By Dara Bradley

Four temporary footbridges are to be constructed in the city for this Summer’s Volvo Ocean Race Grand Finale.

Originally the organisers had planned just one bridge over the river Corrib, then it was decided to have two, but now the total number of pedestrian footbridges will be four, including two over the Corrib and two at the Docks.

Two bridges will be built linking the Spanish Arch with the Claddagh Basin. The bridges span about 60 metres and will provide for each-way pedestrian traffic flow.

This bridge was necessary to link the Harbour with South Park in the Claddagh, where several events will be held during the race finale at what will be the ‘Global Village’.

Without the bridges it would have been necessary to close off Wolfe Tone Bridge to traffic, which would have been unacceptable to City Hall officials and Gardaí and in terms of health and safety.

A further two bridges will be installed temporarily at Galway Harbour. These bridges, one each-way alongside each other, will be located at the gates at the mouth of the Docks, where water is locked in.

This will allow for people to walk ‘full square’ around the inner docks area of the Race Village – as it is now, pedestrians can walk along just three sides. The bridges at the Docks will span about 40 metres.
 

For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.