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Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy bridge, New Ross, County Wexford , Ireland, opened 2020.
New Ross bridge build cost is £106M in 2026 prices, which, if base cost for SLC + Narrows site specifics + approach roads/car parking + Professional Fees, say, £300M + forms the cost figure being reported at present across the spectrum of SLC/ DfI / Wesley Johnston NI Roads
Minister Kimmins Opens the Door: “Why Not?” on Strangford Lough Bridge
Northern Ireland Assembly Plenary – Tuesday 3 February 2026
A Significant Shift in Ministerial Language on the Strangford Lough Crossing
On Tuesday 3 February 2026, the Northern Ireland Assembly held an Adjournment Debate on the impact of storms on the A20 Portaferry Road. What began as a debate about coastal resilience and road safety ended with a remarkable statement from Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins MLA — one that represents the most positive ministerial language on the Strangford Lough Crossing in living memory.
Speaking from the dispatch box, Minister Kimmins stated:
“Members will know that the feasibility of a bridge has been looked at. Like anything, we can keep that under review. A significant cost has been suggested: I think that the figure is in and around £300 million and potentially more. When we look at the likes of Narrow Water bridge, however, we see that not all such things remain a pipe dream. If there is good support and a strong economic case for it, why not? I am happy to keep that under review, albeit it is budget-dependent.”
(Source: NI Assembly Official Report (Hansard), Tuesday 3 February 2026, Volume 188, No 2, page 76)
Those two words — “why not?” — mark a notable departure from the language that has characterised departmental responses to the Strangford Lough Crossing campaign to date.
Why This Matters: The Contrast with Previous Departmental Positions
To appreciate the significance of Minister Kimmins’ remarks, they must be read against the official correspondence that has preceded them.
On 9 April 2025, DfI Roads Southern Division wrote: “The Department’s position has not changed from that set out in the previous correspondence. I don’t believe a meeting to discuss this matter is needed at this time.” (Ref: TOF-0128-2025, Mark McPeak, Divisional Roads Manager)
On 24 October 2025, DfI TRAM Consultancy Services wrote: “Within the current planning framework, no immediate need for a fixed crossing at Strangford has been identified… a fixed crossing at this location is not a priority at this time. As such, the Department does not consider it an effective use of limited resources to initiate a cost review for a bridge or to pursue Shared Island Funding for a feasibility study.” (Ref: TOF-0467-2025, Ian McClung, Head of Consultancy Services)
And on 3 September 2024, former Minister John O’Dowd MLA wrote: “…regrettably it is considered that there would currently be insufficient economic benefits to justify such a major investment.” (Ref: COR-1578-2024)
The Minister’s statement on 3 February 2026 stands in sharp contrast to each of these positions. She referenced the Narrow Water Bridge as proof that major infrastructure projects need not remain aspirational. She cited a cost figure of approximately £300 million — notably closer to independent estimates than the Department’s previously quoted £650 million “guesstimate” that FOI disclosures revealed was based on crude scaling methodology rather than professional engineering analysis. And she invited the continuation of the conversation rather than closing it down.
The Debate: Cross-Party Support on Full Display
The Adjournment Debate was secured by Kellie Armstrong MLA (Alliance, Strangford) to address the recurring impact of storms, including storms Bram and Chandra, on the A20 Portaferry Road. Ms Armstrong described the A20 as “a lifeline for the Ards peninsula” and detailed the incident during storm Bram when a school bus was engulfed by waves, with children stranded by coastal flooding.
It was Michelle McIlveen MLA (DUP, Strangford), former Minister for Regional Development, who raised the bridge directly. She stated: “That is why I continue to raise the prospect of having a fixed crossing between Portaferry and Strangford… we need to be bold and consider long-term infrastructure options. We should not ignore them simply because they are difficult; we should look at them because of their likely impact.”
When given additional time by the Deputy Speaker, Ms McIlveen continued: “A bridge would provide an alternative route off the peninsula that does not depend on a coast-hugging road that is vulnerable to storm surge. It would improve traffic flow for local residents, visitors and emergency services. There is little doubt that a bridge would boost tourism and local commerce by making lower Ards and the rest of the peninsula more accessible all year round.”
She made the direct connection to the debate’s subject matter: “Importantly, in the context of the debate, a bridge would take the pressure off the A20 when that road is closed or unsafe.”
Mike Nesbitt MLA (UUP, Strangford) stated he was “very interested in what Michelle had to say about a bridge” and called for a proactive five-year plan to address the needs of the A20 and the communities that depend on it.
Nick Mathison MLA (Alliance, Strangford) raised concerns about the long-term stability of the road, noting it “was never designed to carry the volume of traffic that it currently carries” and questioning whether the road is “safe and stable in the medium term.”
Harry Harvey MLA (DUP, Strangford) stated that “strategic investment is required to ensure that the Portaferry Road can withstand more readily coastal waves and spray” and called for improved diversion routes when the A20 is closed.
Matthew O’Toole MLA (SDLP, South Belfast) noted the dual vulnerability: “the storm disruption that disrupts the A20 might often disrupt the ferry crossing from Portaferry to Strangford, which puts even more emphasis on planning, preparing and building in resilience.”
The Wider Context: Climate Change and Coastal Erosion
A recurring theme throughout the debate was the reality of climate change and its impact on coastal infrastructure. Ms Armstrong highlighted that the Executive has still not agreed the third climate change adaptation programme, describing the delay as “simply unacceptable.”
Minister Kimmins confirmed that storm Bram caused approximately £650,000 of damage to coastal defences in the County Down area alone, with only £173,700 spent on reactive repairs over the preceding five years. She confirmed that managed retreat of the A20 “is not deemed appropriate” given the road’s critical function for economic, social, educational and infrastructure purposes.
This statement is significant. If the A20 must be maintained and defended against increasingly severe weather events at escalating cost, and if the ferry service is simultaneously disrupted by those same storms, the case for an alternative permanent crossing grows stronger with each passing winter.
What Happens Next
Minister Kimmins’ statement does not constitute a commitment to build a bridge. It would be premature to characterise it as such. However, it represents a meaningful change in tone from the Minister herself — from categorical refusal to open-minded review.
The Minister’s reference to a £300 million cost figure, her citation of the Narrow Water Bridge as a precedent for delivery, and her use of the phrase “why not?” are all matters of public record in Hansard. They cannot be unsaid, and they create a framework within which constructive engagement can continue.
The challenge now is to ensure that the Minister’s stated openness translates into tangible action: specifically, the commissioning of an independent feasibility study that would, for the first time, provide the evidence base upon which informed decisions can be made.
The communities of the Ards Peninsula — who demonstrated 94% support for a permanent crossing in a recent survey of 458 residents — will be watching closely.
The full Official Report (Hansard) of the NI Assembly Plenary, Tuesday 3 February 2026, Volume 188, No 2, is available from the Northern Ireland Assembly website. The Adjournment Debate on the A20 Portaferry Road begins at page 68. Click here for Report
All quotations are taken directly from the Official Report (Hansard) and are attributed to the individual Members as recorded.