Louth’s historic Narrow Water Bridge to come with a ‘made in Belgium’ tag

By Olivia Ryan, The Drogheda Independent

Progress on the historic €100million Narrow Water Bridge is being keenly watched on both sides of the border, but a key part of the construction project is being carried out in Belgium, it emerged this week.

The bridge is set to become an iconic landmark in the cross-border region, and is expected to fuel a surge in tourist offerings around Carlingford Lough.

Works have been progressing at pace in Omeath, County Louth and at Warrenpoint in County Down, elected representatives from Louth and Newry and Mourne District heard during a recent site visit.

The fixed-span bridge is a crucial part of the project. It is expected to be shipped from Belgium and assembled on-site at Narrow Water in April 2026.

A spokesperson for Louth County Council, who are leading the project, explained that a number of key milestones have already been completed ahead of the arrival of the bridge infrastructure next year.

“Following the appointment of BAM Civil Ltd as the main contractor in late April 2024 top stripping, site clearance works, and the formation of the roadway embankment began in early May, followed by the beginning of formal construction in June 2024.”

“By the end of 2024, piling works had been completed on both the northern and southern abutments, with substantial concrete works commencing on the southern abutment. Significant progress was also made on the R173 roundabout, which was 90% complete by year-end, and on the bridge control building, which reached 50% completion.”

The spokesman added that 2025 has seen “several major achievements delivered.”

"Marine piling for both temporary and permanent works was completed by March. In the second quarter of the year the foul sewer connection on the northern side of the site was concluded, allowing the completion of the northern approach embankment.”

The reinforced concrete works on the southern abutment are now finished to a point and are awaiting the delivery of the fixed span bridge, which is currently being manufactured in Ghent, Belgium.

The spokesperson explained that the new navigation tower was constructed over the summer months, which will allow for “enhanced safety and visibility in the channel for marine traffic on completion of the project.”

An underground tunnel for the Carlingford Lough Greenway underpass has also been recently completed and opened to the public.

Work on the fixed span bridge is expected to be completed early next year, before being shipped to the site in Spring 2026.

"The fabrication of the Bascule Bridge, the section of the bridge that opens to allow marine traffic to pass, is due to commence in Ghent in the coming weeks,” according to Louth County Council.

Ahead of this, there will be on-site, temporary works getting underway in preparation for the arrival of the fixed-span bridge in three large sections.

Additional works scheduled for the coming months include the completion of reinforced concrete works on the Northern Abutment, installation of a temporary skid beam system for the installation of the fixed bridge, and the fitting of a fender system in the navigable channel.