The James Joyce Bridge balances complexity and simplicity, integrating well with its surroundings while standing out as a landmark structure.
Summary
Roughan & O’Donovan assisted lead designer, Santiago Calatrava, with the civil structural engineering aspects of the bridge design and undertook the Category III check.
Solution
The bridge spans 40m across the River Liffey and carries both pedestrian and vehicular traffic, two lanes in both directions.
It is a composite steel and concrete deck suspended from a striking pair of inclined outwards, curved in plan, tied steel arches by high tensile steel cables.
The width changes along the length of the bridge, with the pedestrian walkway cantilevering 6m at mid span and 3m at the abutments. The maximum width of the bridge is 33m at mid-span.
The bridge deck is slim and a glass parapet and footpath draws the eye from the visible part of the deck towards the clean, clear parapet running along the edge of the pedestrian walkway.
40m
Total span of the bridge€5.6m
Total value of the bridge2003
Year the bridge opened to the public
Challenges
The city centre location, narrow quays, river tides and geotechnical conditions were among the many design and construction constraints faced by our team.
Services provided:
- Bridge engineering design
- Independent design checker
- Contract administration
