Bridges & Boardwalks

[johnglas]

It's an interesting-looking bridge (very sinuous and elegant), but the stuff lining the canal is just desperate; when it comes to corporate architecture a sense of place and even a lightness of touch seem just to evaporate. Dull, dull, dull, dull dull...

[jdivision]

john that will become a linear park when construction is completed. the bridge will open to pedestrains tomorrow afaik.

[CraigFay]

the bridge will open to pedestrains tomorrow

Are you sure, cos doesn't really look ready for it.

[jdivision]

So I was told by somebody involved. If you see it from above it's pretty much done

[cgcsb]

the bridge is not open to pedestrians and probably won't be until the end of the year when the tracks are connected from the bridge to mayor street

[lostexpectation]

http://www.herald.ie/national-news/city-news/new-bridge-to-open-up-city-centre-1699894.html
DUBLIN City Council is pushing ahead with a new multi- million-euro bridge over the River Liffey.

It has invited "pre-qualification submissions" from contractors for the construction of the Marlborough St Public Transport Priority Bridge.

Contractors must submit their tenders by May 15 next.

The estimated value of the contract is from €8m to €12m, the tender documents say.

Last Autumn, the Council said construction was due to commence in late 2009, but it is being funded under the Transport 21 programme and it is not clear if this timetable is being adhered to.

[cgcsb]

http://www.herald.ie/national-news/city-news/new-bridge-to-open-up-city-centre-1699894.html
DUBLIN City Council is pushing ahead with a new multi- million-euro bridge over the River Liffey.

It has invited "pre-qualification submissions" from contractors for the construction of the Marlborough St Public Transport Priority Bridge.

Contractors must submit their tenders by May 15 next.

The estimated value of the contract is from €8m to €12m, the tender documents say.

Last Autumn, the Council said construction was due to commence in late 2009, but it is being funded under the Transport 21 programme and it is not clear if this timetable is being adhered to.

bet you to it:
http://www.archiseek.com/content/showthread.php?t=7337

[fergalr]

BusGate strikes. Jesus. Bye bye vista.

[GrahamH]

And vista of a different kind...

August 10th, 1859: A modest proposal to keep the dismal Liffey swamp out of sight

JOE JOYCE

The stench of the River Liffey was a regular feature of summer in Dublin until comparatively recent times. In its first summer in existence in 1859, The Irish Times described what it was like then and offered a modest proposal to solve the problems:


TEN MILES from the city, Anna Liffey flows through the richest and most tranquil scenery in Ireland. Now it lies a sheet of silver, under drooping trees, undisturbed and smooth as a mirror, except when stirred by the sudden splash of the trout, the leap of the salmon, or the wake of the kingfisher skimming along the surface to its nest.

Now it expands into goodly reaches plashing along the inland bays of gravel; and now dashes its foam over milldams and salmon wiers, sending a column of spray upwards to dance in the sunbeams. No poet ever yet sang of a river flowing through a town. The emblems of all that is bright,

clear and tranquil in life are taken from the open fields under green trees. No one, to look up the Anna Liffey from Essex Bridge , would think she had ever been beautiful, or that so hideous an age had succeeded to so attractive a youth.

Every sewer in the city empties its grey or brackish stream of defilement into the river. The white scum settles in thick lines on either side of the mud and sludge. The river itself is strong-smelling and inky, charged with every species of animate or inanimate impurity. Down the stream are carried carcases of domestic animals until they reach the returning tideway; then they are borne backwards slowly, knocking about among the barges, sailing heavily under archways, until at last a burst of rain swells the river, and, carrying away these bloated masses of corruption, lands them at last upon the Bull or the bathing sheds of Clontarf. For 12 hours out of the 24 a large portion of the bottom of the Liffey is exposed. The sun plays upon the festering mass by day; the malaria hangs about it like a cloud by night. It is black, noisome, pestilential; more like a gigantic sewer than that sparkling river which glitters among the trees 10 miles away. Every summer sends abroad the fever-laded breath of the river; every summer our corporate magnates meet and solemnly discuss the evil and the remedy. All sorts of proposals are made, but never a one accepted. Yet, year by year, this river of concentrated sewage is becoming more fetid and more deadly . . .

If our energetic corporation is alarmed at an expenditure of £40,000 to purify and beautify our city, cannot something be done? We have the noblest line of quays of any city in Europe. Can we not enclose something within them better than a polluted mass of putrefying matter? A very simple plan, we think, would rend the quays a favourite and

pleasant promenade for our citizens, until the corporation screws up courage to spend this £40,000. What is to prevent our erecting three strong flood gates at Carlisle Bridge , under the three arches? By these the fresh tidal water could be kept in at half ebb, until the succeeding half flow. The river would always appear full, and not a particle of the dismal swamp be uncovered. The occasional opening of these gates at low tide would flush the river, and carry down all impurities. We do not see anything against this plan but its simplicity and cheapness. These, we know, are formidable objections in the eyes of the corporation who, having no bowels, have we suppose, no noses. We venture to say that five weeks’ work and £500 would free our city from a standing disgrace, and our people from danger. What will our worthy Aldermen say to this?

© The Irish Times

[StephenC]

BusGate strikes. Jesus. Bye bye vista.

It is only temporary. What I think is odd are the electronic signs for the College Green bus gate at Castleknock as you arte heading towards Blanchardstown (on the N4).

[fergalr]

It is only temporary.

Ireland's notion of "temporary" is worryingly close to permanent. See threads on Oireachtas car park and shop signage :P

[Global Citizen]

And vista of a different kind...

August 10th, 1859: A modest proposal to keep the dismal Liffey swamp out of sight

JOE JOYCE

The stench of the River Liffey was a regular feature of summer in Dublin until comparatively recent times. In its first summer in existence in 1859, The Irish Times described what it was like then and offered a modest proposal to solve the problems:


TEN MILES from the city, Anna Liffey flows through the richest and most tranquil scenery in Ireland. Now it lies a sheet of silver, under drooping trees, undisturbed and smooth as a mirror, except when stirred by the sudden splash of the trout, the leap of the salmon, or the wake of the kingfisher skimming along the surface to its nest.

Now it expands into goodly reaches plashing along the inland bays of gravel; and now dashes its foam over milldams and salmon wiers, sending a column of spray upwards to dance in the sunbeams. No poet ever yet sang of a river flowing through a town. The emblems of all that is bright,

clear and tranquil in life are taken from the open fields under green trees. No one, to look up the Anna Liffey from Essex Bridge , would think she had ever been beautiful, or that so hideous an age had succeeded to so attractive a youth.

Every sewer in the city empties its grey or brackish stream of defilement into the river. The white scum settles in thick lines on either side of the mud and sludge. The river itself is strong-smelling and inky, charged with every species of animate or inanimate impurity. Down the stream are carried carcases of domestic animals until they reach the returning tideway; then they are borne backwards slowly, knocking about among the barges, sailing heavily under archways, until at last a burst of rain swells the river, and, carrying away these bloated masses of corruption, lands them at last upon the Bull or the bathing sheds of Clontarf. For 12 hours out of the 24 a large portion of the bottom of the Liffey is exposed. The sun plays upon the festering mass by day; the malaria hangs about it like a cloud by night. It is black, noisome, pestilential; more like a gigantic sewer than that sparkling river which glitters among the trees 10 miles away. Every summer sends abroad the fever-laded breath of the river; every summer our corporate magnates meet and solemnly discuss the evil and the remedy. All sorts of proposals are made, but never a one accepted. Yet, year by year, this river of concentrated sewage is becoming more fetid and more deadly . . .

If our energetic corporation is alarmed at an expenditure of £40,000 to purify and beautify our city, cannot something be done? We have the noblest line of quays of any city in Europe. Can we not enclose something within them better than a polluted mass of putrefying matter? A very simple plan, we think, would rend the quays a favourite and

pleasant promenade for our citizens, until the corporation screws up courage to spend this £40,000. What is to prevent our erecting three strong flood gates at Carlisle Bridge , under the three arches? By these the fresh tidal water could be kept in at half ebb, until the succeeding half flow. The river would always appear full, and not a particle of the dismal swamp be uncovered. The occasional opening of these gates at low tide would flush the river, and carry down all impurities. We do not see anything against this plan but its simplicity and cheapness. These, we know, are formidable objections in the eyes of the corporation who, having no bowels, have we suppose, no noses. We venture to say that five weeks’ work and £500 would free our city from a standing disgrace, and our people from danger. What will our worthy Aldermen say to this?

© The Irish Times

Well spotted Graham.

What a difference 150 years makes.

Feckall really !

[lostexpectation]

http://www.irishtimes.com/letters/index.html#1224252364407

How much we enjoy the Dublin boardwalk! How sad to see it is not being looked after. It needs deck-brushing and the handrail needs sanding and perhaps oiling, at least once a month.

once a month!

he'd be lucky

[Yixian]

The boardwalks are absolutely wonderful though.

I always think that some enterprising little company should come along and provide gondola-like river tours on replica ancient celtic boats or something of the like, and they could moor along the boardwalks.

[lostexpectation]

The boardwalks are absolutely wonderful though.

I always think that some enterprising little company should come along and provide gondola-like river tours on replica ancient celtic boats or something of the like, and they could moor along the boardwalks.

okay so yixian is some satire project by rumplestiltkin, right?

[Yixian]

okay so yixian is some satire project by rumplestiltkin, right?

I'm far too new here to know what that means

my point was it's never too late to introduce a little folklore or magic into a city, I really don't know the first thing about what a "celtic boat" would even look like but something more cultural and characterful than the bland tubs that chug up and down capital rivers these days would be nice.

[rumpelstiltskin]

okay so yixian is some satire project by rumplestiltkin, right?

What are you picking on me for?! Although you're right, he does sound a bit like somebody's id!

[rumpelstiltskin]

We have the noblest line of quays of any city in Europe.

You often hear statements like this. In the nineteenth century were Dublin's quays really nobler than Paris', or Venice's? Or indeed any number of other cities that spring to mind?

[Service charge]

Wasn't there recent-ish talk of putting a weir on the Liffey?

On a side: any notice the dredging work on the Grand Canal. They dumped all the crap on the side weeks ago, where it still remains!

[GregF]

I see one of those old black Victoriana cast iron bins has appeared and is looking rather incongruous on the the very contemporary James Joyce bridge. I hope this is only temporary, to be replaced with the more contemporary stainless steel type.
Else it is just carelessness and shoddiness on behalf of the Corpo if this is to be a permanent fixture. Next, they'll be painting it mult-coloured to use up whatever paint they may have in the depot as their once old appoach of "anything will do" re-emerges and the general maintenance deteriorates. I remember that it took a long time for them to replace the broken glass panels a couple of years ago.

[fergalr]

Are bins, like bus stops, only placed on bridges in Dublin?

[GrahamH]

I love how the bin in the close-up looks like it's innocuously whistling while up to no good.

[Global Citizen]

I love how the bin on the bridge peers longingly over the parapet at its smug ex-lover on the quays at the bottom of the image.

[lostexpectation]

should have got the bridge designer to design the bins, maybe half as tall at the end of the bench

[StephenC]

Calatrava designed bins?...that's sooo Celtic Tiger