Seán Heuston Bridge

Nowadays, Seán Heuston Bridge is a topic that has captured the attention of people from all over the world. With the advancement of technology and globalization, Seán Heuston Bridge has acquired unprecedented relevance in modern society. From its origins to its impact on everyday life, Seán Heuston Bridge has generated growing interest in various fields, from science and politics to popular culture. In this article, we will explore in depth the different facets of Seán Heuston Bridge, its evolution over time, and its influence on our daily lives.

Seán Heuston Bridge

Droichead Seán Heuston
Seán Heuston Bridge seen from Frank Sherwin Bridge
Coordinates53°20′51″N 6°17′31″W / 53.3474°N 6.2919°W / 53.3474; -6.2919
CarriesLuas, pedestrians
CrossesRiver Liffey
LocaleDublin, Ireland
Other name(s)King's Bridge (1828-1923), Sarsfield Bridge (1923-41)
Preceded byLiffey Railway Bridge
Followed byFrank Sherwin Bridge
Characteristics
MaterialCast-iron
Total length~30m[1]
Width~9m
No. of spans1
History
DesignerGeorge Papworth
Construction startDecember 1827
Construction end1828
Location
Map
Luas tram crossing Heuston Bridge from Wolfetone Avenue towards Heuston station

Seán Heuston Bridge (Irish: Droichead Seán Heuston)[2] is a cast-iron bridge spanning the River Liffey beside Heuston Station in Dublin, Ireland.[3] It was previously named King's Bridge and Sarsfield Bridge - and the bridge and adjacent train station are still commonly referred to by older Dubliners as "Kings Bridge" and "Kings Bridge Station" respectively. Previously used for road traffic, the bridge now carries pedestrian and Luas (tram) traffic.

History

Origins

Originally designed by George Papworth[4] to carry horsedrawn traffic, the foundation stone was laid on 12 December 1827. The iron castings for the bridge were produced at the Royal Phoenix Iron Works in nearby Parkgate Street.[5] (The foundry which also produced the parapets for the upstream Lucan Bridge). Construction was completed in 1828, and the bridge was opened with the name Kings Bridge to commemorate a visit by King George IV in 1821.[1]

The bridge has an overall width of just under 9 metres.[5]

Renamings

Naming plaque - Seán Heuston Bridge

In 1923 the bridge was renamed as Sarsfield Bridge after Patrick Sarsfield (1655–1693), and in 1941 it was again renamed as the Seán Heuston Bridge for Seán Heuston (1891–1916), who was executed for his part in the 1916 Easter Rising.[1]

Luas

After the Frank Sherwin Bridge was opened nearby in the 1980s, Seán Heuston Bridge was no longer used to carry road traffic.[4] It was restored in 2003 and now carries Luas tram traffic on the red line.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c Project history of Dublin's River Liffey bridges (PDF). Bridge Engineering 156 Issue BE4 (Report). Phillips & Hamilton.
  2. ^ "Droichead Seán Heuston / Sean Heuston Bridge". Logainm.ie - Database of Placenames' Commission.
  3. ^ Seán Heuston Bridge at Structurae
  4. ^ a b "Heuston Bridge Dublin". Archiseek. Archived from the original on 15 December 2007.
  5. ^ a b Cox, Ronald C.; Gould, M.H. (1998). Civil Engineering Heritage: Ireland. Thomas Telford. p. 47. ISBN 0-7277-2627-7.
  6. ^ Sixth report of the Light Rail Advisory & Action Group to the Minister for Public Enterprise (PDF) (Report). Department of Transport. 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 October 2007.