Cross-border co-operation has taken on concrete form with the end of a building project that physically links North and South being welcomed.

Stormont Transport Minister Conor Murphy (pictured) and the NI Rural Development Minister Michelle Gildernew have greeted the opening of a €1.5m cross border Bridge at Belcoo along with the Republic's Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Minister Murphy said: "This Bridge represents an excellent example of joint working between government Department's and local authorities and is a positive example of good cross border and interagency co-operation."

Minister Gildernew welcomed the new scheme and said: "This road forms part of the A4/N16 South Western Key Transport Corridor linking the Belfast area to the Fermanagh Lakelands, and beyond to Sligo.

"It is an important cross border route bringing great social, cultural and economic benefits to the area, and at a local level it links the communities of Belcoo and Blacklion.

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"I welcome the completion of the work by Roads Authorities on both sides of the border. I thank the residents and landowners for their cooperation and hope that everyone enjoys the benefits it brings to the community."

Minister Gildernew thanked Cavan County Council, the National Roads Authority, the consulting engineer, the contractor and the other agencies involved for their effort and co-operation during the design and construction.

The bridge was half funded by the Department for Regional Development's Roads Service.

Just last week, there was other cross-border co-operation with the Republic's Minister for Natural Resources, Conor Lenihan, launching a €5 million EU-funded geological project to map the natural resources of the border counties of Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan and Louth.

The cross-border Tellus Border project has been funded by the INTERREG IVA development programme of the European Regional Development Fund, which is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).

This is the largest of the latest awards under the Environment theme of INTERREG IVA and is part funded by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Northern Ireland's Department of the Environment.

See: Minister Lenihan launches €5 million geological project in Border Counties

(GK)