Question about the Half Pennu Bridge

aine kilbride

Why are the steps across this bridge so poorly constructed? You can't just go from one step to the next unless you have long, long legs.

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater

Don't forget, it is a 200 year old bridge. If the steps were closer together, the bridge would be a lot higher at it's centre point, which would affect the structural integrity.

That answer could be a load of boIIocks, I just made it up, but it makes sense to me.

Peregrinus

It may be a guess, but I think it's correct. The bridge has a gentle curve - enough to give it the structural advantages of being an arch, but not so much as to require much vertical climb to get across it. Because the curve is gentle the steps are widely spaced.

Most of the other bridges across the Liffey are flat or nearly flat, and a flat bridge requires a much more massive, solid structure. The lightness and airiness of the Ha'penny Bridge is a design feature, and it seems to resonate with people. Nobody ever left love locks on Butt Bridge. 😀

EmmetSpiceland

Those are “riot steps” designed to slow the progress of any unsavoury groups gathering or getting away too quickly.

Gregor Samsa

It was built with shallow but long steps to allow Molly Malone to push her wheelbarrow across it. At half a penny a go, twice a day, it was costing her a fortune, until she got an eFlow tag.

L1011

The surface and step height on it is all quite recent, I seem to remember smaller, closer steps before the refurb

Allinall

It was constructed like that to facilitate e-scooters.

L1011

You can see the older closer steps about halfway down this article

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/200-years-of-the-ha-penny-bridge-1.2653345

Trigger Happy

My dad once drove a Morris minor over that bridge in the late 50s for a drunken bet. The step structure made it easy for him.

emo72

Reading the title had me confused. Why are we talking about Welsh bridges in here?

Some of the worst jokes in existence reside in this thread.

aine kilbride

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118078068#Comment_118078068

That may be correct I don't know. But along the length of the bridge the width of the steps are annoying as you must check your step every so often so as not to trip. I wonder in the original bridge was it built in that fashion as today's surface is not 100 years old. In fact would it have been the case that there were no steps at all?

Wibbs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118078629#Comment_118078629

Yeah the old steps were definitely closer together than the refurbished ones.