New €5m bridge over Lee
THE construction of the €5million Harley’s Street Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge – which will link Cork city centre and the Victorian quarter – will start this month. It’s expected, when fully operational, that up to 11,000 pedestrians and cyclists, travelling between the city centre and the Victorian Quarter daily, will benefit from the improved connectivity and convenience provided by Harley’s Street Bridge.
The Victorian Quarter includes Mac Curtain Street and the surrounding area.
Cork City Council has awarded the contract for the construction of the bridge to L&M Keating Contractors. L&M Keating operates nationally and internationally, and recently completed local projects such as the redevelopment of St Angela’s College on St Patrick’s Hill and Perrott’s Inch Pedestrian Bridge at University College
Cork Lord Mayor Cllr Mick Finn said: “Thanks to the work of the bridge designers ARUP & Wilkinson Eyre Architects , the new bridge will fit sympathetically with the surrounding quays, buildings and city centre environment while maintaining the views along the river, Shandon and the northern suburbs. It will give the river the elegant crossing that it deserves.”
Construction activity will commence in late July, with the initial phase of work consisting of site setup, and diversion of underground utilities. The bridge itself will be constructed off-site by Thompsons of Carlow between July this year and February 2019. Bridge sections will be transported by truck to the lower harbour for final assembly and finishing.
The finished superstructure will be placed on a barge and transported by river to the city centre. The barge journey will be timed to coincide with the optimum tide level for clear passage under Brian Boru Bridge before arrival at its final destination in the city centre in April 2019.
The bridge will be lifted by crane from the barge in one overnight operation which will require the complete closure of both quays for the duration. In parallel with the construction of the superstructure, minor traffic lane alterations will be required in the area where the bridge supports are being put in place.