Active Travel Bridge

What is it?

A new pedestrian/cycling boardwalk-style bridge just beside the existing Liffey vehicular bridge, on the northeastern side.  The existing footpath on the vehicular bridge would be removed, allowing some widening of the two vehicular lanes there.

Concept drawing of the proposed active travel bridge.  Source: KCC, dhbarchitects, "19-08-CEL Celbridge Pedestrian Bridge: Drawing/Document Issue Sheet Stage 2A Part 8 Planning", pg. 9, link, May 2022.

Where is it to be?

Location map of the proposed new active travel bridge.  Source: KCC, dhbarchitects, "19-08-CEL Celbridge Pedestrian Bridge: Drawing/Document Issue Sheet Stage 2A Part 8 Planning", pg. 6, link, May 2022.

Current status

November 2024

The November 2024 KCC Chief Executive’s Management Report reverts back to the September wording:

"Allocation: €225,000
Site investigations are delaying the detailed design of bridge structure and ancillary works."

October 2024

The October 2024 KCC Chief Executive’s Management Report repeats that there is a €225k budget allocation, but no longer mentions the delays due to site investigations.

September 2024

There is a budget allocation of €225k but "site investigations are delaying the detailed design of bridge structure and ancillary works."

(Source: the September 2024 KCC Chief Executive’s Management Report).

Frequently asked questions

Why do we need this bridge?  Is the existing pedestrian bridge to the south of the vehicular bridge not enough?

The existing pedestrian bridge has a number of critical drawbacks:

  • It is prone to flooding.
  • It is wheelchair unfriendly.
  • Many approaches for cyclists are hazardous.
  • It is poorly positioned for pedestrian movements from Main Street across the river.

The new pedestrian/cyclist bridge will accommodate better movements from Main Street, provide safe transit for all users types across the river, and improve traffic flow on the vehicular bridge by allowing for a widening of lanes there.