What has been happening with the Sustainable Transport Bridge?
Image: Peter Grogan
The momentous delivery, lifting and installation of the four steel superstructure sections of the sustainable transport bridge was successfully completed on Wednesday May 28.
However there is still more work ahead before the bridge becomes fully operational.
The four sections were installed on temporary steel support frames in the river pending their connection and final fixing of the bridge superstructure onto its permanent concrete support piers and abutments.
This process requires very high precision levels to ensure the precise alignment of the bridge is correct, and requires a series of checks including positional surveys, load and deflection testing and thermal expansion analysis.
The mechanical and electrical components and instrumentation that power and control the opening and closing of the central bascule spans also need to be connected, commissioned and activated.
The fixing of the steel superstructure into its final position on permanent supports will take time.
Once the checks and surveys are completed final concrete sections are poured to fix the support piers into the superstructure.
The temporary supports are kept in position while the concrete gains its full strength to support the superstructure.
The bridge has been designed and installed so that the bascule spans can be temporarily opened and closed to accommodate river vessels, while the final fixing process is ongoing.
The first test lift of the new Sustainable Transport Bridge took place today, Friday July 11th.
The bridge was opened successfully to allow river traffic through, with Fastnet Shipping’s Fastnet Lir becoming the first vessel to pass beneath the span.
Site works are also progressing on other elements of the North Quays.
The start of the western railway flood defence scheme in August pose a significant civil engineering challenge with close interfaces with the River Suir and the live rail tracks on the approach to Plunkett Station.
Meanwhile the access infrastructure works at Ferrybank will be reaching a conclusion towards the end of the Summer, and any remaining disruptive works will be completed during the Summer period to reduce any impact on local schools.
The new South Quays Plaza at the Clock Tower is also progressing towards completion later this Summer.
While the Sustainable Transport Bridge will not open for another 18 months, it is intended to open the South Plaza to the public this Autumn.
Works on the new transport hub will reach a conclusion by the end of the year and the external set-down areas, footbridge, landscaping, etc. are now well advanced.
