The bridge, constructed in 1909 to give access to the Mizen Head Lighthouse, lies in the spectacular Atlantic Ocean seascape of West Cork. RPS is engineering the €2M project on behalf of Cork County Council, Fáilte Ireland and the Commissioner of Irish Lights. The new bridge will be a replica of the old 52m span footbridge.

 

The old reinforced concrete arch structure spanned a sea gorge 47m above sea level, connecting the Cork mainland with Ireland’s most south-westerly lighthouse on Cloghane Island. Originally constructed to provide access for lighthouse staff, the bridge has become a popular tourist attraction in recent years. Extreme weather conditions have taken their toll on the bridge over a hundred years and the bridge was deemed unsafe in 2005. A temporary footway was installed on the bridge to prolong the lifespan of the landmark structure in 2005, but the bridge was closed in 2009 so demolition and reconstruction could commence.

The new bridge is constructed from reinforced concrete using stainless steel reinforcement. Access to the remote site is difficult, with steep footways only 1m wide restricting the type of plant and machinery that can be used. A bespoke steel truss was erected by hand and an intricate scaffolding system was installed before demolition and construction works could commence. Construction is now 60% complete and the new arch ribs have just been completed.

The nearby Mizen Head Visitor Centre, which attracts almost 60,000 tourists a year, remains open during construction. The opening of the new bridge this year will once again provide visitors with safe access to the old Mizen Head Signal Station.

Contact:
Kieran Ruane,
Technical Director
E: kieran.ruane@rpsgroup.com