THE €60 million Samuel Beckett Bridge across the river Liffey in Dublin opened to traffic yesterday with mixed reports about its effect on traffic flows in its first day.

While AA Roadwatch said it had not heard of any specific problems with traffic, a handful of callers to RTÉ’s Liveline programme complained about it.

A spokeswoman for AA Roadwatch said the only problem it had been made aware of was that some motorists had attempted to turn left at the bridge from North Wall Quay. But within “about an hour” this information seemed to have filtered through to motorists.

Callers to the radio show complained at the fact that turning left on to the bridge from the direction of the Port Tunnel and the O2 is not permitted. There were also complaints that no right-turn is permitted coming off the bridge on either side of the quays.

One caller said the arrangement meant the first time a motorist coming from the south side could legally make a right turn was at North Circular Road and Ballybough “which is bringing you right back into all the traffic you are trying to stay away from”.

He said there had been a queue of traffic back to the O2 at 8.40am because there were gardaí at the bridge informing motorists that they could not turn left at the bridge.

A spokesman for Dublin City Council said arrangements in place on the bridge were in accordance with conditions laid down by An Bord Pleanála.

“An Bord Pleanála granted permission for the bridge but they had a number of conditions attaching, one of which was the no right-turn in both directions over the bridge and the other one was no left-turn on to the bridge if you’re coming from North Wall Quay.”

The bridge was also to facilitate pedestrians and cyclists, and any changes to the arrangement would necessitate changing all the traffic light sequences.

In 1998, the bridge was projected to cost £10 million, but costs later rose to almost €60 million.

IrishTimes

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Dublin’s €60 million Samuel Beckett Bridge, designed by internationally renowned architect Santiago Calatrava, opened to traffic this morning.

Motorists have been advised there is no right-turn from the bridge on either side of the river and no left-turn from North Wall Quay onto the north side of the bridge.

The 120-metre long, 48-metre high bridge spans the river Liffey from Sir John Rogerson’s Quay near Macken Street on the south side to Guild Street at the site of the new National Convention Centre on the north side.

It was one of two bridges commissioned from Calatrava by Dublin City Council 10 years ago. The other, the James Joyce Bridge, opened at Blackhall Place near Heuston Station on Bloomsday, June 16th, 2003.

The new bridge was projected in 1998 to cost £10 million, but the costs ultimately rose to almost €60 million.
Designed to represent a harp on its side the cable-stayed bridge was made in the Netherlands and arrived in Dublin last May.

It had a difficult introduction to the city, with two failed attempts to put it in place on the river due to high winds and generally poor weather.

However, it opened slightly ahead of schedule, having been due to open in early 2010.

The bridge will be capable of rotating through an angle of 90 degrees to facilitate maritime traffic.

It has four traffic lanes, cycle tracks and footpaths and will be capable of accommodating a Luas track.

Motorists have been advised that there is no right-turn from the bridge on either side of the river and there is no left-turn from North Wall Quay onto the north side of the bridge.

It was opened to pedestrians yesterday by Lord Mayor of Dublin Emer Costello.

Relatives of Samuel Beckett attended the event as did actor Barry McGovern, known internationally for his Beckett performances, and poet Seamus Heaney.

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