Louth County Council to seek €2m loan to proceed with Narrow Water Bridge project

An artist’s impression of the Narrow Water Bridge

Louth County Council have been given the go ahead to seek a loan of €2 million to help the Narrow Water Bridge project get off the ground.

The proposed bridge, which would link Omeath with Warrenpoint, looked set to proceed earlier this year when it received the backing of governments north and south of the border.

However, despite a sizeable EU grant being drawn down of €17.4 million, Louth County Council were forced to put the project on hold in July due to a substantial funding shortfall.

Tenders received by the council at the time ranged from €26m to €40m plus VAT.

Hopes are high that the project can still proceed though, with the council seeking a loan to proceed with the construction with an unnamed philanthropist set to make up any shortfall.

Diversions in place at M1/A1 motorway

The M1/A1 motorway from Dundalk to Belfast is closed just outside Newry at the Forkhill roundabout following an accident (pictured above).

Diversions are in place, with the incident affecting both the northbound and southbound lanes.

Suspicious object being investigated in Forkhill – roads affected

The PSNI are examining a suspicious object that was found in Forkhill in South Armagh this morning.

Motorists in Louth are advised that as a result of the alert the Dundalk to Armagh Road is closed until further notice at the Border crossing.

Drivers are advised to take an alternative route.

The long road to satisfaction

Cllr Morgan (left) with Brendan McQuaid and Bernard Dunne in Greenwood Drive

Cllr Oliver Morgan posted the above picture to his Facebook page yesterday showing himself with Greenwood Drive residents Brendan McQuaid and Bernard Dunne.

The three men all look happy and that’s because Brendan and Bernard finally saw the road on their estate resurfaced after 31 years of campaigning.

That has to be some sort of record and you’d have to wonder are other areas of the Red Barns Road equally neglected?

Local petrol station owners sign up to fuel-testing scheme to cut down on illegal fuel trade

Forecourt owners in Co Louth are signing up to a voluntary independent fuel-testing scheme in order to cut down on the illegal fuel trade in the area.

According to The Irish Times, the new scheme is “so motorists know we sell genuine fuel and we pay our taxes.”

Ray Prunty, who has two filling stations in Castlebellingham, is quoted as saying that he has a margin of around five cent to play with, whereas those operating illegally have as much as 50 cent.

The quality assurance scheme has been introduced by the Irish Petrol Retailers’ Association, which estimates that fuel laundering costs the Exchequer around €200 million a year.

The scheme, which will also be rolled out in other counties, was launched in Louth because of requests from local retailers.

Fifteen garages have so far signed up to the scheme and have met criteria, which includes that they have not been convicted of Revenue offences and that they have had their fuel tested to ensure it meets legal Government specification.

The scheme is voluntary, with no obligation on people to take part although it has received the backing of the Society of Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) and the Irish Road Haulage Association.

A new smartphone app is also planned to help motorists identify the nearest participating forecourt.

Source: Filling stations join forces to drive out gangs supplying cheap illegal fuel (The Irish Times)

 

Station Road to be closed for repairs

Louth County Council have announced plans to close the R166 – 312/328 (Castlebellingham – Tallanstown Road) from Junction 15 on the M1 motorway to its junction with the R132 in Castlebellingham village for a period of two days on two separate occasions to facilitate construction works on the Station Road.

The road will be closed from 9am on Wednesday August 28th to 6pm on Thursday August 29th and from 9am on Wednesday September 4th to 6pm on Thursday September 5th.

Diversions are in place as follows: Traffic approaching the R166 from the R132 will be diverted south along the R132 to its junction with the LP2226-44 (Mullincross), then westwards along the LP2226-44 to junction 14 of the M1 motorway and across the motorway onto the N33.  At the junction of the N33 and the LP2214-0, traffic will be diverted north along the LP2214-0 to its junction with the LP2215-0, north west along the LP2214-0 to it junction with the R166, then west along the R166 – 328 to its junction with junction 15 of the M1 motorway. East bound traffic to follow the above route in opposite direction.

Power outage in Dundalk

There was a major power outage in Dundalk this morning.

The Alphonsus Road, the Dublin Road, parts of the Avenue Road and the Inner Relief Road were believed to be the affected areas, as well as Blackrock and Haggardstown.

Dundalk IT was out of power as well as a number of factories in the vicinity, with some operating on back-up generators.

AA Roadwatch also issued a warning saying that the traffic lights on the Dublin Road (R132) at the Xerox junction were out of action, as well as those at the Golf Links Road junction, near Felda.

Power was fully restored shortly after 9am although no cause has yet been given for the outage.

Brown Bull of Cooley sculpture removed for repair

A sculpture of the Brown Bull of Cooley, which had been along the M1 motorway, has been removed for repair, according to Louth County Council.

The sculpture was removed in recent days, sparking fears it may have been stolen.

However, the council has confirmed to LMFM that it was removed in order for repairs to be carried out on a part of the base that was damaged.

The local authority said a suitable location for the sculpture would be chosen in the coming days, suggesting it may not be returned to its motorway location.

Enterprise terminating in Dundalk today

Anyone who is getting the Enterprise train to Belfast today should be aware that the service from Dublin will be terminating in Dundalk.

Passengers will be transported by bus from Clarke Station to Belfast.

This is due to signalling problems at Newry.

Regenation of Cox’s Demesne given the go ahead

Cox’s Demesne

Dundalk Town Council have given the go ahead for the latest part of the Cox’s Demesne regeneration.

The scheme, which according to LMFM includes plans for 23 new homes and a proposal for a looped road, is designed to prevent joy-riding and aimed at ensuring drivers keep to a 30km speed limit.

Following the appropriate planning process, councillors passed the proposals at a special meeting in the Town Hall earlier this week.

Six workshops were held during the consultation phase to identify and address residents’ concerns about the pilot project.

Local councillor Harry Todd said that a number of people in the area still had concerns about traffic calming measures and boundary walls.

However, according to LMFM Senior Executive Officer and Acting Town Clerk, David Storey told councillors that before the work goes to final tender, the local authority’s roads section will prepare a technical report which would address the areas of concern.