UrbanRenewal:The latest bridge to span Dublin's River Liffey should be completed in less than 18 months, with the €47 million project opening up the Spencer Dock area and the docklands in general, according to Dublin City Council.
The Samuel Beckett Bridge will span the river between Guild Street at the northern quays and connect with Sir John Rogerson's Quay about 70 meters west of Cardiff Lane.
It will provide four traffic lanes, cycle tracks and footpaths, providing yet another valuable crossing point to ease traffic flow between north and south Dublin.
The city fathers have decided to celebrate another of Dublin's great writers in their choice of bridge name, the Nobel Prizewinning playwright Samuel Beckett, author of the iconic Waiting for Godot. They have also returned to the internationally acclaimed designer Santiago Calatrava, the Spaniard who designed the James Joyce Bridge that links Usher's Island and Blackhall Place.
The new bridge will have a curved profile leaning northwards giving the appearance of a harp lying on its side. The steel cable-stay pylon will lean northwards to a point 46 metres above water level.
It will span 120 metres between the north and south quay walls and is capable of opening through an angle of 90 degrees to accommodate maritime traffic.
With the first commercial tenants already in situ in Spencer Dock, and just months to residents moving in, the bridge will transform access to the docklands.
Up to 25,000 people are expected to work in Spencer Dock, Ireland's largest urban regeneration project, with 6,000 people living there by its completion.
The €47 million bridge cost includes an upgrade of the approach roads.
Environmental improvement works will be carried out on Macken Street, Cardiff Lane, Guild Street and Seville Place.
The project is funded by the Department of the Environment, Dublin Docklands Development Authority and Dublin City Council. It will be constructed by Graham Hollandia Joint Venture.
Graham Construction built Taney Bridge in Dundrum while Hollandia has been responsible for high profile works including the London Eye.
