Support for Narrow
Water Bridge

Undated Louth Council handout artist's impression of the Narrow Water Bridge project as the long-awaited plans for the cross border bridge at the site of one of the worst atrocities of the Troubles have been binned because of costs. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Tuesday July 9, 2013. Council bosses in Co Louth have pulled the plug after bids for the job from construction firms came in substantially above budget. Despite five years' planning and funding from Europe, Dublin and Stormont, Louth County Council said contractors' prices were considerably higher than the figures its officials have been working from. "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," a spokesman said. See PA story TRANSPORT NarrowWater Ireland. Photo credit should read: Louth County Council/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneou
The new County Manager of Louth Local Authorities, Ms Philomena Poole, is determined to see the Narrow Water Bridge project succeed.

The new County Manager of Louth Local Authorities, Ms Philomena Poole, is determined to see the Narrow Water Bridge project succeed.

The project was put on hold when tenders from construction companies went well above the budget.

But the new manager believes this is an important piece of infrastructure and will do what it takes to get it over the line.

The bridge has the backing of the government and the administration in the North and has already secured funding of approximately €17.4m from the INTERREG IVA programme administered by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).

The problem now is the financial shortfall that has arisen as a result of the tenders received from competing contractors.

So the gap will have to be filled by additional funding and a reduction in costs, or both.

The project goes back to 2008 when the Louth County Council brought in Roughan O’Donovan Consulting Engineers to design a bridge across Carlingford Lough.

This is the same company that designed the Mary McAleese Boyne Valley Bridge.

However speaking to the Dundalk Democrat this week, Louth County Manager Philomena Poole said she believed this vital piece of infrastructure will go ahead.

All the indications are that this issue is at a crucial stage so Ms Poole’s support for the Narrow Water Bridge comes at a perfect time.