Phase 2 of the Ulster Canal Greenway is a 22km project to provide Greenway between Smithborough, Co. Monaghan and Middletown, Co. Armagh. It will connect into the existing Monaghan Town Greenway and is due to open in 2021.

In December 2016, the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB)  awarded €4.95 million under the European Union’s INTERREG VA Programme to a Partnership led by Waterways Ireland and involving Monaghan County Council, Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council and East Border Region Ltd to proceed with Phase II of the Ulster Canal Greenway.

This will involve constructing a 20km section of greenway from Smithborough in Co. Monaghan to Middletown in Co. Armagh. The Greenway will connect into teh existing Phase 1 Monaghan Town Greenway. A 2km Greenway spur connecting the N2 Dublin road along the N2 bypass in Monaghan Town is also included in the project, as is some funding for community engagement measures to encourage commuters along the route to switch from their cars and use the greenway.

The route of the Greenway will generally follow the original route of the Ulster Canal.In some locations constraints mean we will have to divert away from the Canal Corridor for short lengths. The design of the scheme will consider route options and identify the best route for the Greenway at all points. Information about the route selection process and any associated public consultation events will be published here.

Designers are to be appointed in Autumn 2018, planning permission to be applied for in 2019 and land acquisition to proceed in late 2019. Public consultation will take place during the design process. It is hoped to get construction underway in 2020, with the greenway due to open in 2021.

This project is supported by the European Union’s INTERREG VA Programme, and managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).