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- The Foyle Bridge is a bridge in Derry, Northern Ireland. The central cantilever span of the bridge is the second longest on the island of Ireland, at 234 metres (767 ft), and the whole suspended bridge structure including the approach spans is 866 metres long (2839 ft). It crosses the River Foyle to the north of the city, and forms only the second of three bridges linking the city centre to the Waterside, the others being the Craigavon Bridge and the Peace Bridge walkway. Work on the bridge began in 1980 and it opened in October 1984. The seven approach spans on the east bank are of pre-stressed concrete box construction. The three main river spans are of steel boxconstruction and were built by Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast in 6segments, weighed up to 900 tonnes each, and then transported by barge and oceangoing tug to site where they were lifted into position. Between 2003 and 2005 the bridge underwent strengthening, resurfacing and other improvements, leading to widespread traffic disruption in the city. Total cost of the refurbishment work was £10.6 million. The road was built to four-lane dual carriageway standard, and carries the A515. By 2004 more than 30,000 vehicles used the bridge every day. The bridge was built for the Roads Service of Northern Ireland by RDL- John Graham (Dromore) JointVenture, with the consulting engineers being Ove Arup and Partners including D. C. Black Ltd. The value of the four-year construction contract was £15,765,000. It was the first bridge in Ireland to be built according to a "Design and Construct" system, whereby the same firm designed and constructed the bridge. (en)
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