Consultation has been launched on plans for the Newry Southern Relief Road, a route which will connect A1/N1 Belfast and Eastern Seaboard Corridor with the A2 and Warrenpoint Harbour.

The Department for Infrastructure will host events in Newry's Sean Hollywood Arts Centre between 10am and 9pm on Wednesday 26 June and Thursday 27 June.

These events are being held to help shape the design stage of the project. The aim during this stage of the scheme is to identify the environmental, engineering, economic and traffic advantages and disadvantages of the preferred route.

Southern Divisional Roads Manager, Simon Richardson said: "We are undertaking this community consultation to further seek the views of the local community and other stakeholders to inform the next stage of the process, including the design. This consultation is part of a process that will leave us well placed to deliver the ambitions for the Belfast Region that were set out in the City Deal Heads of Terms.

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"The route has the potential to improve significantly ‎journey times and journey time reliability for strategic traffic between the A2 Warrenpoint Road and the A1/N1. It should also improve road safety and traffic congestion within Newry City centre by providing an alternative route to the A2 Warrenpoint road and associated port traffic. The scheme should improve accessibility to both Newry City and Warrenpoint Harbour and also support sustainable economic growth and employment within the area."

This consultation and exhibition follows the recent community drop-in sessions.

Members of the public can make representations by letter, email, via the Department website or by using feedback forms provided at the community consultation event.

(CM/MH)