Funding boost for scenic greenway
FUNDS TO HELP LINK THE NEW CROSS BORDER GREENWAY ROUTE
THE popular Carlingford- Omeath greenway which is set to link in with Newry has been giving a €3.46m funding boost.
The EU funding has been offered for the development of the Carlingford Lough Greenway by The EU’s INTERREG VA Programme.
This will create 10.1 km of new cross-border greenway stretching from Carlingford to Newry.
The major funding boost will also create and implement a promotional marketing campaign to raise awareness of the benefits of walking and cycling for regular everyday commuters.
The greenway has been in operation between Carlingford and Omeath for some time, and is hugely popular not only with visitors sand tourists, but also locals who enjoy the scenic route for running, walking and cycling.
Work has almost been completed from the Newry side on the first phase of the Newry to Omeath greenway, which will ensure a much longer continuous stretch for users.
When completed, the new Greenway will join the two existing sections, one from Carlingford Marina to Omeath village, which was completed in 2013, and the other from Albert Basin in Newry to the Weir.
This will create a total length for the Carlingford Lough Greenway of 19.7km, joining Carlingford to Newry City via Omeath.
The Argus has learned the project will consist of two phases, firstly the con- struction of 10.1 km of new cross- border Greenway in accordance with prevailing cycling standards.
The second will see the implementation of the new ‘Greenway activity programme’ on promotion and marketing with the aim of raising awareness of the benefits of walking and cycling for regular everyday commuter journeys, which will take place alongside the development of the Greenway.
Match-funding for the projects has been provided by the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport in Ireland.
The news came amid the EU’s INTERREG VA Programme offer of approximately €23.27 million in funding for a total of three new cross-border greenway projects that will open up new sustainable travel routes for both cyclists and pedestrians, one bring that joining north Louth and County Down.
A spokesman said the overall objective of the INTERREG VA Programme in supporting the three projects is ‘ to increase the number of cross-border journeys made by cycling or walking by up to 10% across the region by 2023.’
He added that greenways were of particular importance to that aim as they ‘connect people and places together, and enhance existing outdoor recreational opportunities.’