Foyle Bridge

The Foyle Bridge is a bridge in Derry in Northern Ireland. Although the central cantilever span of the bridge is the second longest in Ireland at 234 metres (767 ft), the whole suspended bridge structure including the approach spans is the longest in Ireland at 866 metres (2839 ft).

It crosses the River Foyle to the north of the city, and forms only the second bridge linking the city centre to the Waterside. Work on the bridge began in 1980 and it opened in October 1984. The seven approach spans on the east bank are of prestressed concrete box construction. The three main river spans are of steel box construction and were built by Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast in 6 segments, weighed up to 900 tonnes each, and then transported by barge and ocean going tug to site were they were lifted into position. Between 2003 and 2005 the bridge underwent strengthening, resurfacing and other improvements, leading to widespread traffic disruption in the city. Total cost of the refurbishment work was £10.6 million. The road was built to four-lane dual carriageway standard, and carries the A515. By 2004 more than 30,000 vehicles used the bridge every day.

Incidents and accidents

In January 2005 during a storm, a lorry was blown off the bridge and its driver, Peter McGuinness, killed. An investigation was launched since the storm had not been unusually severe, and it was concluded that a freak gust had contributed to the accident. However, due to the danger from cross winds, the bridge has always been closed to traffic when the weather is particularly windy.

Following a review a new bridge management system has been put in place. When wind speeds reach the first trigger level of 30mph, signs on the bridge will display an advisory speed limit of 30mph. If they increase to the second trigger level of 40mph, signs on the bridge approaches will direct high-sided vehicles to use the Craigavon Bridge. When the wind speed exceeds 50mph the Foyle Bridge will be closed to all vehicles. The new system, costing £800,000, has the capacity of automatically receiving information from the wind monitoring equipment on the bridge and displaying appropriate warnings and instructions on variable message signs in the city and on the approaches.