Final bridge span installation marks a ''momentous'' day for Waterford
On Saturday, May 17th, Waterford awoke to the impressive sight of the HEBO Lift 9 floating sheerleg crane being towed from Dunmore East to the Frank Cassin Wharf. With a lifting capacity of 800 tonnes and a lifting height of 67m, the HEBO is a powerhouse of immense engineering strength and technical precision.
Arriving from Ghent in Belgium, the HEBO was tasked with the significant undertaking of lifting and installing Waterford’s 207m Sustainable Transport Bridge.
Within a few days HEBO was joined by four spans of the steel deck superstructure, towed by sea-going barges, the GPS Avenger and ANTEOS respectively, from Ghent via the Ghent–Terneuzen Canal, English Channel and Irish Sea to Belview Port and ultimately to the Waterford North Quays site.
The steel deck superstructure was fabricated and fitted out at Victor Buyck Steel Construction’s production plant, while the operation and control of the central opening span required the manufacture and assembly of mechanical, hydraulic and electrical components and instrumentation by Qualter Hall in England.
The lifting operation required very slow and methodical progress with constant weather, tide and safety checks in place and on Wednesday, May 21st, operations commenced.
The North Main span, 65m in length and weighing over 500 tonnes, was lifted from the barge on Wednesday morning and then manoeuvred to the bridge site where it was initially installed onto temporary steel support frames pending final integration with the permanent concrete piers. Over the course of several hours, spectators flocked to the quayside to experience a remarkable day for Waterford as the first span was installed.
The following day, the initial span was joined by the South Main span and again the spectacle was witnessed by hundreds from the South Quays.
A pause in operations due to inclement conditions saw operations resume on Tuesday, May 27th and over two days the North and South Approach spans were installed to complete Waterford’s newest river crossing.
Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr. Jason Murphy said, “This truly is a momentous day for Waterford. The vision of the Sustainable Transport Bridge spanning the River Suir has now been realised.
“There has been a cast of hundreds working diligently in the background to deliver one of the most exciting projects ever to Waterford. I would like to highly commend the Projects team at Waterford City and County Council, the funding agencies, Bam and Roughan & O’Donovan.
“Also, from the day the HEBO floating crane was towed from Belgium to the North Quays, the sense of excitement and anticipation was palpable, as evidenced by hundreds of spectators lining the quays to see a piece of history being made. For that I would like to thank Victor Buyck manufacturers, Qualter, Hall & Co. and of course, the tugboat crews and crane operators.”
Now that the bridge is installed, the bascule leaves for the opening central span will be tested and put into operation, The bridge finishing works, which includes the final surfacing, lighting, street furniture, and parapet railings, will commence as well as the installation of the downstream bridge pier protection system.
Similar to Rice Bridge, the sustainable transport bridge has an opening central span to allow river vessels to pass through, smaller boats can pass underneath the bridge, subject to tides. Known as a Bascule Bridge, the new bridge is ‘double leaf’, which means it opens from both sides of the central span.
The public infrastructure project is being developed ahead of the private Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) development and the built interface between the two developments must be fully integrated and compatible.
The fast-tracking of integration works as part of construction of the SDZ will facilitate the opening of the bridge to the public in Q4 2026.
The SDZ development places a significant emphasis on connecting the north and south quays and improving the public realm through investment in new high quality civic spaces, including sustainable transport infrastructure, which will connect the Waterford and the South-East Greenways via the city centre and new sustainable transport bridge.
With planning permission granted by Waterford City and County Council to Harcourt Developments (t/a Hopcast Limited) for the development of the first phase of the North Quays Strategic Development Zone in April, the mixed-use development will comprise significant residential accommodation, office and hotel accommodation, retail offerings and high-quality public realm spaces consisting of:
- 350 residential units
- Office accommodation including ground floor creche & retail
- 160-bedroom hotel and conference centre
- 163-room aparthotel
- Retail units on ground floor of residential blocks
- High quality public realm spaces to include public plazas, riverside boardwalk and greenway.
