Mizen Head Footbridge or ‘Building a Bridge, to Build a Bridge’

Abstract

Mizen Head Footbridge in County Cork is a reinforced concrete through-arch structure spanning 50 m. The original structure was demolished and rebuilt 2009-2011, 100 years after its completion. This article describes the construction challenges of safely reconstructing a bridge in a difficult site location. The bridge provides access to a lighthouse on the tiny island of Cloghán, at the tip of Mizen Head in Southwest Cork. It is the result of a design competition held in the early 1900’s. The winning entry was by Mr. Noel Ridley of Westminster, London. It had the form of a pair of parabolic arch ribs spanning 50 m supporting a pedestrian deck, suspended by vertical hangers from the ribs in the central section.