Feature, Freight News, Sea

North-South Ireland bridge takes shape

[ October 20, 2026   //   Chris Lewis ]

BAM UK & Ireland has handled the first barge carrying steel components from Belgium at Warrenpoint Harbour for the Narrow Water Bridge across Carlingford Lough connecting Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

The Caroline barge, carrying an 82-metre bridge deck section and a 114-metre pylon, departed Belgium on 15 October, accompanied by the Multraug 29 tugboat, before travelling through canals in the Netherlands and across the North Sea to Carlingford Lough before travelling along the Newry River to Warrenpoint Harbour.

The new 195-metre, two-span cable-stayed bridge will create a cross-border connection between County Louth in the Republic of Ireland and County Down in Northern Ireland.

A second barge, the Karel Victor, carrying the remaining section of the bridge’s fixed span, departed Belgium on 18 October and is expected to arrive in about seven days, subject to weather and marine conditions.

Construction work is currently expected to be completed in the final quarter of 2027, followed by testing and commissioning, with the bridge scheduled to open in early 2028.