The longest Bailey bridge to be erected in the State has been officially opened at Ringsend in Dublin. Measuring 180 feet in length, it was constructed to link Ringsend and Camden Lock for the visit of the Tall Ships.
Members of the 2nd Field Engineer Company, who built the bridge, were present for the opening yesterday. As well as being the longest, it is also the heaviest bridge built in the memory of any soldier serving with the company.
The bridge will be used for pedestrian access to view the Tall Ships. It is located at the end of Thorncastle Street in Ringsend.
The Cutty Sark Tall Ships set sail from Vigo in Spain on Wednesday on the final leg of their race and are now en route to Dublin. The Tall Ships Dublin Festival will take place between the East Link and Matt Talbot bridges from next Saturday until the following Tuesday.
The Dublin Port harbourmaster, Capt Bob Wiltshire, was present at the bridge opening yesterday, as was the chairman of the Race & Vessels Committee for Tall Ships Dublin, Mr Sean Flood, and Comdt Tony Kelly, OC 2nd Field Engineer Company.
Bailey bridges are primarily used by military engineers to cross rivers where permanent bridges have been destroyed. They are also used in flood emergencies.
The finishing line for the Dublin leg of the Tall Ships Race is located at the Codling Light in the Irish Sea. As each Tall Ship passes the mark it will take its own time and declare this as a result. Depending on winds, the first of the ships could start arriving from next Wednesday, with the full fleet expected by Saturday.
Included in the line-up will be the Lord Nelson, a specially-designed Tall Ship crewed by 50 people, half of whom have physical disabilities. Ten Irish people, including Mrs Jennifer Guinness, are helping to crew the Lord Nelson.