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Samuel Beckett Bridge

• Location: The Liffey
• Architect: Santiago Calatrava
• Completed: Ongoing

The Samuel Beckett Bridge is currently under construction. It will link the northside and southside of the city over the River Liffey in the Dublin Docklands. Construction commenced in May 2007 and will continue until the end of 2009. The bridge will be opened to traffic in early 2010, after a short period of commissioning works.

The bridge has been designed by the internationally acclaimed architect Dr. Santiago Calatrava Valls, who also designed the James Joyce Bridge. He has created a landmark structure with a curved profile leaning northwards. This dramatic shape gives the appearance of a harp lying on it's side.

The bridge will have four traffic lanes, with cycle tracks and footpaths on either side. It will also be capable of opening through an angle of 90 degrees allowing ships to pass through. This will be achieved through a rotational mechanism housed in the base of the pylon.

The bridge is a cable-stayed, steel box girder structure with a span of 120 metres between north and south quay walls. An asymmetric shape will be provided through the positioning of the pylon outside the navigation channel at a point approximately 28 metres from the south quay.

The central axis of the bridge is aligned with Guild Street on the northern side of the River Liffey and ot will cross the river at right angles to connect with Sir John Rogerson's Quay at a location approximately 70 metres west of Cardiff Lane.

The total cost of the project is estimated at €48.8 million, which will also include a major upgrade of the approach roads. The project is being funded by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the Dublin Docklands Development Authority and Dublin City Council. The bridge is being constructed by Graham Hollandia Joint Venture.