New Liffey pedestrian bridge
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The difference with the James Joyce bridge is that the finished product lived up to the computer renderings. I had no strong opinions about the new pedestrian bridge from the initial images. I think the design was OK, but the finish is crap – even a lick of white paint would help!
I still don’t understand the need for the barriers here if they’re not needed anywhere else on the Liffey.There are also barriers on the East Link, and as this new bridge rotates to allow boats through I assume it was decided that these were need too. However, I wonder how much traffic will realistically pass through it? Particularly since the basin (George’s Dock?) beside Stack A has been filled in so that the water is only a few feet deep now.
I imagine because both sections of the bridge pivot on their axis to open thus meaning that they will point down (and up) river when open, the barriers are required so boats don’t hit the open bridge head on. This unique design thus requires extra measures to ensure some salty sea dog doesn’t come a cropper. Would be curious to see how often they are opened though ?
The only boats that would come through are the tall ships that go up towards the Customs House.
How often is that? Once a year at most.
Valid criticisms aside, it’s worth reserving judgement on the bridge until you see it in the flesh.
The pictures are not doing it any favours.Well to be honest, I don’t think it looks any better in the flesh (I pass it going to and from work each day) than in the pictures posted. Maybe, as mentioned, it will look better once all the construction clutter and the DDDA offices (I see they are moving down to the Grand Canal Dock area soon (Today’s IT)) are gone. It just seems like a very overbearing design for a pedestrian bridge which will rarely be opened.
The reason that the Sean O’Casey bridge opens onto such a short stretch of navigation is that the Matt Talbot bridge is the first permanent barrier to navigation up the liffey. If the bridge didn’t open it would be the next permanent barrier – then when the Calatrava Bridge is built at Macken Street people would say why bother having that open if people can only get as far as the Sean O’Casey Bridge. Once that is built, when it comes to the proposed new footbridge between Sir John Rogersons quay (between Bensoon and Forbes Street) and the North Wall – why bother making this a swing bridge if the Macken Street and Sean O’Casey Bridges didn’t open – its all about knock on effects.
It was a good call to make this an opening bridge
Absolutely – which is why as said before it’s such a crying shame the (nonetheless great) Matt Talbot doesn’t open to allow the Tall Ships in front of the Custom House – still an aim I think is worthy of pursuing somehow, albeit an expensive project for an annual photogenic scene.
Agreed about reserving full judgement of the new bridge till finished and everything being removed……(no – not including the bridge itself :))
Graham,
I’ve never thought of the Matt Talbot as great – was that meant as ironic or do you think it has redeeming features?
It’s certainly not as offensive as the usually concrete bridges of that era you find in many English cities. And it has a nice curve and sweep to it, but little else.
A photo of it just in case anyone forgets:
http://www.fantasyjackpalance.com/fjp/photos/city/c002/liberty-hall-066.jpgSpeaking of public space, what would anyone think of making the space between the Custom House and the river an open public space? Would it be feasable to redirect the traffc around the other side of Custom House? Just a thought based on looking at Kefu’s (excellent) photo above.
Phil
I suppose it would depend on the use of the Custom House. I just thought it would be a good way of trying to link the Docklands area with the Boardwalk. The Loop-Line really seems to separate to two areas, so something extra could be needed to try and emphasise the linkage.
Phil, You could definitely reclaim one of the traffic lanes but both would present a whole range of new difficulties.
At the moment, it would be sending trucks around the back of the Customs House near the Luas intersection and back around past the IFSC.
The bridge’s right-turning traffic would have to turn much earlier, and use O’Connell Bridge instead.
However, when the Port Tunnel is completed – it would certainly become more feasible.A nice idea, but considering you couldn’t put trees in to soften the space, or indeed anything that would impinge on the pristine view of the Custom House, would it end up being rather harsh and windswept? One can already see that effect on the existing wide pavement on the river side – clearly the CC don’t know what to do with it so it’s been left empty save the benches.
And just on these – does anyone else think the benches are facing the wrong way round?! It seems nothing short of criminal that one is forced to face the flippin Ulster Bank of all structures in favour of one of the finest neoclassical buildings in Europe!
I’ve sat there once or twice only having to position myself in such a fashion as to make the experience one not worthy of repeating 🙁A solution that would allow the best of both worlds – an appreciation of the river and the CH – could be to place the benches/seats facing each other in pairs, allowing groups of drunks, I mean tourists to face each other in comfort 🙂
Putting them up against the quay wall could prove a very pleasant location for a sit-down – not exposed and away from the trucks.Wasn’t being ironic about the Matt Talbot Kefu – I think it’s one of the nicest bridges on the Liffey, simple, streamlined and elegant (save the railings and surface of course), and dare I say nicer than the James Joyce which frankly I think just looks ridiculous in scale, in that location, and is totally impractical for pedestrians when wet – something I don’t think has been mentioned.
“I think the design was OK, but the finish is crap”
I am not sure that every bridge needs to be painted day glo white. Renderings are generally more colorful.
I like it. It looks industrial. There is something of the Docks about it. I imagine the view from it will be very pleasant, too.
The colour seems to follow the colour of similar dockland structures. Especially the nearby canal bridges which are currently being painted a lighter shade of gray (to better match?).
both of which are wonderful looking – in a totally industrial way.
[pics from Inland Waterways Association of Ireland ]
I love this bridge It seems kind of constructivist I wish it was painted red as a kind of celebration of its presence it might also help to distract from the new bridge. I went down to see it on sunday it just seems so clumsy and over engineered Its like its tryin’ to be a minature if the fosters millenium bridge in london but ………..yea its crap. the matt talbot is quite elegant I think it was post-tensioned on site. and it can take big lorries compared with the most the new bridge might have to take which is a few people? :rolleyes:
That bridge is very classical Dutch canal bridge in style whicj is very pleasing on the eye, it is amazing the lengths the Dutch go to on infrastructural design I particularly like the effort they put into their motorway signs, a small detail but at least they put in a little effort.
Further news for this stretch of the Liffey:
@RTE Interactive wrote:
Jeanie Johnston to be sold to DDA
17 May 2005 17:25
The tall ship Jeanie Johnston is to be sold by her present owners to the Dublin Docklands Authority.The board of the project committee running the vessel at present has approved the sale for €]http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/0517/jeaniej.html[/url]
I think that this is a good acquisition and will be very well received. 🙂
I must say I do not like that vessel and I hope that it does not end up sitting permanently in the Dublin Docklands somewhere!
Why……..?
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