sought, project approval is also dependent on the financial support provided by the relevant accountable departments, which include the Department of Finance & Personnel in Northern Ireland and the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport in Ireland. These Departments will be required to provide initial funding for the construction project and recoup the INTERREG IVA funding from the European Union.

The SEUPB is responsible for managing two EU structural funds programmes - PEACE III and INTERREG IVA - designed to enhance cross-border co-operation, promote reconciliation and create a more peaceful and prosperous society. The programmes operate in Northern Ireland, the Border Region of Ireland and, in the case of INTERREG IVA, Western Scotland.

The €18.3m project was also approved in recent weeks by the planning authorities in Northern Ireland and by An Bord Pleanála in the Republic of Ireland.

The single-carriageway, 195 metres cable-stayed Narrow Water Bridge will connect Cornamucklagh near Omeath, Co Louth with Narrow Water near Warrenpoint, Co Down and the total length of the proposed scheme is 620m while the towers have a height of 90m and 37m respectively.

While first proposed in a sustained way almost 40 years ago in the mid-1970s, the current Narrow Water Bridge project commenced in 2008 when Louth County Council engaged Roughan O’Donovan Consulting Engineers to design a bridge in keeping with the outstanding natural beauty in the area. The same company designed the Boyne Bridge on the M1 near Drogheda.

At Narrow Water, a unique combined fixed cable-stayed and rolling bascule bridge design will facilitate cyclists and pedestrians as well as vehicular traffic and help to address tourism underperformance, promoting economic development and much-needed job creation. It will also facilitate vessels to travel up and down the Newry River/Carlingford Lough.

The bridge will open up the cross-border Cooley/Mournes/Gullion region to more visitors and make it much easier for residents, businesses and tourists to traverse the area.

The total cost of the project is just under €18.3m with €900,000 of Irish Government funding having been invested by Louth Local Authorities to date. East Border Region will act as lead partner and Louth County Council as lead council and Newry & Mourne District Council as partners on the project which is scheduled for completion in mid-2015.

Narrow Water Bridge has also been supported by Fáilte Ireland in recognition of the contribution it can make to capitalising on the tourism potential of areas around Carlingford Lough. The bridge will also increase traffic between the new Mourne Coastal Drive and the Boyne Valley Drive that Louth County Council and Meath County Council are developing.

Cllr Finnan McCoy, Cathaoirleach, Louth County Council, said: “Today’s decision by the independent steering committee of the Special EU Programmes Body is perhaps the single most important milestone in terms of delivering this iconic bridge which will be a hugely positive 21st Century addition to this region. As well as all of its practical value, the Narrow Water Bridge will be a really powerful symbol of how far we have travelled in terms of community relations on this island.

“I now look forward to seeing early progress towards construction work commencing with a view to the bridge being ready for use in 2015.”

Joan Martin, County Manager, Louth Local Authorities, added: “We’re thrilled to get the funding approval from the Special EU Programmes Body and will now work with our partners at East Border Region and Newry & Mourne District Council as well as the Irish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive to ensure that we move forwards without delay on commencing work on site.

“As well as the long-term benefits that the bridge will undoubtedly bring to the region, there will also be a considerable direct economic spin-off during construction of this project which will be the first cross-border structure of its kind to be built.”

INTERREG IVA is an EU-supported Structural Funds Programme that addresses economic and social problems that result from borders. It supports strategic cross-border cooperation for a more prosperous and sustainable region. The INTERREG IVA Programme is worth €256m with €192m of this from the EU and national contributions of €64m.

The Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) is a North/South Implementation Body sponsored by the Department of Finance & Personnel in Northern Ireland and the Department of Finance in Ireland

Mr Cumulonimbus

According to an article on page 2 of this week’s Dundalk Argus (Nov 14), the number of contractors bidding for this will be reduced to a shortlist of 5 by years end.

The lead agency for the project (Louth Co Co) are hoping to have a detailed design of the bridge completed in January, invite tenders from the potential contractors by April, select a contractor in mid-June and commence work in July. A 21 month build schedule is anticipated.

munchkin_utd

heres another picture of it from the Belfast Telegraph

from the article here

Carawaystick

Where are SEUPB getting their money from? they've only accounts to 2010 on their website.

Chris_5339762

munchkin_utd wrote: »

heres another picture of it from the Belfast Telegraph

from the article here

Thats a lovely picture of the DC A2 on the left hand side of the picture. Nice, high capacity road.

What they dont show is that all the roads on the ROI side of the bridge are ****, and there is no easy connection to the M/N1.

This will be used as the Newry Southern Bypass and as an A2 to N1 link. The roads on the Irish side should be sorted as part of this.

iopener

upgrading the republics side of this bridge wont make much of a difference regarding the newry southern bypass,when the bridge is build and you turn right after crossing over from warrenpoint you'l be in republic for about 1km and then your back into the north.this road called the fathom road runs parallel to the newry river and then the canal from victoria dock gates into newry,its absolutly letal,very narrow fast road with a canal on one side and a good bit of the canal bank is unprotected.your literally a couple of feet from the canal's edge driving out to omeath.gives me the creeps driving this road.The big question is how to the north's road service build a link from the new bridge or the end of the A2 to the N1/M1.your going from sea level to a junction that's atleast 100 metres above sea level,there's a quarry at the far end of the fathom road that ate into the mountain side and now the ground is unstable.cant wait for the new bridge i'l be getting off the motorway at junction 20 and going the mountain at ravensdale and then free wheel it down to the bridge.ha

ardmacha

The roads on the Irish side should be sorted as part of this.

This is a bridge across Carlingford Louth, not the Irish sea!

iopener

good point ardmacha,we dont want to go down the political route,

Mr Cumulonimbus

Link to last week's edition (November 14) of the Argus re the Narrow Water Bridge project.

Mr Cumulonimbus

From BBC NI news website.

Narrow Water bridge: DUP wants probe into decision to grant EU funding.

Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson has requested an investigation into the decision to grant European funding for the Narrow Water bridge scheme. Last month, the European Union said it would give 17.4m euros to fund the single-lane cable bridge. It will run between County Louth and County Down................

Link to full article.

ardmacha

Where else in Europe would the "leader' of a place demand an investigation into a European decision to grant money to that place?

Mr Cumulonimbus

Animation from Youtube of the bridge.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epSYK4c1Ppc

Rodin

Don't really understand where it goes to on the Southern side. The entry/exit on the Northern side looks sensible, with a roundabout already there.

I think to get the most benefit though, it must be linked to the M1

Mr Cumulonimbus

Loads of architectural drawings from the NI DoE site here.

This drawing (PDF) shows where the bridge ties in on the southern side.

All this information can be got from Wesley Johnston's excellent Northern Ireland Roads Site. Webpage on the project.

Rodin

Cheers. Still think it should be linked up to the M1 to get the maximum benefit out of it

Mr Cumulonimbus

True, but as Chris_5339762 says above there is no easy connection to the M1 from the bridge. If you know the area well enough, probably the quickest way is the Ferryhill Road via Flagstaff Hill (where that postcard picture looking down Carlingford Lough is taken from) and then come out on the old N1 at the Carrickdale Hotel.

From there, its a few hundred yards to junction 20 on the N1/A1. Other than that, if you are looking to stay on a half decent road, its through Omeath and Carlingford and then get on to the M1 at junct 18.

Rodin

Mr Cumulonimbus wrote: »

True, but as Chris_5339762 says above there is no easy connection to the M1 from the bridge. If you know the area well enough, probably the quickest way is the Ferryhill Road via Flagstaff Hill (where that postcard picture looking down Carlingford Lough is taken from) and then come out on the old N1 at the Carrickdale Hotel.

From there, its a few hundred yards to junction 20 on the N1/A1. Other than that, if you are looking to stay on a half decent road, its through Omeath and Carlingford and then get on to the M1 at junct 18.

You're talking about the road to the left after Davey's? Not a great road.
Could do with new signposting.

Mr Cumulonimbus

Yip, thats the one. Narrow and dangerous in parts. Plus you have the initial steep enough climb up to Flagstaff Hill. Could be tricky in the frost and snow!

Rodin

Mr Cumulonimbus wrote: »

Yip, thats the one. Narrow and dangerous in parts. Plus you have the initial steep enough climb up to Flagstaff Hill. Could be tricky in the frost and snow!

So new road please !!

Chris_5339762

Exactly. Thats what I was saying on the previous page that I got slated for. Its nothing to do with politics, its sheer common sense. This will be seen as a Newry Southern Bypass to motorists and the roads on the ROI side of this are not suitable for that. A proper link to the ROI M/N1 is required.

ardmacha

A proper link to the ROI M/N1 is required.

A proper link to the N1 would be nice. But there is a mountain in the way and it isn't that easy.
That doesn't mean that you shouldn't have the bridge. THis is not primarily a commuting route, but a tourist initiative.

Chris_5339762

It is a tourist initiative and applaud them for that, but the fact remains that it will be used as a commuting route. If before you had to travel all the way into Newry from the Warrenpoint to go to the ROI (or even to Belfast), now you will use this bridge. Whilst traffic levels will not produce chaos and may not produce jams, given the quality of the roads on the ROI side some form of upgrade is needed, even if it is just retarring and filling potholes.

This is the obvious option, the Ferryhill road ->
http://goo.gl/maps/XBdJ4
http://goo.gl/maps/Qcb7G
http://goo.gl/maps/Dz45j

This is the kind of road that will be used as an impromptu Newry Southern Bypass, regardless of what it is designed for. I can't believe other people don't see this

ardmacha

This is the kind of road that will be used as an impromptu Newry Southern Bypass, regardless of what it is designed for. I can't believe other people don't see this

Well then, presumably the NI authorities will upgrade it. Robbo and Sammy Wilson are really positive about this scheme not

spacetweek

ardmacha wrote: »

Well then, presumably the NI authorities will upgrade it. Robbo and Sammy Wilson are really positive about this scheme not

The upgrade is needed on the ROI side. The mountain means that the best way would be to widen the existing road.

ardmacha

The upgrade is needed on the ROI side. The mountain means that the best way would be to widen the existing road.

At least half of the route shown in the sketch above is in Co. Armagh.

Of course, an improved route to the R173 at Jenkinstown might also be a possibility, but widening this route by the Windy Gap is also not easy and is longer.

They should continue to be nice to the EU funders and upgrade more northerly route towards Edentober.

Meanwhile, plans are afoot for a ferry at the entrance to Carlingford Louth
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-20849579

Mr Cumulonimbus

There was a piece in the Dundalk Argus this week expressing fears that the July start date is under threat due to the failure by the NI government to release funds for the project.

iopener

thats sammy wilson holding the money back, i guarantee if it was in larne or carrickfergus it would be full steam ahead,he just doesn't want to see a predominantly nationalist doing well.simply he's a bigot.

Mr Cumulonimbus

Another article from the website Down News about the delay in releasing funding from the NI authorities.

http://www.downnews.co.uk/ruane-questions-delay-in-narrow-water-bridge-development/

Mr Cumulonimbus

Bridge order to be published soon according to the Newry Times.

http://newrytimes.com/2013/03/28/any-further-delay-over-narrow-water-bridge-unacceptable-ritchie/

iopener

I heard from a fella in work that is in Sinn Fein he told me Sammy Wilson is holding back the money because the bridge will be linking the north to county Louth and a certain Mr. Gerry Adams is the TD for that part of county Louth.

OCorcrainn

Typical of the DUP and Sammy Wilson. This bridge would be of huge cross-community and border benefit. They try to transform a positive economic and tourism initiative like the Narrow Bridge and turn it into something political just because it links Down to Louth.

It is astounding how stupid and bigoted the DUP is. Remember the leaflet drop targeting Alliance and the trouble they caused with their sectarian tribalistic politics? I do not understand how people vote for cretins like Sammy Wilson.

Mr Cumulonimbus

Waiting on the NI authorities now it seems according to the Dundalk Argus (Apr 17th).

http://www.independent.ie/regionals/argus/news/all-ducks-lined-up-for-narrow-water-bridge-29202073.html

Draft order due very soon according to NI executive press release (19th Apr).

http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/news-drd-190413-draft-orders-for

EDIT: and here is the draft order. Published today.

http://www.drdni.gov.uk/index/publications/publications-details.htm?docid=8819

Also a related draft order dealing with the bridge's impact on the Newry River.

http://www.drdni.gov.uk/index/publications/publications-details.htm?docid=8820

Mr Cumulonimbus

Fears continue that the project will be lost due to delays in NI over approving funding for it. Finger being pointed at Sammy Wilson.

Today's Irish Times:

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/oireachtas/funding-for-narrow-water-bridge-may-be-lost-1.1396076

Green Diesel

Funding approved by Finance Minister

http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/news-dfp-280513-finance-minister-approves

The Narrow Water Bridge Project, with East Border Region as the lead partner has been submitted under the INTERREG IVA Programme Theme – Public Sector Collaboration for which the Department of Finance and Personnel is the accountable department in Northern Ireland.

Speaking following his approval Sammy Wilson said: “Funding of £14million for the Narrow Water Bridge has now been given approval subject to clarification on technical conditions applicable to the Letter of Offer.

“As with any project offer, the Letter of Offer for the Narrow Water Bridge Project will include a number of important conditions. One such condition is a commitment by Louth County Council that they will have sole responsibility for any cost overruns associated within the eligible spend timeframe and in the event that the project would extend outside this period. Louth County Council shall also meet all the maintenance and associated costs related to the upkeep of the bridge and its service area.”

The Minister added: “Under the project theme this project aims to build a bridge - that would link the counties of Down and Louth across Carlingford Lough and also the Newry to Warrenpoint Road with the Omeath to Newry Road. The Letter of Offer will also stipulate that Newry and Mourne District Council will meet all operational costs and associated actions of the bridge including costs incurred with its opening and closing.

“This project will also be subject to the approval of a Bridge Order being in place and which I know that the Department for Regional Development has already published the Narrow Water Bridge Order for consultation on 22 April with a period of objections open until 4 June. After that date, any objections received will be considered by DRD Minister Danny Kennedy and he will decide if a public inquiry is required.”

Concluding the Minister said: “The project will be subject to ongoing review by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) to ensure that it remains within the timeframe laid down by the INTERREG Programme.

“My Department will work closely with SEUPB to ensure that the Letter of Offer is issued promptly to the project.”

Mr Cumulonimbus

Good news at last on this. Also articles reporting this in the Irish Independent, Belfast News Letter and Belfast Telegraph.

Also articles on BBC News NI and UTV News websites.

iopener

great news, does anyone know when construction will start?

Mr Cumulonimbus

Any objections to the bridge order must be made by June 4th. Depending on any received, the Department of Regional Development, headed by Danny Kennedy could order a public enquiry to be held, so an actual start date is still unknown.

Section on the bridge here at Wesley Johnston's NI Roads site.

D.L.R.

OCorcrainn wrote: »

I do not understand how people vote for cretins like Sammy Wilson.

Same reason people vote for cretins in FF or SF... they look after their own.

Mr Cumulonimbus

The period for submissions with regards to the bridge order passed yesterday. This week's Dundalk Argus says a number have been received so NI's Department of Regional Development could yet hold a hearing into the project which could delay the start date.

Also according to the paper, the closing date for the 5 remaining preferred contractors to submit their final applications for the contract is June 14, with the winner to be decided about 10 days later.

Deedsie

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-22784331

Depressing really

nordydan

Deedsie wrote: »

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-22784331

Depressing really

No chance of passing though so no real issue. Your man isn't even a local politician

Mr Cumulonimbus

Over 3 weeks now since the closing date for public submissions re the bridge orders. No word yet from the DRDNI whether an inquiry may be held.

annfield1978

Statement issud today by Louth Co Co
Narrow Water Bridge project put on hold pending costs and funding review

Louth County Council has today (July 9th) confirmed that the proposed cross-border Narrow Water Bridge to link Co Louth with Co Down has been put on hold after tenders received from construction companies for the project ran substantially above the allocated budget. Tenders received ranged from €26m to €40m plus VAT.

The bridge across the Newry River at Narrow Water has the support of the Republic of Ireland of Ireland and Northern Ireland governments and secured funding of approximately €17.4m earlier this year from the INTERREG IVA programme administered by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). The project also won approval last year from An Bord Pleanála and the Northern Ireland planning authorities.

A spokesperson for Louth County Council said today: “Having examined all of the tenders received from contractors competing to build the bridge, it is clear that their estimates of the cost of construction are considerably higher than the figures we have been working with to date. This leaves us with a substantial funding shortfall. Our focus now is on seeing if this can be filled through any combination of additional funding and cost reductions.

“While our ambition remains to see this socially and economically desirable project through to completion, the reality is that it is now effectively on hold. At this time, we want to record our appreciation for the support that we have received to date from all of the various stakeholders in both the Republic and Northern Ireland.”

The current Narrow Water Bridge project commenced in 2008 when Louth County Council engaged Roughan O’Donovan Consulting Engineers to design a bridge in keeping with the outstanding natural beauty in the area. The same company designed the Mary McAleese Boyne Valley Bridge on the M1 Dublin-Belfast motorway.

The single-carriageway, 195 metres cable-stayed Narrow Water Bridge is designed to connect Cornamucklagh near Omeath, Co Louth with Narrow Water near Warrenpoint, Co Down and the total length of the proposed scheme is 620m.

Ends – July 9, 2013.

Mr Cumulonimbus

Disappointing. RTE and BBC reports. Also piece from UTV News. Interestingly enough, UTV's piece says that the DRD minister Danny Kennedy had reported earlier to the NI Assembly that no public enquiry was to be held re objections received to the bridge orders, so construction could have started if the funding had been in place.

Deedsie

€9,000,000

Think of what that miniscule amount of money is being pissed away on right now... It is desperately depressing that this has happened.

annfield1978

Roughan O Donovan have alot to answer for, how the cost estimate and tender price could be so far apart is a joke

D.L.R.

Another hugely overpriced white elephant rural vanity project bites the dust.

Good.

We already have enough of them gathering dust around the country.

It should be possible to build an eastern Newry bypass/relief route without such ridiculous expense, and entirely within NI.

ardmacha

D.L.R. wrote: »

Another hugely overpriced white elephant rural vanity project bites the dust.

I'm sure a more modest bridge could be built within budget.

It should be possible to build an eastern Newry bypass/relief route without such ridiculous expense, and entirely within NI.

the Newry eastern bypass could not be built for 10 times this amount and won't be built for a generation.

Alun

D.L.R. wrote:

Another hugely overpriced white elephant rural vanity project bites the dust.

I agree, I really can't see the point of it for what is really only a 20 minute detour into Newry and back out again. Any tourist who wants to visit Carlingford, or drive around the N.I. coast to Newcastle can still do so if they want, and I don't see the mere existence of a bridge influencing their plans substantively.

Speaking as a hillwalker who visits the Mournes regularly, apart from the tourist routes up Donard from Newcastle, there are other more direct and quicker ways of accessing the main walking areas, i.e. via Hilltown. It's even quicker getting to Newcastle that way in my experience.

iopener

I was with my mate today and fella he knows who is a local photographer in warrenpoint told us that the bridge is going ahead for definite, he was out in a boat during the week and on both sides of the Lough taking photos for the Newry and mourne council the photos will be used for the big announcement in a months time , contracts are signed

larchill

Alun wrote: »

Speaking as a hillwalker who visits the Mournes regularly, apart from the tourist routes up Donard from Newcastle, there are other more direct and quicker ways of accessing the main walking areas, i.e. via Hilltown. It's even quicker getting to Newcastle that way in my experience.

Indeed, I too do the hills, & go via Mayobridge/Hilltown to get to Newcastle: a more direct route.