Boyne River Bridge

The Boyne River Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge in Ireland. It spans the Boyne River 3km west of Drogheda on the county boundary between County Meath and County Louth and is part of the M1 Northern Motorway.

Boyne River Bridge

Carries                                         4 lanes

Crosses                                         Boyne River

Locale                                          3km west of Drogheda

Designer                                       Roughan & O'Donovan

Design                                          cable-stayed bridge

Total length                                  352.5m

Width                                           34.5m

Height                                          95m

Longest span                                170m

Number of spans                           6

Vertical clearance                         20m

Beginning date of construction      2000

Completion date                           2003

Opening date                                June 09, 2003

Overview

Designing a road bridge over the Boyne was not an easy task. At the chosen point, three kilometers upstream from Drogheda, the ground level on the south is elevated, with a sudden drop while the north bank slopes gradually down to the river. The area is environmentally sensitive, especially the reed beds on the north bank and the flora and fauna of Yellow Island in the middle of the river. The area has a rich heritage as it is also situated adjacent to the area in which the 1690 Battle of the Boyne took place.

The answer was a cable-stayed bridge. Although at a cost of 35 million euro it would be more expensive than a standard road bridge, it could incorporate a much longer main span without the need for supports in the river, so the engineers could protect the river and the island from any interference. It would also look attractive, with a tall pylon at the south side and cable stays fanning out from it, supporting the main structure.