A feasibility report for a Newry to Warrenpoint greenway has been approved by the district council with the €60m Narrow Water bridge seen as crucial to its development in two years.
The proposals for an active public travel route have received £35k match funding from the local authority and the Department for Infrastructure as the plans develop to the design stages.
The council’s enterprise, regeneration and tourism committee has this week approved the report from McAdams Design Consultants on the Newry City and the Newry to Warrenpoint/Rostrevor greenway active travel plans.
Read more: Belfast to Dublin hourly train and all-island greenway pledged by Irish Government.
A key element of the greenway will rely heavily on the completion of the bridge at Narrow Water connecting Co Louth to Co Down as well as the development of the £30m Newry Albert Basin Park.
Spokesperson for local pressure group, Newry 2020, Brian Cleland who has been campaigning for projects such as the city centre public park for several years, has backed the new greenway plans.
He said: “For us to have a greenway that connects Newry cyclists and walkers down to the south and on over to Warrenpoint is a total no-brainer.
“We have been able to give our input in to the report and from what we have seen it all looks better than expected.
“What appears to be crucial will be the Narrow Water bridge to bring about a ‘cycle express way’ and of course to get the Newry park constructed to connect on to the towpath down to Carlingford and across to Warrenpoint.”
Newry councillor, Gary Stokes (SDLP) supporting the proposal in chambers now believes that a timeframe for the project should be locked in.
He said: “The project first emerged in 2020, so I believe it is reasonable that this should happen within the next two years.
“There are no costings as yet, but as the greenways will utilise a lot of existing infrastructure the costing should not be prohibitive.
“I would like to express appreciation to the community organisations that have fed into the proposals. These projects are all about encouraging walking and cycling and improving the environment.
“They are also about changing a century old mindset that the car is king and walkers and cyclists must take second place. The projects will improve air quality and improve general well being.
“I welcome the movement on the greenway proposals and would appeal to officers to progress them within a reasonable timeframe.”
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