Consultant team appointed to advance second pedestrian bridge

PLANS for a second pedestrian bridge in Strabane are advancing, with an Integrated Consultant Team (ICT) now appointed to progress the project.

The update was provided to councillors during a special meeting to discuss Derry City and Strabane District Council's capital projects programme.

The bridge - costed at £10.4m - forms part of the wider £115m Strabane Town Centre Regeneration Project planned under the City Deal/Inclusive Future Fund and is part of the wider co-location of key public services to the Canal Basin area.

This includes a new £42m leisure centre, a new North West Regional College (NWRC) campus and a Western Health and Social Care Trust Primary Care Health.

The 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.

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

An outline of the planned project said it will promote Active Travel in the town "reducing the overreliance of private vehicle use for short and medium distance trips".

It states: "This new facility will link the western and eastern banks of the Mourne River providing pedestrian and pedal cycle access to goods, services, employment and leisure.

"The bridge will provide new and improved connections to public transport to revitalise Strabane and will enhance accessibility of key services for residents.

"The project will maximise the benefits of the proposed Canal Basin Regeneration Scheme and remove barriers to connectivity enabling the entire community to access jobs and services."

The document adds: "The proposed project will attract investment and development, improve the health and wellbeing of local residents and create a better connected town and region which caters for all."

Infrastructure Minister, Liz Kimmins, says her department continues to support the advancement of the project.

She was speaking in response to an Assemby question by West Tyrone DUP MLA., Tom Buchanan, who had asked her to "detail what her department has delivered for the people in West Tyrone, since taking office."

Minister Kimmins spoke of many projects delivered by the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) and referenced her committment to the delivery of the bridge.

She added: "My officials have recently appointed an engineering consultant to progress the scheme with development to commence in January 2026."