Anna Livia Bridge

The Anna Livia Bridge (irish place name|Droichead Abhainn na Life|The River Liffey Bridge), formerly Chapelizod Bridge (irish place name|Droichead Shéipéal Iosóid|Isolde's Chapel Bridge), is a road bridge spanning the River Liffey in Dublin, Ireland and joining the Lucan Road to Chapelizod Road.Structurae|id=s0027336|title=Anna Livia Bridge]

As the Liffey flows into the town of Chapelizod, a weir divides the course to form a large mill-race. Split by the two bodies of water, the island at Chapelizod has been a base for industry for more than 150 years. The main flow is crossed by a four-span stone arched bridge, unusual in having two large central spans and two much smaller end spans.

Originally named "Chapelizod Bridge", the bridge was renamed in 1982 to mark the centenary of James Joyce's birth. [ [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,925569-1,00.html Time Magazine - Dublin jumps for Joyce - Monday, Jul. 12, 1982] ]

(The bridge is mentioned in Joyce's "Dubliners", as one of his "Dubliners", "James Duffy", lives in Chapelizod and visits a public house near the bridge. "Anna Livia" is the name given to the personification of the River Liffey, and was a principal character in Joyce's "Finnegans Wake" - her final monologue recalls her life as she walks along the Liffey.)

Recent developments

As the only bridge 8 kilometers past the Strawberry Beds to Chapelizod, and a main thorough-fare for traffic from the western suburbs (eg: Clonsilla and Blanchardstown) to Dublin city center, the volume of road traffic over the bridge and through Chapelizod has increased into recent years.

As of 2006, Dublin City Council are planning changes to bridge, as part of a general "Traffic Management Plan for the Chapelizod area". Proposed changes to the bridge include the construction of separate footbridge sections outside the parapets of the bridge (to improve pedestrian safety), and the creation of cycle lanes on the bridge. [ [http://www.dublincity.ie/Images/Improvements%20at%20Anna%20Livia%20Bridge_tcm35-26901.pdf DublinCity.ie - planning document - proposed improvements to Anna Livia Bridge] ]

References