Construction has begun on the planned Commemorative Bridge over the River Liffey on the site of the Irish National War Memorial Gardens (INWMG) at Islandbridge, Dublin.
The gardens were established in 1938 to commemorate the 49,400 Irish soldiers who lost their lives in World War I and are of significant historical, cultural, horticultural and architectural importance.
This Commemorative Bridge will include a dedicated cycle path and pedestrian route while creating a new formal entrance to the Gardens from the Chapelizod Road.
The bridge will link the INWMG with Phoenix Park and improve access to key cultural attractions such as Kilmainham Gaol, the Royal Hospital Kilmainham and the Magazine Fort.
The bridge will create a “new landmark public space while offering a more majestic and accessible entrance to the gardens”, the Office of Public Works (OPW) says.
The project's initiation has been welcomed by Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW Kevin “Boxer” Moran, who turned the sod last week.
“ This bridge when completed will provide a focal point joining many historic and heritage sites on both sides of the Liffey, while becoming a vital integral link in the city’s active travel infrastructure,”he said.
The original concept for the bridge can be traced back to the gardens landscape architect, Sir Edwin Lutyens (1869-1944) and has been a long time ambition of both the Memorial Committee Trustees and the OPW, to realise Lutyens’ plans in full.
In 2019, the OPW commissioned an open international design competition, with the support of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland, to design a commemorative bridge for the INWMG.
The design competition, which attracted over 60 entries from nine different countries, was won by London-based Ritchie Studio. Richie Studio and their design team of Equals, Cronin and Sutton and Schlaich Bergermann partner have realised the bridge design to construction stage.
Planning permission was granted in 2024 and, after a public procurement process, John Sisk & Son (Holdings) Ltd has been awarded the contract.
University College Dublin has facilitated this project, which will in time also benefit the rowing clubs along the Liffey, the OPW says.
The project is jointly funded by the National Transport Authority (NTA) and the OPW.
It says that construction is due to be completed in Q1 2027.
