East-Link (Dublin)

Tom Clarke Bridge
Droichead Thomáis Uí Chléirigh

Tom Clarke bridge from the south bank of the Liffey looking downstream

The Tom Clarke bridge from the south bank of the Liffey looking downstream
Coordinates 53°20′45″N 6°13′39″W / 53.3457°N 6.2274°W / 53.3457; -6.2274Coordinates: 53°20′45″N 6°13′39″W / 53.3457°N 6.2274°W / 53.3457; -6.2274
Crosses River Liffey
Locale Dublin
Maintained by Dublin City Council
Characteristics
Design Bascule bridge
History
Construction cost £8 million
Opened October 21, 1984 (1984-10-21)
Statistics
Daily traffic 16,000
Toll
  • Cars: €1.75
  • Buses / Commercials < 2T: €2.60
  • Commercials > 2T (2 Axles): €3.50
  • Commercials > 2T (3 Axles): €4.30
  • Commercials > 2T (4 Axles): €5.20

The Tom Clarke Bridge (Irish: Droichead Thomáis Uí Chléirigh), formerly known as the East-Link Toll Bridge, is a toll bridge in Dublin, Ireland, on the River Liffey, owned and operated by Dublin City Council. The bascule-type lifting bridge, which links North Wall to Ringsend, is the last bridge on the Liffey, which opens out into Dublin Port and then Dublin Bay just beyond. The bridge forms part of the R131 regional road. On 3 May 2016, the bridge was officially renamed the Thomas Clarke Bridge by President Michael D. Higgins to commemorate the Irish republican, Thomas Clarke on the day he was shot in Kilmainham Gaol for being involved with the 1916 Easter Rising.[1]

The bridge was built by NTR, and opened to vehicular traffic in October 1984; the bridge reverted to city council control on 31 December 2015.[2]

The city centre is west of the bridge, which links routes on the eastern side of Dublin city. The Dublin Port Tunnel terminates north of the East-Link along East Wall Road, in the Docklands on the north bank of the Liffey. Most of Dublin's docklands are east of the bridge, but it is raised on average three times per day to allow river traffic to pass.

Aerial view with the bridge's bascule lift span raised for a ship

Currently 16,000 vehicles per day cross the East-Link bridge. As of 2016, lorries and cars pay, either in cash or using electronic tokens, and cycles and motorbikes cross for free. The tolling area and administrative offices are on the south (Ringsend) side of the bridge.

The bridge, in a raised state, features as the entry point to Dublin in the video for the song "Pride (In The Name Of Love)" by U2.

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.thejournal.ie/east-link-bridge-named-after-tom-clarke-2748209-May2016/
  2. ↑ "Tolls could be lifted at the East Link, but council bosses say they should stay". thejournal.ie. Retrieved 2015-10-18.

Media related to East Link Bridge at Wikimedia Commons

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