Peace Bridge Takes Shape

19 October 2010

Ilex, the urban regeneration company announced the arrival of the 1057 tonne Forth Atlas barge at Lisahally Docks where it will assemble sections of the Peace Bridge before transporting them along the River Foyle.

The Forth Atlas barge (53 metres long) will make several journeys on the River Foyle carrying sections of the bridge over the next few days.

The third bridge across the River Foyle, the Peace Bridge has been given £13,343,476 from the European Union’s PEACE III Programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). The programme’s theme of Creating Shared Public Space aims to support large scale infrastructure developments that will tackle problems of separated communities by creating genuine new shared space or transforming contested space.

Pat Colgan, Chief Executive of the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) said: “I am pleased to see that the creation of the Peace bridge is progressing well. The construction of the new bridge sections marks yet another key milestone in the development of a truly iconic project that will act as a catalyst for real and meaningful change. In creating a shared public space that can be used on a cross-community basis the bridge will encourage greater levels of long-term peace and reconciliation”.

Brenda Fraser, Ilex’s Director of Development welcomed the arrival of the Forth Atlas saying: “This is a really exciting time for the city when people can come along and see the bridge take shape.  Over a number of days everyone will be able to see the Forth Atlas make its way up and down the Foyle and watch as it builds the deck of the Peace Bridge.  For the last six months people have followed its construction online via the time lapse camera, now we can all watch first hand and witness history in the making”.

Philip Brown, Chief Engineer for Graham Construction explained: “This is a significant construction milestone for the Peace Bridge and is the culmination of many months planning and hard work, both on site during construction of the foundations and off site in the fabrication works.  The project will now enter a new phase with the bridge masts and deck sections being assembled and welded together before the main cables and hangers are installed”.

The Peace Bridge is scheduled for completion in April 2011.

For further information contact Orla Newland, Ilex - 028 7126 9226 or 07920 886326. Press release and bridge images are downloadable on www.ilex-urc.com