We are currently architecturally assisting Hewson Consulting & RPS Ireland with the aesthetic design and detailing of the Eastern Garvoge  Bridge in Ireland.¹ The new bridge and associated road improvements will provide a new north-south road crossing of the Garvoge River on the eastern side of Sligo City. Conceived as a landmark structure the bridge is composed with a single 30m high painted steel tied arch and a 65m main span of composite painted steel and concrete construction.²

Structure

The main arch follows a parabolic profile and has a subtle trapezoidal shaped cross-section that has been carefully shaped for aerodynamic stability.³ The concrete deck slab is bonded onto tapered steel cantilevers that are fixed to a central hollow boxc entral spine beam (which also acts as an arch tie).⁴ The entire deck structure is suspended from a central row ofvertically arranged hangers connected to the arch soffit.⁵ The proposed bridge includes a 6m wide road (1no. 3m wide lane in each direction) together with dedicated cycling and pedestrian paths on both sides.

Timeline

The scheme is currently at detailed design stage, which focuses on finalising thedetails of the scheme and enabling procurement and it is anticipated that the tenderdocuments will be completed and issuedduring 2025 with construction andimplementation to commence in 2026.

1. Photomontage

2. East Elevation

3. Arch Rib shaping

4. Deck Cross Section

5. Wind Tunnel Test Mode