Watch: Cork's newest bridge over South Ring Road put in place
Lifted After Into Position Of Newest Bridge Cummins Larry Was Friday, Morning Just Pictures: Cork's April The Midnight 21 On
This is the moment Cork’s newest bridge was lifted into place over the N40 South Ring Road overnight.
The soon-to-be-named Grange to Tramore Valley Park pedestrian and cycleway bridge was installed with the help of a 650-ton crane operated by East Cork Crane Hire Limited as part of a major engineering operation which requiored the closure of a key section of the South Ring Road.
The installation went smoothly and without a hitch. But it will be autumn before the bridge can be used by the public.
Funded by the National Transport Authority, the 63 m-long pedestrian and cycle bridge and the adjoining kilometre-long pathway will link Grange and Frankfield on the southern side of the N40 to Tramore Valley Park on the northern side.
The main contractor, Jons Civil Engineering Company Limited, began construction on site in July 2022 and works are continuing on the approach ramps and steps to the bridge and on the four-metre-wide cycle pathway from the Donkey Field in Grange through to the southern approach to the bridge.
The bridge was manufactured by Thompson of Carlow and comprises two sections.
The first section was installed on the southern side some weeks ago. It crosses the Lower Harbour Truck Watermain, weighs 13-ton, is 16m long, 5.16m wide and 1m high.
The main section installed overnight weighs 51-ton, is 46.6m in length, 5.16m wide and 4.65 high and will have a 5.7m minimum vertical clearance over the N40.
The bridge, once complete, will be accessed by a strengthened embankment on the southern bridge and a concrete ramp and stairs on the northern side.
The Lord Mayor, Cllr Deirdre Forde, has urged people to get involved in the public naming process for the bridge before next Friday’s deadline.
“Suggested names which honour, celebrate, or remember a person, group or events of significance that have helped to shape the City of Cork will be considered,” she said.
Completed application forms can be submitted on https://consult.corkcity.ie, by post marked “Grange to Tramore Valley Park Bridge Naming” to Barbara Creed, Administrative Officer, Infrastructure Development, City Hall, Cork, T12 T997 or by e-mail to barbara_creed@corkcity.ie.