Samuel Beckett Bridge

Samuel Beckett Bridge
Droichead Samuel Beckett
Coordinates 53°20′49″N 6°14′29″W / 53.3470°N 6.2413°WCoordinates: 53°20′49″N 6°14′29″W / 53.3470°N 6.2413°W
Crosses River Liffey
Locale Dublin, Ireland
Characteristics
Total length 120 metres[1]
Height 48 metres[1]
History
Designer Santiago Calatrava
Construction begin 2007
Opened 10 December 2009[1]

Samuel Beckett Bridge (Irish: Droichead Samuel Beckett) is a cable-stayed bridge in Dublin[2] that joins Sir John Rogerson's Quay on the south side of the River Liffey to Guild Street and North Wall Quay in the Docklands area.[3]

Design and construction

The main steel structure arriving by barge, May 2009

The architect is Santiago Calatrava,[2] a designer of a number of innovative bridges and buildings. This is the second bridge in the area designed by Calatrava, the first being the James Joyce Bridge, which is further upstream.[4]

Constructed by a "Graham Hollandia Joint Venture",[3] the main span of the Samuel Beckett Bridge is supported by 31 cable stays from a doubly back-stayed single forward arc tubular tapered spar, with decking provided for four traffic and two pedestrian lanes. It is also capable of opening through an angle of 90 degrees allowing ships to pass through. This is achieved through a rotational mechanism housed in the base of the pylon.[3]

The shape of the spar and its cables is said to evoke an image of a harp lying on its edge.[5] (The harp is a secular icon for Ireland and things Irish.)

The steel structure of the bridge was constructed in Rotterdam by Hollandia,[6] a Dutch company also responsible for the steel fabrication of the London Eye.[5] The steel span of the bridge was transferred from the Hollandia wharf in Krimpen aan den IJssel on May 3rd, 2009,[6][7] with support from specialist transport company ALE Heavylift.

The bridge, which cost €60 million,[8] is named for Irish writer Samuel Beckett, was officially opened to pedestrians on 10 December 2009 by Dublin Lord Mayor, Emer Costello[9][10] and to road traffic at 7 am the following day.[8]

Criticism

Commentators criticised traffic management restrictions in place around the bridge, saying that with certain turns onto the bridge being blocked, traffic would be diverted into the city centre undermining the bridge's purpose of reducing traffic on the downstream bridges.[11] Unhappiness was also expressed over the fact that these restrictions would force drivers to use the East-Link Toll Bridge. Dublin City Council replied that these restrictions were mandated by An Bord Pleanála to prevent users of the East-Link bridge (outside the city) from coming into the city.

At the time of opening, there was also criticism that no bus services had plans to use the bridge.[12]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Samuel Beckett Bridge.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Irish Times - Samuel Beckett Bridge opens - 11 December 2009
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Samuel Beckett Bridge at Structurae
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Dublin City Council - Samuel Beckett Bridge
  4. ↑ Archiseek - James Joyce Bridge, Dublin
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Docklands Development Authority - Samuel Beckett Bridge
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Trouw.nl - News - Samuel Beckett bridge awaits tense excursion to Ireland - 28 April 2009 (In Dutch)
  7. ↑ InspiringCities.org - Calatrava bridge leaves Rotterdam, on its way to Dublin - 03-05-2009
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 McBride, Caitlin (2008-12-11). "Beckett bridge is a great relief". Evening Herald. Retrieved 2009-12-14.
  9. ↑ Irish Times - Samuel Beckett bridge opens
  10. ↑ Dublin City Council bridge opening press release
  11. ↑ Website of Senator Paschal Donohoe - Samuel Beckett Bridge - 12 December 2009
  12. ↑ Sunday Tribune - New bridge has two bus lanes but no buses - 20 December 2009 (the original link no longer works; the new link is to a copy of the article on a blog)