The Infrastructure Minister’s decision to proceed with a fixed bridge on the Southern Relief Road has been described as “nonsense” by a Newry & Armagh MLA.
Justin McNulty has said he is “baffled” by the decision from Sinn Féin’s John O’Dowd.
“I find this decision to be extraordinarily short-sighted and completely baffling. We already know that the Irish Government is funding the construction of a lifting bridge on the Narrow Water Bridge Project to allow ships to come up Newry Canal into the Albert Basin.
“Why then has the Infrastructure Minister decided to go on a solo run, and completely countermand the Irish Government’s initiative to protect Newry’s proud history as a maritime town?
“I am at a loss to understand why a Sinn Féin Minister is failing to grasp the opportunity to work in tandem with the Irish Government to deliver a transformative project that would see the completion of a key infrastructure project, whilst maintaining harmony between waterways North and South, as well as protecting the integrity of Newry’s proud history as a shipping town.
“There is no logic in this decision, and there would be no coming back from a wrong decision. The Minister needs to hold his hands up, admit how ridiculous the proposal is, and do the sensible thing. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity, let’s not miss it because of a lack of vision or ambition for Newry.”
ENDS
CLANRYE NEWS 