£93m plans for Southern Relief Road on display in Newry

Plans for the Southern Relief Road will be on display for six weeks with the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) providing a staffed day at Newry Leisure Centre (10am -9pm) on Tuesday.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council (NMDDC) has previously lobbied for Shared Island Funding to change the DfI plans to include the construction of a lifting bridge across the city’s canal.

However, DfI has continually refused to change the design to allow tall ships to pass under the bridge into Albert Basin where the planned Newry City Park is to be built.

NMDDC chairperson, Pete Byrne (SDLP) said: “The Department for Infrastructure is holding an exhibition day at Newry Leisure Centre on Tuesday, January 21 in relation to progress on the Southern Relief Road.

“This will provide an opportunity for the local community to engage with departmental staff and the engineering consultants who can provide detail on work to date and the next steps in progressing the scheme.”

The bridge link of the Southern Relief Road will look to connect traffic from Warrenpoint harbour area to the A1 bypass for onward journeys to Belfast and Dublin.

The formal consultation will then take place for a period of six weeks (21 January to 4 March 2025 ) at various locations in Newry as well as DfI headquarters in Belfast and Craigavon.

Members of the public can make representations at the venues, or by email, letter and telephone to DfI.

DfI Minister, John O’Dowd added: “I am committed to the delivery of the Newry Southern Relief Road Scheme.

“The scheme will help to relieve traffic congestion within Newry City centre, reduce journey travel times for strategic traffic, improve road safety and enhance the city centre environment. The scheme will also provide significant opportunities for the enhancement and reshaping of Newry City centre to promote sustainable travel choices.

“To help keep the local community informed about progress with the scheme, my department is holding a staffed Orders Exhibition Day at Newry Leisure Centre, Cecil Street, Newry, on Tuesday 21 January. This will provide an opportunity to engage with departmental staff and the engineering consultants who can provide detail on work to date and the next steps in progressing the scheme.”