Tom Clarke Bridge

The Tom Clarke Bridge Droichead Thomáis Uí Chléirigh (more generally known as the East-Link Bridge Droichead an Nascbhóthair Thoir) in Dublin is the easternmost road crossing of the River Liffey. It is a tolled bascule lifting bridge.

The bridge was first proposed in 1976 and was a £7.5m investment from Conor Holdings Limited (Roche Group)/Ringsend Bridge Company on land owned by Dublin Port, and it was therefore known in planning as "Roche's Toll Bridge". It then became known as Ringsend Bridge, but marketing called it 'East-Link'.

The bridge was the first privately funded major road to be built in Ireland in the 20th century, and it was the only toll road in operation when it opened. As a result, the 1979 Toll Roads Act had to be specially created to allow for the project.

An opening ceremony was held on 21 October 1984 at 15:15, with speeches by The Taoiseach, The East-Link Chairman and the Lord Mayor.

The bridge was proposed to provide immediate relief to the area, following the delays to the Liffey Crossing project. It was not built to the standards of the motorway that was still proposed to replace it, but instead designed to handle HGVs moving around the port area.

In line with the agreed contract, operational control of the bridge reverted to the city council on 31 December 2015. In 2016, the bridge was officially renamed the Tom Clarke Bridge.

The bridge has never been replaced in the way that was originally envisaged, and on each side there has been a considerable expansion of the residential areas. As a result, the bridge is now carrying an increasing amount of pedestrian and cycle traffic, which is having to mix with the HGVs on this narrow crossing.

Dublin Port is planning to build two new lifting bridges, one either side of this one: one for pedestrians and cyclists, and the second for internal port traffic. The latter will be designed to accommodate Luas tracks, if necessary.

As the south bank of the river has a HGV ban in force, HGVs are able to claim a rebate on their toll charges, subject to conditions.

Links

• Bridges of Dublin
• Tolls applicable for 2015

RTÉ

• Toll bridges and roads  11.08.1978 (archive.org)

• East-Link Bridge Construction  30.04.1984 (archive.org)

• New Bridge for Dublin Motorists  21.09.1984 (archive.org)

• Irelands First Toll Bridge Opens  22.10.1984 (archive.org)

• Guinness Ship Hits Bridge  29.10.1985 (archive.org)

Irish Times

• East Link bridge renamed after 1916 leader Tom Clarke (03.05.2016)