Louth County Council welcomes funding for Narrow Water Bridge

Louth County Council has today welcomed the funding announced by Government through the Shared Island Fund for the construction of the Narrow Water Bridge.

The c.200m cable-stayed and rolling bascule bridge will link the Mourne Mountains and the Cooley Peninsula, providing huge tourism and connectivity boosts in the east border region. It will act as a key catalyst for improved cross border active travel and recreational activities, including the development of greenways, walking trails and park amenities. 

Louth County Council has been the lead project partner, securing planning consents, design details and more recently progressing the construction tender process.

A subgroup of the existing North South Infrastructure Group oversees the development of the project,  co-chaired by the Department of An Taoiseach and Norther Ireland’s Department of Infrastructure, and also includes representatives from Department of Housing, Heritage & Local Government, Department of Foreign Affairs, Louth County Council and Newry, Mourne & Down District Council.

Chief Executive Joan Martin said, ‘this significant funding announcement will now allow Louth County Council bring this long-standing, transformative project to fruition, which will open up new and exciting opportunities by linking the Mourne Mountains and the Cooley Peninsula , with huge potential for the local and wider economies. 

"I wish to congratulate John O’Hagan, Senior Engineer and David Jones, Director of Services for project managing this to date and I have no doubt they will bring this project to fruition.

"I also wish to acknowledge the support of all the various stakeholders in both the Republic and Northern Ireland in reaching this point, and I look forward to seeing construction commence on this iconic project in the near future."