Sir, - Frank McDonald's report (March 5th) on James Horan's Liffey Barrage Millennium project is of great interest. It could wonderfully improve the environment of the Liffey in the city.
There is indeed another Liffey project, achievable by the Millennium date: the replacement of the Loop-line rail bridge at Butt Bridge. This was the subject of a design competition organised by the Institution of Engineers of Ireland and co-sponsored by Iarnrod Eireann and OPW. The winning design is by Mansfield, Kavanagh, Bullen and Partners, consulting engineers, Dublin.
It found widespread favour in the media for its graceful lines, practicability of programme and moderate cost. Removing the obtrusive iron-lattice structure would greatly enhance the potentially magnificent view, from O'Connell Bridge and the quays, of the Custom House, the Financial Centre and the present and future urban renewal of the lower, Liffey area.
I write on behalf of a group of disinterested engineers and others who actively recommend the project, already designed and assessed. We believe it to be, among other projects, under consideration by the Government as a suitable Millennium project. - Yours, etc.,
Leeson Park,
Dublin.