!!Harry Blaney Bridge Nominated for National Engineering Project Award 2010
Introduction
There has been a long standing aspiration to restore the link from Rosguill peninsula to Fanad peninsula which had traditionally enjoyed a Ferry crossing going back to the 19th century and which ceased operation in the mid 1960’s.
1986 saw a successful campaign to attract funding for a feasibility study to look at the merits of restoring this link. A Feasibility study was carried out by Carl Bro in 2000.
It considered a bridge and Ferry at five locations from Invermore Bay to Dawsons Bay and concluded that a bridge crossing at the Second Narrows was the most suitable to restore the link
The Need for the Project
The new bridge provides a fixed link across the North West from Derry and restores the link once enjoyed by Rosguill and Fanad. The other components of the chain are Magilligan (Co. Derry) to Greencastle (Inishowen) and Buncrana to Rathmullan.
The bridge will help promote tourism in the region and is expected to attract ever-increasing numbers over the coming years.
Description of the Project
A Preliminary Report was commissioned in 2002 from MC O’Sullivan (now RPS Engineering Consultants) to:
- Cover route selection
- Preliminary design of bridge and roads
- Production of Environment Impact Statement (EIS)
In 2005 sanction from the Department of Transport was given to proceed to detailed design and RPS Consulting Engineers were commissioned to undertake and complete the detailed design phase for the overall project including Bridge and approach roads.
A Contract was awarded for construction in 2006 and the contractor for the project is BAM Civil Limited. Construction commenced in 2007 and the final structural stitch for the bridge was completed on the 18th November 2008.
The project has seen over 400,000 man hours representing an average employment of 40 people a week over the period of the project and with peak employment on the project of 85 people. The project involved many local subcontractors and suppliers from the outset, and the involvement of a number of international firms for some of the more specialised activities.
The Bridge is 340 metres long, has 5 divs, 2 abutments and 4 piers. Navigation lights are provided on the deck to aid and guide mariners using the bay.
Estimated Cost of Project
The project has been funded by a grant from the Department of Transport and the estimated cost is Euro€21 million.
Official Opening
The Bridge was named the Harry Blaney Bridge and was officially opened to the public by An Taoiseach Brian Cowen, TD on 15th May 2009.