Derry City and Strabane District Council have approved plans for a new bridge and walking trail project that links Derry and Donegal .
Members of the planning committee approved the project Bay Road bridge and greenway project at their most recent meeting.
The project, which is part of the North West Greenway Network, will see a new walking and cycling bridge facility developed across an inlet near Fort George, as well as a new greenway link which will run alongside the riverfront before connecting to Bay Road Park Local Nature Reserve.
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Works are on course to commence later in 2023, with the facility opening to the public in 2024.
Welcoming the decision Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Sandra Duffy, said the project would bridge a long-standing gap in the city’s quay trail.
“It’s been an ambition for Council for a while so I’m delighted that Council’s Planning Committee has granted planning approval to enable the project to progress to the technical design and build stages.
“This project is a key component of Council’s Inclusive Strategic Growth and Green Infrastructure Plans and, once developed, will facilitate both active travel and leisure journeys to the benefit of people’s health and wellbeing across our City and District.”
The project forms part of the North West Greenway Network project which is a partnership project between several organisations throughout Europe and Northern Ireland with the aim of delivering 46.5km of cross-border greenway in the North West.
Welcoming the planning approval, Special EU Programmes Body Chief Executive, Gina McIntyre added: “The news of planning approval being granted for the Bay Road Bridge and greenway project is much welcomed by SEUPB.
"As a key project investor, we are very much looking forward to this transformational project being delivered to facilitate cross-border active travel journeys and the benefits that this will bring to the environment through modal shift.”
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