Third Foyle Bridge Wins Support

A proposal is to be considered by planners for a third road bridge across the Foyle.

The plan is part of a 10-year road transport strategy being drawn up for Derry City by urban regeneration company, ILEX.

Politicians and business people on both sides of the border have already given their backing to the idea and it's planned that the new bridge would be constructed south of the city, linking the Newbuildings area with lands at Letterkenny Road.

The proposed road crossing is being designed to link up with the A5 upgrade in order to improve the flow of traffic into Co Donegal in the Irish Republic and to ease congestion in Londonderry's city centre.

Plans are also being considered for a link between the A5 and the A6 to take heavy traffic from the Port away from Limavady Road as it heads for Omagh and other towns.

The strategy also looks at widening footpaths within the Walled City and exploring how land on both sides of the river can be given back to the public realm rather than being used for car parking.

The news comes as work continues to progress on the new Peace Bridge - which is due to open in December.

Stormont Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, and Social Development Minister, Margaret Ritchie, announced the commencement of construction of the link between the former military base at Ebrington to the Guildhall in January.

Martin McGuinness said: "It is my sincere hope that the new bridge will be a catalyst for change and will help transform this city and the local community in the widest sense.

"It represents a real opportunity to improve relationships by transcending the physical divide of the river which, for so long, has been viewed as a boundary between the Waterside and the city side."

He said the footbridge development "will bring Ebrington into shared, public use for the first time in almost 170 years. Most importantly, it will enable the local community to reclaim this prime riverside location for their own enjoyment".

(BMcC/GK)