CABLE STAY FOOTBRIDGE

Ballina’s new Salmon Weir Bridge is a cable stayed pedestrian structure crossing the River Moy just upstream of the salmon weirs and the world-famous Ridge Pool. Ballina is the official Salmon Capital of Ireland and angling for salmon is an important component of Ballina’s commerce. The bridge, designed to resemble a casting fishing rod, is the centrepiece of the regeneration of Ballina’s Salmon Quater which includes a car park, landscaped amenity area, riverside walk, a new theatre and a second footbridge further downstream to complete the route.

Constructed at a cost of €1.7 million and opened in 2009, the Salmon Weir Bridge is the 2012 winner of the Association of Engineers of Ireland – President’s Award for Excellence in Design. The award citation recognises “excellence in design of a structure which is particularly appropriate in its environment”.