A new bridge crossing the River Lee in Cork, Ireland, is providing a safe and attractive passage for pedestrians and cyclists, helping to make the city more liveable.
- 18 June 2020
The general public and the city’s Elected Members chose to honour Mary Elmes’ unstinting courage, her values and her deep humanity. Already, the naming of this bridge after Mary has helped to spread the story of Mary Elmes in Cork and in Ireland, and that in itself is a wonderful achievement.
The Mary Elmes Bridge links the St Patrick’s and Merchants quays, providing easier access to the Victorian quarter, Kent Railway Station and its surrounds for pedestrians and cyclists. About 11 000 people use it daily, reducing traffic congestion and contributing to a cleaner, healthier city.
Bridging the gap
Research regarding the poject’s benefits has shown that the projected 2.5 million journeys expected across the bridge annually will save pedestrians and cyclists an average of 1.8 minutes per journey, totalling close to 75 000 hours of time saved commuting per year.
The resulting economic value of that saved time has been estimated to be EUR 11.5 per hour, for a total of EUR 862 500 each year.
Crossing the Lee and all t’s
Spanning 66 m and weighing 165 tonnes, the bridge has been designed to blend in with its environment and topography, without disrupting river navigation. At both sides of the bridge, bollards ensure that only pedestrians and cyclists can cross. Its low-level structure protects against strong winds, while flood protection barriers have been integrated into its parapets.
The bridge’s design minimises the impact on the river view both by day and by night, thanks to aesthetically pleasing illumination. Energy efficient LEDs have been installed in the handrails and lights on the bottom of the bridge highlight its spine beam at night.
What’s in a name
Originally designated as the Harley’s Street Pedestrian & Cycle Bridge, the bridge received its final name in honour of Mary Elmes (1908-2002), a Cork-born woman often referred to as the Irish Oskar Schindler who saved the lives of hundreds of Jewish children during the Holocaust.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Mary Elmes Bridge (Harley Street Project)” is EUR 5 000 000, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 1 500 000 through the “Southern & Eastern Regional Operational Programme” programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Integrated urban development to revitalise urban areas”.