Cork’s latest addition to its collection of bridges has been hailed as an important piece of infrastructure for people in the city by the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Mick Finn, following its successful installation over the north channel of the Lee. Cllr Finn said the €5 million, 165-tonne Mary Elmes Bridge, linking Merchant’s Quay in the city centre and St Patrick’s Quay on the north side of the river, would prove a major addition in terms of providing greater access to the Victorian Quarter for both locals and visitors. The bridge, which was designed by ARUP & Wilkinson Eyre Architects and fabricated off-site by engineering firm, Thompsons of Carlow, was brought first to Doyle’s Shipping Yard in Cobh where it was assembled for transport on the barge upstream to Cork city earlier this week. According to Cork City Council, it’s expected the bridge, the 31st to span either the north or south channels of the Lee in the city, will carry up to 11,000 pedestrians and cyclists daily between the Victorian Quarter and surrounding areas on the north side of the city, and the city centre to the south. According to a Cork City Council spokeswoman, the bridge, which is set on concrete and steel butresses, incorporates flood protection measures where, in the event of a particularly high flood, the bridge ends can be closed by pulling across integrated flood barriers to stop waters flooding on to the quays.

Source: The Irish Times May 18, 2019 17:15 UTC