Samuel Beckett Bridge

Samuel Beckett Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge that joins Sir John Rogerson's Quay on the south side of the River Liffey to Guild Street and North Wall Quay in the Dublin Docklands area. The architect is Santiago Calatrava, a designer of a number of innovative bridges and buildings. This is the second bridge in the area designed by Calatrava, the first being the James Joyce Bridge, which is further upstream to the west. The main span of the Samuel Beckett Bridge is supported by 31 cable stays from a doubly back-stayed single forward arc tubular tapered spar, with decking provided for four traffic and two pedestrian lanes. It is also capable of opening through an angle of 90 degrees allowing ships to pass through. The shape of the spar and its cables evokes an image of a harp lying on its edge. Since opening in 2009 the bridge has quickly become one of Dublin's most photographed landmarks, and become a symbol for the new modern Dublin in the revitalised Docklands area.