Derrykerrib Bridge work to be complete by this time next year

A €1.8 million project is set to open up navigation up the Finn River from Upper Lough Erne to Castle Saunderson following the awarding of the contract to Carrickmore based Fox Contracts Ltd, writes Thomas Lyons. This will unblock this section of the waterway to boating traffic with a view to developing the tourism potential of the area.

The Minister for Rural Affairs, Heather Humphreys, was on hand last Friday to examine the location of the new bridge that will allow waterway traffic access on the stretch of the River Finn leading onto the River Erne and Castle Lough.
Minister Humphreys said that this is an exciting development: “This new bridge will allow canal access to the scouting centre at Castle Saunderson. So many young people attend that centre every year and this will be an added dimension to the wonderful service they provide here.”
The construction works in this flagship cross-border project consist of a new bridge and canal cut, which will allow navigation up the Finn River from Upper Lough Erne to Castle Saunderson, County Cavan. The construction will allow navigation to bypass the low span on the existing Derrykerrib Bridge.
“This is something that I am very keen on developing,” the Minister said. “We will develop the borderlands into a tourist offering. There is so much undiscovered beauty in the area that I know will be very attractive to tourists. We have to put the facilities in place, infrastructure like this allows them to visit and enjoy canal trips and holidays on the canal. They are becoming increasingly important, particularly with European visitors.”
Based on Derrykerrib island, the project, is a considerable technical challenge due to the poor ground conditions, frequency of flooding and the need to maintain access for residents at all times. The project has been designed by Waterways Ireland Technical Services and contractor Fox Contracts Ltd hope to be finished by April 2018.
The new bridge is to be north of the existing Derrykerrib bridge and will have an arch profile like an old canal bridge. In line with planning conditions, the bridge will have a modern finish. The canal cut will be 250 metres long and will run parallel to the existing river.
Contractor Finbarr Fox says that it is a challenging project: “The designers have done everything to make the scheme as easily built within the conditions. Our priority is to get all the environmental constraints satisfied. It is a very tight site.
“A major part of the project for us is to try and utilise materials we come across in the excavations and use them in the process so that we don't abuse the road network and that we are as sympathetic to the area. These are unclassified roads so we have to do it in a way that causes the minimum disruption to the local landowners.”
The Ulster Canal closed in 1931 after 90 years of operation. Linking Charlemont on the River Blackwater with Wattlebridge on the River Finn, the canal made it possible to travel from Lough Neagh to Lough Erne, through Blackwatertown, Benburb, Caledon, Middletown, Monaghan, Smithborough and Clones. This is the latest stage in restoring the waterway after 86 years.