WORK will commence shortly on a programme of upgrading of Sarsfield Bridge.
The cost involved will be in the region of €1million.
Senior engineer with Limerick City Council, Pat Eyres, told the Limerick Post that the work will be carried out at low tide periods during the summer months.
The bridge, which was opened as Wellesley Bridge in 1835, following eleven years of construction, was based in design on the Pont Neuilly Bridge in Paris, and is a protected structure.
Mr Eyres explained that work will have to be carried out to the parapets of the bridge, as well as to underground water works
“It has been identified that work is required on the bridge parapets and we will also be removing the period lamps from the bridge parapets, as these also need attention.
“An underwater analysis carried out a few years ago identified a potential problem – there was some movement of one of the piers, which has been showing stress”.
Mr Eyres said that when the lamps are removed for restoration and upgrading works, consideration will also be given to the restoration of the bridge footpaths, in line with the council’s ongoing work on the riverside restoration works.
“The lamp standards are showing a lot of stress, as are the water piers, due to the high floods during the past few years. and we’ve also had a conservation specialist look at the lighting for the bridge”.
Asked if the work involved will necessitate a closure of the bridge for any length of time, Mr Eyres confirmed there will be “minimal disruption”.
He revealed that the council will receive “some government funding” for the project and that tenders for the contract will be sought.
The second of Limerick’s river crossings, Sarsfield Bridge was 11 years in construction and when completed, was a particularly important development for the city as it allowed expansion to the northern shore of the river .
