Dublin Link facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dublin Link |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Carries | Pedestrians, cyclists |
| Crosses | Scioto River |
| Locale | Dublin, Ohio |
| Owner | City of Dublin |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Suspension bridge |
| Material | Steel and concrete |
| Total length | 760 ft (232 m) |
| Width | 14 ft (4 m) |
| Height | 169 ft (52 m) |
| Longest span | 500 ft (152 m) |
| History | |
| Architect | Endrestudio |
| Engineering design by | Endrestudio, T. Y. Lin International |
| Construction begin | February 2017 |
| Construction end | March 2020 |
| Construction cost | $22.6 million |
The Dublin Link is a special bridge in Dublin, Ohio. It crosses the Scioto River. This bridge is for people who are walking or riding bikes. It's the only bridge in the world that is both S-shaped and a single-tower suspension bridge.
The bridge connects Dublin's old town area on one side of the river. On the other side, it links to the newer Bridge Street District. People first thought of building this bridge a long time ago, in 1986. Construction finally began in 2017. The Dublin Link opened in March 2020. A big opening party was planned, but it was cancelled for public safety reasons.
Cool Facts About the Bridge
The Dublin Link has a very tall tower. It stands about 169 feet (51 meters) high. This tower holds up the bridge with 43 strong cables. Two main cables are very thick, about 4.7 inches (120 mm) across. They can hold a huge amount of weight.
The main part of the bridge that hangs is 500 feet (152 meters) long. The whole bridge deck is 760 feet (232 meters) long and 14 feet (4.3 meters) wide. Building it used a lot of materials. This included 860,000 pounds (390,000 kg) of structural steel. It also used 350,000 pounds (160,000 kg) of reinforcing steel. Plus, 1,600 cubic yards (1,200 cubic meters) of concrete were used.
The bridge deck goes right through a special "keyhole" opening in the main tower. The bridge itself is shaped like a letter "S." This design matches how the river flows through the city. It also helps connect roads on both sides of the river that don't line up perfectly.
The name "Dublin Link" was chosen by people living in Dublin. About 1,400 residents shared their ideas. Many suggested names like "The Link." They liked this name because the bridge connects the old and new parts of Dublin. It also links the two sides of the river.
The bridge helps connect two parts of a large park. This park is called Riverside Crossing Park. It will be about 36 acres (15 hectares) big. The park will have many fun things. These include a pavilion, terraces, and grassy areas. There will also be waterfalls, a play space, and bike racks. Paths in the park will connect to Dublin's wider trail system.
How the Bridge Was Built
The idea for a bridge like this started a long time ago. In 1986, Dublin's city leaders approved a plan. It included a park along the river and a suspension bridge. The first design for the bridge was suggested in 2007.
To learn more, city leaders visited another pedestrian bridge. This was the Liberty Bridge in Greenville, South Carolina. This visit happened in 2008. From 2009 to 2013, a lot of planning took place. There were studies and meetings to figure out how to build the bridge.
In 2015, the bridge was estimated to cost about $18.2 million. Later that year, the budget was approved for $22.4 million. Construction began in February 2017. The goal was to open the bridge in 2019.
The company Endrestudio designed the bridge. T. Y. Lin International was the main engineer. In 2019, the temporary towers holding up the bridge were removed. This was when the bridge truly became a suspension bridge.
The Dublin Link was set to open with a big party on March 13, 2020. This event would have had a light show and live music. But the event was cancelled on March 6. This was done to keep everyone safe due to public health concerns at the time.
