In a delicate operation a Bailey bridge is manoeuvred under Cork bridges to provide a temporary river crossing.
Floating a Bailey bridge under the bridges over the Lee presented Cork Corporation and Verolme Dockyard engineers with some problems.
The Bailey bridge is towed by four marine transport tugs: the Aghada, the Marino, the Saleen and the Sheila. It successfully passes under the Brian Boru Bridge with only inches to spare. The haulage of the Bailey bridge structure through the centre arch of St Patrick's Bridge is accomplished in 25 minutes with two launches pushing and one pulling.
So under the bridges of Cork the Bailey Bridge was floated successfully, the cost of the operation £25,000.
The Bailey bridge will be erected linking Emmet Place and Pope's Quay. It will be used as an alternative crossing while St Patrick's Bridge is closed, section by section, for repair.
It's Cork's main river crossing but is in poor condition.
A new bridge is planned for the Emmet Place location.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 9 April 1981. The reporter is Tom MacSweeney.
