N25/N30 - New Ross Bypass [open to traffic]

josip · 16-04-2020 10:14pm

"12/04/20" - must have been taken on the way back from Aldi

Buzz K.

smokie72 · 17-04-2020 7:33pm

Glad this project was done and finished before Covid-19 happened and the impact it is going to have on our motorway/roads construction in the long term. It be a long time before we see the likes of the M20 becoming a reality for example.

Chris_5339762 · 17-04-2020 8:42pm

Makes the fact that the Dunkettle contract didn't get signed all the more galling.

m17 · 09-05-2020 3:26pm

The Barrow crossing 06/05/20 (pic Twitter)

m17 · 10-05-2020 5:03pm

The Barrow crossing 08/05/20 (pic fb)

two wheels good · 11-05-2020 10:01pm

Could it be that ...maybe.. ..from some angles .. those night-time illuminations are ... well .. a bit excessive. (There - I've said it!)
Great photos though.

blindsider · 08-06-2020 5:26pm

Don't know if this has been published elsewhere.....

https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/barrow-bridge-design-dispute-leads-to-185m-claim-against-spanish-companies-1004020.html

Barrow Bridge design dispute leads to €18.5m claim against Spanish companies

A claim for €18.5 million for the cost of remedying alleged errors in the design and quantities specified at the tender phase of the Barrow Bridge project has come before the Commercial Court.

The alleged errors meant the bridge was "significantly more difficult" to build and its design had to be substantially re-engineered during the construction phase, resulting in very significant additional construction cost and a completion delay of some 10 months, it is claimed.

The estimated cost of remedying the alleged deficiencies in the design phase, and the cost incurred by delay in completion, will exceed €18.5 million, the plaintiffs claim.

The proceedings are by three construction companies - Dragados Ireland Ltd, with an address at Sir John Rogerson's Quay, Dublin; BAM Civil Ltd, Kill, Co Kildare, and Dragados SA, with an address in Madrid, Spain.

The action is against three Spanish entities, Carlos Fernandez Casado SL (CFC); Eptisa Servicios De Ingeneria SL (Eptisa) and Siegrist Y Moreno SL (SYM), all with registered offices at different addresses in Madrid.

SYM is said to be in liquidation,

Among various claims, the plaintiffs allege breach of contract and negligence in the provision of design services at the tender phase in relation to the 887 metre long bridge, part of the N25 New Ross bypass.

It is claimed CFC and Eptisa formed an unincorporated joint venture to carry out design and construction of the New Ross bypass road scheme, which included the Barrow Bridge.

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CFC, it is claimed, is a Spanish engineering firm involved in bridge design and it was engaged to provide design services, specifically the design and provision of quantities for the bridge. During construction it became apparent the design and/or bridge quantities prepared at tender phase were incorrect, it is claimed.

It is claimed the concrete strength class advised by CFC for the deck of the bridge at tender stage had to be increased at construction stage at great cost to the first two plaintiffs.

The tonnage of steel reinforcement, the tonnage of post tensioning strands and the overall length of longitudinal ducting increased by between 80 and 110 per cent, it is claimed.

Eptisa and SYM had each issued a design check certificate in September 2014 in respect of the CFC conceptual design, it is alleged.

The plaintiffs say the precise roles of each of the defendants may not be clear until the discovery process is completed.

When the proceedings came before Mr Justice David Barniville yesterday (Monday) he agreed to admit them to the fast-track Commercial Court list.

No objection to admission was raised but lawyers for the first two defendants raised issues whether the case was being brought prematurely, sought directions on service, and asked that the Spanish coronavirus lockdown be taken into account in relation to time schedules for legal documents.

The judge made directions for exchange of legal documents and will make further directions on a later date.

josip · 08-06-2020 5:37pm

No surprise that BAM have their grubby mitts out looking for more money.
Standard business practice for them.

CoBo55 · 08-06-2020 11:42pm

josip wrote: »

No surprise that BAM have their grubby mitts out looking for more money.
Standard business practice for them.

Well, somebody made a complete bollox of the whole job from start to finish:mad:

Azatadine · 26-10-2020 1:00am

I have to say that its made some difference to the journey from Waterford to Wexford. I use it twice a day and its such a nice road to travel. The views are actually kinda spectacular as well.

Leo Demidov · 26-10-2020 9:23am

CoBo55 wrote:

Well, somebody made a complete bollox of the whole job from start to finish

Careful now. I was told on here that the hump where the levels were wrong is a design feature.

In saying that, it is still a magnificent spectacle, especially coming in from Waterford side where the bridge just appears outta nowhere.

Azatadine · 26-10-2020 9:25am

Leo Demidov wrote: »

Careful now. I was told on here that the hump where the levels were wrong is a design feature.

That bit does always look off alright. Dunno how they didn't notice that early on to be honest.

Chris_5339762 · 26-10-2020 12:50pm

Thanks to the bloody lockdowns I still haven't had a chance to come down and see it. Fuming.

Sam Russell · 26-10-2020 1:40pm

Chris_5339762 wrote: »

Thanks to the bloody lockdowns I still haven't had a chance to come down and see it. Fuming.

You are not alone.

Well, perhaps you are because of lockdown, but not the only one constrained from a trip over the bridge.

Hibernicis · 26-10-2020 3:58pm

Chris_5339762 wrote: »

Thanks to the bloody lockdowns I still haven't had a chance to come down and see it. Fuming.

Think of it as an end of lockdown treat and very much something to look forward to. A couple of tips to get the best out of your trip:

Wait for a bright clear day, preferably with the sun shining
Stop in the official lay-bys and take a few minutes to admire the bridge and the views. There are also a couple of unofficial stopping points to consider if you are so minded.
Drive the full length of the dual carriageway at least twice in both directions, you will see a lot more the second time.

Enjoy.

Sam Russell · 26-10-2020 5:34pm

Hibernicis wrote: »

Think of it as an end of lockdown treat and very much something to look forward to. A couple of tips to get the best out of your trip:

Wait for a bright clear day, preferably with the sun shining
Stop in the official lay-bys and take a few minutes to admire the bridge and the views. There are also a couple of unofficial stopping points to consider if you are so minded.
Drive the full length of the dual carriageway at least twice in both directions, you will see a lot more the second time.

Enjoy.

Which direction to do first?

josip · 26-10-2020 5:46pm

Sam Russell wrote: »

Which direction to do first?

My preference is from the Wexford side, you can see it in the distance and there's more anticipation for the main event.

Also, if you're making a special trip of it, you should go along the (very old) road around by the pink rock and stop underneath for a look.

A bit like lifting the bonnet on a nice looking car.

Hibernicis · 26-10-2020 10:26pm

Sam Russell wrote: »

Which direction to do first?

I know exactly where josip is coming from and he is correct about the view from the Wexford side being much more impressive and for that reason I’m going to recommend the opposite ! Save the best wine for last !!

When you approach from the Waterford Slieverue side, the ascent from the Glenmore roundabout is steep and and you exit the cutting almost at bridge deck level; suddenly and almost unexpectedly you are there ! There is a spot on the left under a brown name sign where some folk stop and take selfies, shame on them. You are on the bridge with an amazing set of close up views of the pylons and cable construction as well as distant views up the Barrow and onwards to the distant Blackstairs. You will be impressed at this point. Drive on and absorb the views on the descent, the smoothness of the surface, the rolling countryside and the river below. Stop at the layby on the left and get out and look back. Be impressed again. Then drive on at moderate pace all the way to the end of the new road (the second roundabout after the bridge, Corcoran’s Cross Roundabout) where you do a 360 and retrace your route, again at a moderate pace. This time as you approach the bridge you will stop at the lay-by on your left and again admire the bridge. Admire the sweeping curve of the approach and the elegance of the structure. Then you proceed slowly as the bridge approaches you, growing by the minute, as you close in for the final reveal. You will be conflicted as you cross the main record breaking 230m span between looking up at the pylons and the mesmerising cables and looking in the opposite direction at the Barrow as it travels lazily towards the sea. Then, when you reach the Glenmore roundabout, do another 360 and revisit the route, enjoying the elements you missed first time around.

It’s a truly amazing construction and well worth spending a couple of hours viewing it from different positions and letting the enormity of the construction sink in.

And I’d definitely second josip’s recommendation that you visit the Pink Rock road and stop below the bridge. Stand underneath, dead straight, and tilt your head back all the way. You’ll get dizzy looking up at the superstructure and the deck.

Enjoy !

Lightscribe · 16-11-2020 10:13pm

There's a programme on More 4 right now about the construction of this bridge.

New:Building Giants:Record Breaking Mega Bridge

Leo Demidov · 16-11-2020 11:02pm

Well worth a watch, great insight. Few "engineers" on here thought it was a dramatised work of fiction but I enjoyed it.

BonnieSituation · 17-11-2020 3:34pm

Lightscribe wrote: »

There's a programme on More 4 right now about the construction of this bridge.

New:Building Giants:Record Breaking Mega Bridge

Cheers for that.

17-11-2020 6:42pm

It's absolutely class. I've only driven it a couple of times due to lockdown, but it's on my list of places to go once I'm released! On to the lovely Hook Head then with the flask and sambos. Roll on 2021

Bards · 01-12-2020 2:46pm

Leo Demidov wrote: »

Well worth a watch, great insight. Few "engineers" on here thought it was a dramatised work of fiction but I enjoyed it.

It was weird how the narrator kept interchanging miles and kilometers

Leo Demidov · 01-12-2020 7:12pm

Bards wrote:

It was weird how the narrator kept interchanging miles and kilometers

I think the engineers on the job interchanged imperial and metric!

Sam Russell · 01-12-2020 8:49pm

Leo Demidov wrote: »

I think the engineers on the job interchanged imperial and metric!

Maybe that is why there is a kink in the middle.

I cannot wait till I can go and inspect it - later this month - if we all keep our distance, wash our hands, and mask up.

Azatadine · 01-12-2020 9:41pm

Sam Russell wrote: »

Maybe that is why there is a kink in the middle.

I cannot wait till I can go and inspect it - later this month - if we all keep our distance, wash our hands, and mask up.

I may be a bit OCD or whatever but I really do hate that kink.....

geminiman63 · 01-12-2020 9:44pm

Azatadine wrote: »

I may be a bit OCD or whatever but I really do hate that kink.....

I do too, its not great ......

josip · 01-12-2020 10:04pm

Not OCD in the slightest.
My understanding, and I'm open to correction, is that whoever is responsible for it, will be remembered for it for the rest of their careers.

Apparently the engineer responsible for the stretch of N30 along the old railway line from Ballyanne to the turn off for Watties back around 1990, found it very hard to get work again.
People might remember how the road was uneven at both old railway bridge crossings.
That was his legacy for almost 40 years until they eventually sorted it out recently.

[Ed] Corrected N81 to N30

Leo Demidov · 01-12-2020 10:51pm

Cookiemunster wrote:

No, it was the standard solution to an engineering problem seen all over the world.

The hump was all part of plan.

Cookiemunster · 01-12-2020 11:25pm

Leo Demidov wrote: »

The hump was all part of plan.

Did you seriously go back 9 months to find that post to quote? That's a bit sad.

Anyways the two sides of the deck being out of alignment and then being adjusted and brought in is, as I said at the time, quite normal. As was using the two giant girders to join them before the final pour.

But if you want to be a smartass, then work away.

Leo Demidov · 02-12-2020 12:03am

Cookiemunster wrote:

Did you seriously go back 9 months to find that post to quote? That's a bit sad.

I was sad at the time that you thought the gammy hump was acceptable. It still makes me sad to see that hump.

Victor · 02-12-2020 6:12am

josip wrote: »

Apparently the engineer responsible for the stretch of N81 along the old railway line from Ballyanne to the turn off for Watties back around 1990, found it very hard to get work again.
People might remember how the road was uneven at both old railway bridge crossings.
That was his legacy for almost 40 years until they eventually sorted it out recently.

Where is this?

NewbridgeIR · 02-12-2020 8:40am

Victor wrote: »

Where is this?

About 3 or 4 miles outside New Ross. Towards Enniscorthy. I used to play handball in Ballyanne and regularly cycled under those railway bridges. Similar ones on the old road to Waterford.

Picked plenty strawberries in Watties too.

Victor · 02-12-2020 8:56am

NewbridgeIR wrote: »

About 3 or 4 miles outside New Ross. Towards Enniscorthy. I used to play handball in Ballyanne and regularly cycled under those railway bridges. Similar ones on the old road to Waterford.

Picked plenty strawberries in Watties too.

You mean the old N79 / N30, not the N81 then.

jd · 02-12-2020 8:57am

NewbridgeIR wrote: »

About 3 or 4 miles outside New Ross. Towards Enniscorthy. I used to play handball in Ballyanne and regularly cycled under those railway bridges. Similar ones on the old road to Waterford.

Picked plenty strawberries in Watties too.

Ah, you mean the N30, rather than the N81.

JohnC. · 19-06-2021 8:47am

The bridge won an award. I have no idea of these industry bodies or how much this one means. It’s the second in this page

https://iabse.org/About/Awards/OSTRA2021

Winner in ‘Bridge or Other Infrastructures’ category

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clU_383pzAM

Gael23 · 25-08-2021 10:13am

Is the Enniscorthy bypass only single carriageway?

Bahanaman · 25-08-2021 10:19am

I'm new to this thread and a complete luddite when it comes to what was involved in the construction of this bridge, but having diven over it I can't get my head around why there's a bit of a wave or kink in the flow of the bridge. Just seems off to me. Was there a specific structural of engineering reason for this?