asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is now in a position to approve of plans submitted for the provision of a transporter bridge over the Liffey to relieve traffic congestion in the Butt Bridge area.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Plans of New Liffey Bridge.
In pursuance of the Dublin Port and Docks Board (Bridges) Act, 1929, the board submitted plans for the reconstruction of Butt Bridge and for a transporter bridge. The plans for Butt Bridge were approved.
In regard to the transporter bridge, discussions took place between the interested bodies. Finally, the board held a conference in 1936 with the Dublin Corporation and the Dublin County Council at which it was decided that an alternative type of bridge to that proposed in the Act should be considered, in view of more recent developments in bridge construction.
It was also agreed that further consideration of the matter should be postponed until, at any rate, an outline town planning scheme should be available.
The General Purposes Committee of the corporation adopted a sketch development plan on 10th December, 1940, which included a proposal for a new bridge east of Butt Bride.
The 1929 Act provided that the transporter bridge should be completed by April, 1936. Power was given to the Minister for Industry and Commerce to extend this time limit, on application by the board, by three years, and an extension was duly granted to 1939.
The intervention of the emergency prevented any further progress which in any event required new legislation, the 1929 Act no longer applying. Since then the Harbours Act, 1946, and the Local Government Act, 1946, have been enacted, and it is open to the Port and Docks Board to proceed under these Acts if they intend to have a new bridge constructed to the east of Butt Bridge.
Consideration of the matter is now being revived by the corporation and the Port and Docks Board, but even if it is decided to proceed with such a project it seems extremely doubtful, in view of the magnitude of the work and the present position in regard to materials, whether a bridge could be successfully undertaken for a considerable number of years.