‘Jewel in the crown’ of cross border co-operation hit by first delay
A crucial stage in the construction of the long-awaited Narrow Water Bridge has been delayed, Louth County Council has confirmed.
The arrival of the fixed span section of the bridge, originally expected from Belgium later this month, has now been pushed back until September.
The development was outlined at the latest meeting of Louth County Council, where officials stressed that the overall project remains on track.
David Jones, Director of Service with Louth County Council, told councillors that despite the revised timeline for the delivery of the structure, the Narrow Water Bridge project is “still on time and on budget.”
But, he explained that some “key aspects” of the project are operating within a moving timeframe.
“The arrival of the fixed span is now expected in September,” Mr Jones said, describing it as a “significant milestone” in the construction process.
The fixed span is one of the most important and visually impactful elements of the bridge, marking the point at which the iconic bridge will begin to visibly take shape across Carlingford Lough.
Mr Jones reassured councillors that the delay will not have a major knock-on effect on the overall programme, stating that the projected 2027 completion date will not be “substantially impacted.”
The update came during a council meeting that also featured a presentation from the East Border Region (EBR), the local authority-led cross-border organisation, which is marking its 50th anniversary this year.
Councillors were reminded that calls for a bridge linking north Louth and south Down date back to the 1970s, highlighting the long history behind the project.
Chief Executive of the East Border Region, Pamela Arthurs, told the meeting that councils on both sides of the border first said “yes” to the Narrow Water Bridge in 1976.
Despite the challenges and significant setbacks the project faced during “difficult” decades in the cross border region, she said the bridge remained “the jewel in the crown” of cross border co-operation.
Once completed, the Narrow Water Bridge is expected to significantly improve transport links between counties Louth and Down, enhancing tourism, commuting and economic activity on both sides of the border.