The wait is over

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Crowds watching Dublin’s newest bridge make its journey along the Liffey erupted into applause as it squeezed through its final hurdle with only inches to spare. Dozens of engineers oversaw the massive operation of expertly lining up the Samuel Beckett bridge so it could manouvre through the East Link drawbridge. The bridge made the final leg of its journey to Sir John Rogersons Quay, West of Macken Street this afternoon after Dublin City Council postponed the earlier attempt due to bad weather.

The East Link Toll Bridge, closed to accommodate the moving of the bridge, has now reopened to traffic and the HGV cordon re-instated. The new bridge will remain moored on a pontoon alongside the south quayside for the next 10-12 days before being placed on its supporting pier in the river. Dublin’s newest bridge was designed by Santiago Calatrava, and will be his second bridge in the capital. The James Joyce Bridge, near Heuston Station, opened in 2003.

A great selection of images from the bridge’s progress into the berth can be seen at thedailystuff.ie.