Progress on Strabane bridge project welcomed

PLANS for a second pedestrian bridge in Strabane are progressing, according to the Strabane Greenways group.

The group was recently set up to campaign for better greenway infrastructure in the Strabane area.

It has held a round of meetings with local councillors and engaged with council officials about the lack of traffic-free greenways in the town and the need for healthier travel options, with the new bridge one of the issues raised.

The pedestrian and cycle bridge over the River Mourne, which will link the bus depot to the Lower Main Street area of the town, has been years in the planning and forms part of the Strabane Regeneration Scheme.

It has long been viewed as an important amenity in linking the Bradley Way area with the town centre and increasing the accessibility of the town to shoppers and the bus depot.

Local representatives have persistently pressed the importance of advancing the footbridge to regenerate the town centre and increase footfall, with the new structure to be delivered via the package of City Deal funding announced for the Derry City and Strabane District Council area in 2019.

It's understood the bridge has a price tag of around £6m.

In the same year it was revealed by this newspaper that the long-held plans for the structure had taken a significant step forward with confirmation of a location.

The bridge - downstream of Mourne Bridge - is set to be located between Lower Main Street car park and O’Nolan Park/Waterside Street.

Strabane Greenways spokesperson, Daithí McKay, said the group had received an update this week from the Department for Infrastructure’s (DfI) divisional roads manager on the current plans for the bridge project, and he is hopeful that public consultation will commence on this in the new year.

“Derry City and Strabane District Council also confirmed this week that the outline business case for the bridge should be submitted to government in the coming weeks which is also to be welcomed," he said.

“With budgets being squeezed it is important that this project is protected due to the new bridge's strategic importance to the town and the town centre in particular.”

Committee member Kevin Traynor added: "The construction of this bridge will help address the disconnect there is between the town centre and the bus station and will also provide a safer route into the town centre for pedestrians and cyclists.

“We would like to see a footway connection to the A5 behind the playing fields adjacent to the bus station forming part of this project.

"It would also make sense to have a direct link from Bradley Way itself to the footbridge and it is to be welcomed that the department is considering these.

“The successful completion of this project would also be the first step in building the Strabane to Sion Mills greenway as there will then be an established active travel route between the town centre /bus station and Melvin /Ballycolman.

"The next logical step in our view is the upgrade of the pathway behind the Strabane Health Improvement Project and Sigersons GAA, for which there is already widespread public support.”