New Liffey pedestrian bridge
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I suppose the question is how many people a day want to go from Heuston to the Point? A couple of runs when there’s a big gig on I suppose.
The bus from Heuston to IFSC runs only 25 times a day, mostly at rush hour. So I wonder is the demand unmet or is there just no demand(, or no point sitting in a traffic locked bus)?
Heuston to Custom house Quay might be profitable though as this would link to Busarus, Connolly and TaraSt. Could end up in competition to the luas docklands link…
That said, I would love to see the river being used for transport again. Does anyone know when did the last ferry service finish? I remember one running when the point was still new and exciting. What happened to that?
For a river serice beyound Capel Street, a weir would be needed. Having lived at Heuston, the water can drop right down to a foot or so from Grattan bridge onwards. Also nothing larger than a canoe is getting under Matt Talbot at high water.
I’m sure alot of folk would use it particularly country folk who when travelling home have to get the 79 or 90 bus at Aston Quay to travel up to Heuston Station….and many folk coming from the country could get it at Heuston to travel to the city centre.
As for the newly emerging docks with its new population a ferry service would be an appropriate venture.Some form of a double/adjustable wier could be designed that would keep the minimum height up river at low tide and maitain a maximum height a high tide. This is possible I think.
Also I think the wier is better placed at the location of the Pedestrian bridge where it can be admired rather than placing it where it may take away from the magnificance of the Mat Talbot bridge,
One other wonder, really isn’t a river boat on the liffey about as much use as having guided tours of Hawkins house? It should only happen if it’s commercial.
the guinness barges had the ability to lower their chimney stacks, and the matt talbot wasn’t there.
whats obviously called for is a submarine with retractable legs (say eight) for walking west of Heuston station.
No, we need to demolish all the remaining bridges and get Calatrava to build massive new cantilevered jobs the whole length of the Liffey to swing out of the way of the water taxis as they bring me to the Point for concerts.
I weir would be a great idea….and may even have a more practical use as a protection against flooding in view of rising sea levels and the distruction wrought in the last year by high tides. It would also get rid of that nasty low tide look the Liffey has and maybe even contribute to a cleaner river…no more Chime in the Slimes!
As for the baot service, I dont think it would work out to be honest. Look at London…even it struggles to provide a viable commercial service. There just isnt the demand for the service to work. A better option might be to look at providing Sydney-type ferry services from the Docklands to the suburbs around the bay thus releving pressure on the Dart. Not sure how easy our weather would make this.As for the bridge it looks great but is it a logical place to put it as the Quays on either side arent exactly the most predestrian freindly areas. Once you get past the Campshires then you have to negotiate the heavy good vehicles either side. And both sides seem to be opting for office blocks facing the river rather than more pedestrain orientated shops and bars and restaurants.
There was also a bridge mooted for the Malborough St/Hawkins St axis. Anybody hear anything more about that? Its a part of the O’Connell Integrated Plan. Mind you as we are just about managing to get the Spire constructed (an important but hardly huge element of the plan) I suppose I will have to sit on my hands for a few more years before I see that element in place.
Dublin needs a way of getting people from Heuston to the IFSC’ish area which avoids traffic. The best options are:
Underground rail from Heuston to Connolly (now where would we get that?
Water taxi.
Sky taxi – based on those cool harrier planes that take off vertically!
Sky taxi – based on those cool harrier planes that take off vertically!
Like this one?
Solve dublin’s traffic problems in a stroke!
The foot bridge looks good, and will be especially useful as the Spencer Dock/Grand Canal Dock sites are developed.
James
Two entries from the competition
http://www.irish-architecture.com/unbuilt_ireland/dublin/ddda_pedestrian_bridge/index.html
I like the first one… its sounds very cool. I like the idea of it being an ‘event’ when the bridge is withdrawn
The arches on the first one are ridiculously out of scale with the width of the river it has to span…
Hoola Hoopla…..Is that a dolmen in the first image….hee hee …na it’s the water flowing off the platform as it’s raised….. I think. The second bridge looks kinda like the Millenium Bridge in London.
Nice pics of the James Joyce Bridge at http://www.dublincity.ie/news2.html – the city council’s website.
Unfortunately, they’ve put about eight huge pictures on the one page so unless you have a decent system, i wouldn’t bother trying it.The piling works for this bridge appear to be at an advance stage does anyone know when it is due for completion?
The pontoons (is that the arch word? – the legs of the bridge) are finished. They look really good, in pristine concrete with the water coming close to breaking over the top of them at high tide. The quay walls where the bridge will meet land looks ready too. Just the bridge sections needed now. Hope they arrive by boat, much more atmospheric than by big truck blocking the quays.
Still no sign of the bridge itself. But I notice (and should have mentioned sooner) that the first batch of Rachel Joynt’s glass cobble stones are in place. They are wonderful. Apparently there is to be nearly 1000 of them. They are beautiful round (~palm size) backlit glass blocks. They have blue and green swirls through them and little fish swimming through, and starfish in others. They look like little rock pools or maybe portholes tht you can see through into the river and sea below.
I had very high expectations as I love some of her other work, especially The Sea Urchin in Dun Laoghaire and The People’s Island an O’connel bridge / Dolier st (esp the little bird feet!) and am delighted that docklands has this addition. Offsets the famine memorial very well and will enhance the new bridge.
Come on the bridge!
I meant to mention these previously. They look great don’t they. I mjst say the DDDA have made great use of inventive lighting in the whole Docklands areas. Would love to see elements like this integrated into other city areas. City Walls, OConnell St, better bridge lighting.
Im looking forward to seeing the bridge in place. The last time I read it was due up the Liffey in Nov. Being constructed in Poland?? Roll on the NY. Shall we see a Boardwalk extension, improved pedestrian flows under an advertisment-free Loop Line, smartened up Quays at Custom House and Georges Quay, and a spanking new bridge opposite chq. Should be a great improvement. Next the DDDA should remove themselves to some other location in their domain and demolish their present offices.
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