The Reilly footbridge is an 18 m span, lightweight steel footbridge across Dublin’s Royal Canal. Constructed as part of the infrastructural upgrading works associated with a large mixed development at Pelletstown, the bridge was required to separate pedestrians and cyclists from vehicular traffic on the Ratoath Road at the existing masonry arch crossing of the canal.
The single-span structure is a trapezoidal hollow section steel truss which supports a timber deck and structural steel railing. Raised abutments are provided on both sides of the canal, to ensure navigation headroom is maintained under the bridge, and are clad in random rubble limestone masonry to match the nearby masonry arch bridge.
Due to the south abutment and ramp’s location adjacent to a mainline railway, full approval of the design and construction methodology was obtained from Irish Rail. Diversion and realignment of the canal towpath was also sought and approved by Waterways Ireland.
Client: Ballymore
