Foyle Bridge

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Foyle Bridge, from the city side.
Foyle Bridge, from the city side.

The Foyle Bridge is a bridge in Derry in Northern Ireland. Although the central cantilever span of the bridge is the second longest in Ireland at 234 metres (767 feet), the whole suspended bridge structure including the approach spans is the longest in Ireland at 866 metres (2839 feet).[1]

It crosses the River Foyle to the north of the city, and forms only the second bridge linking the city centre to the Waterside. Work on the bridge began in 1980 and it opened in October 1984. The seven approach spans on the east bank are of prestressed concrete box construction. The three main river spans are of steel box construction and were built by Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast in 6 segments, weighed up to 900 tonnes each, and then transported by barge and ocean going tug to site were they were lifted into position.[2] Between 2003 and 2005 the bridge underwent strengthening, resurfacing and other improvements, leading to widespread traffic disruption in the city. Total cost of the refurbishment work was £10.6 million. The road was built to four-lane dual carriageway standard, and carries the A515. By 2004 more than 30,000 vehicles used the bridge every day. The NI Railways train line to Belfast runs beneath the eastern end of the bridge.[1]

The bridge was built for the Roads Service of Northern Ireland by RDL-Graham Joint Venture, with the consulting engineers being Ove Arup and Partners. The value of the four year construction contract was £15,765,000.[2] It was the first bridge in Ireland to be built according to a ‘Design and Construct’ system, whereby the same firm designed and constructed the bridge.[3]

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[edit] Incidents and accidents

In January 2005 during a storm, a lorry was blown off the bridge and its driver, Peter McGuinness, killed. An investigation was launched since the storm had not been unusually severe, and it was concluded that a freak gust had contributed to the accident. However, due to the danger from cross winds, the bridge has always been closed to traffic when the weather is particularly windy. Windsocks are in place at each end to alert the drivers of HGVs.[1][4][5]

Following a review a new bridge management system has been put in place. When wind speeds reach the first trigger level of 30mph, signs on the bridge will display an advisory speed limit of 30mph. If they increase to the second trigger level of 40mph, signs on the bridge approaches will direct high-sided vehicles to use the Craigavon Bridge. When the wind speed exceeds 50mph the Foyle Bridge will be closed to all vehicles. The new system, costing £800,000, has the capacity of automatically receiving information from the wind monitoring equipment on the bridge and displaying appropriate warnings and instructions on variable message signs in the city and on the approaches.[6]

[edit] History

The bridge crosses the Foyle at Madam's Bank, which is the same site as King James II's army chose to place their boom barrier during the Siege of Derry in 1688-1689.[1]

[edit] External links

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[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d A515 Foyle Bridge, Londonderry. Northern Ireland Roads Site. Retrieved on 2007-08-24.
  2. ^ a b Foyle Bridge, Londonderry. Graham - Building for Transport. Retrieved on 2004-08-24.
  3. ^ Foyle Bridge. Visit Derry - Places to Visit. Retrieved on 2007-08-24.
  4. ^ Lorry driver dies in bridge fall. BBC News (2005-01-11). Retrieved on 2007-08-24.
  5. ^ Bridge warning call after death. BBC News (2006-11-21). Retrieved on 2007-08-24.
  6. ^ New warning system for Foyle Bridge in high winds. Department for Regional Development - Web News (2006-06-30). Retrieved on 2007-08-24.

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