Ireland

Strawberry Beds bridge conservation to begin in weeks

Work will include repairs to iron and stone on Farmleigh Bridge but will not see it reopened

Conservation works on the Guinness Bridge, which spans the River Liffey at the Strawberry Beds, will commence in January 2023. Photograph: Fingal County Council

Olivia Kelly
Wed Dec 28 2022 - 13:05

Work to save a 19th century cast-iron pedestrian bridge, which spans the River Liffey at the Stawberry Beds in Dublin, will begin in the coming weeks Fingal County Council has said.

The bridge was built by the Guinness family from 1872 to 1880 to provide a pedestrian crossing between Farmleigh Estate, at the Phoenix Park, and Palmerstown to the south of the Liffey, and links to a tunnel on the northside running under the Farmleigh grounds.

The 54m long bridge, a protected structure in the ownership of the council, remains visible over Lower Road at the Strawberry Beds, to the east of the M50 overpass, but the structure has been allowed to deteriorate to a ruinous state with its walkway now entirely lost, its iron rusted and stone supports damaged.

“A serious overhaul of the structure is required to preserve the bridge and abutments as they currently stand. This work has been planned for some time under the care of a conservation design team commissioned by the council,” it said.

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The conservation work, to be undertaken by Jons Civil Engineering Co Ltd, will include replacement of damaged bearings and repair of masonry abutments. However, the work will not bring the bridge back to a condition where it can be reopened for use. Part of the €1.5 million contract will involve the installation of new gates “to limit access on both sides” the council said.

Conservation works on the Guinness Bridge, which spans the River Liffey at the Strawberry Beds, will commence in January 2023. The structure is a single-span cast-iron girder bridge, approximately 54m long and 4.5 m wide, which crosses the over the River Liffey and Lower Road. It was originally commissioned by the Guinness family in the 1870s to provide a pedestrian crossing and connection between Farmleigh Estate and Palmerstown to the south of the Liffey.

The work is expected to take five months it said. “Scaffolding and wrapping of the bridge is required for protection during repair works and temporary traffic restrictions will be necessary on Lower Road.”

Olivia Kelly

Olivia Kelly

Olivia Kelly is Dublin Editor of The Irish Times

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