East-Link, Toll bridge in Dublin Docklands, Ireland
The Tom Clarke Bridge, formerly the East-Link Toll Bridge, is a bascule-type lifting bridge over the River Liffey in Dublin, linking North Wall on the north bank to Ringsend on the south. It is the most easterly crossing on the Liffey, forming part of the R131 regional road, and its deck lifts to let river traffic pass. The tolling area and administrative offices are on the Ringsend side.
The bridge replaced ferries that had crossed the Liffey at this point since 1655. Built by NTR, it opened to traffic in October 1984 and was renamed Thomas Clarke Bridge on 3 May 2016, the centenary of Clarke's execution for his role in the 1916 Easter Rising. Dublin City Council took over control on 31 December 2015.
The bridge was renamed Tom Clarke Bridge on 3 May 2016, the centenary of Thomas Clarke's execution at Kilmainham Gaol for his role in the 1916 Easter Rising. President Michael D. Higgins performed the ceremony. The name honours the Irish republican leader, while the Irish form is Droichead Thomáis Uí Chléirigh.
Tolls are collected on the south side at Ringsend, where the administrative offices also stand; cars and lorries pay in cash or with electronic tokens, while motorbikes and bicycles cross free. The deck lifts on average three times a day for river traffic, so short waits are possible. The bridge carries the R131 and sits just west of the Dublin Port Tunnel entrance.
The bridge lifts approximately three times daily to allow larger vessels to pass between the port and the Irish Sea. This lifting mechanism is visible from the river level or if you happen to witness the raises from above.
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