New Waterford bridge to be transported on barge from Belgium
A 207 metre long bridge, as part of the multi-million euro development of Waterford's north quays, is to be transported in four sections by sea-going barges from Belgium by the end of this month.
Last month, Waterford City and County Council granted planning permission for 350 new homes as part of the first phase of the North Quays Strategic Development Zone (SDZ).
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Permission was granted to Harcourt Developments for the mixed-use development which also includes office accommodation, ground floor creche and retail, a 160-bedroom hotel and conference centre, 163-room aparthotel, retail units on the ground floor of residential blocks.
Public plazas, a riverside boardwalk and greenway will also be constructed in what the council describes as 'high quality public realm spaces.'
The bridge will be transported from Ghent, via the Ghent–Terneuzen Canal, English Channel and Irish Sea to Belview Port and ultimately to the Waterford North Quays site. The delivery schedule is subject to final inspections as well as weather and sea conditions.
Once transported to Waterford, the rigging, lifting and installation procedures for the bridge will take around a week to complete. The fast-tracking of integration works as part of construction of the Development Zone will facilitate the opening of the bridge to the public by the end of next year 2026.
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Details of a bridge naming public consultation are to be announced in the coming weeks.
Michael Quinn, Director of Economic Development, Waterford City and County Council, outlined that works are continuing in Ferrybank with the realigned Abbey Road and Dock Road are due to be completed in July and October this year.
Mr Quinn outlined that the transport hub is 'progressing well' with mechanical and electrical installation, platforms and landscaping ongoing.
Works to the platforms and rail track are continuing, and the internal building fit out and external public entrance plaza at Dock Road will commence in the coming months.
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The transport hub is expected to be fully complete by the middle of next year, with final commissioning and opening by Irish Rail in early 2027.
'The steel deck superstructure for the sustainable transport bridge, fabricated and fitted out at Victor Buyck Steel Construction's production plant in Ghent, Belgium is due to be delivered by the end of May,' Mr Quinn added.
The direct benefit to Waterford of the investment in the SDZ site is anticipated to be in excess of €350m over the next six years, the council highlighted, with 200 people employed during construction and upwards of 1,500 jobs to be created following completion of phase one of the development.
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