Shaw's Bridge
| Shaw's Bridge | |||||
| Location Map ( geo) | |||||
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| The old bridge in 2008 | |||||
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| County | |||||
| Down • Antrim | |||||
| Highway Authority | |||||
| DfI Roads | |||||
| Opening Date | |||||
| 1700s, 1976-7 | |||||
| Additional Information | |||||
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| On road(s) | |||||
| A55 | |||||
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Shaw's Bridge crosses the River Lagan to the south of Belfast.
There are two bridges at the site, an older listed Arch bridge built in the early 1700s, and a modern single-span concrete bridge carrying the A55 which was opened in 1976-7.
The older bridge is now reserved for non motorised use.
History of the crossing
There was a shallow ford at this point which had been a crossing point since early times. It is believed that a bridge has been there since 1617. Cromwell came to this area during his time in Ireland and in 1655 Captain John Shaw from Cromwell's army built an oak bridge. In 1698 it was replaced with a stone bridge again built by the army which was swept away. In 1709 the current bridge was built. Shaw's Bridge is a very important structure as it carried what was then the main road to Dublin and to other parts of Ireland[1].
References
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