Mizen Footbridge wins Engineering Excellence Award!

Mizen Head Footbridge has won the 2011 Engineers Ireland Excellence Awards Engineering Project of the Year!  The award ceremony was at The Four Seasons, Dublin on November 4.   It was so exciting! The award was judged by public choice with an online vote.  Mizen Head Footbridge won by a mile!  Thank you so much for your vote!

Best Paper or Presentation of the Year went to 'The design and construction of the new Mizen Head Footbridge' Authors: Noel O'Keeffe, Cork County Council, Eoghan Lehane, Commissioners of Irish Lights, Kieran Ruane and Ross O'Donovan, RPS Consulting Engineers and Enda Collery, Carillion Irish Enco.

Six years ago the old Bridge was condemned just short of 100 years after its completion in 1909.  A temporary scaffolding kept it open for 5 years.  The diligence and perseverance of the Commissioners of Irish Lights, Cork County Council and Failte Ireland in finding the funding for the Bridge reconstruction has been remarkable.

From the engineers' and construction company's point of view, the complexity of the location, site and job is recognised in these awards.  The demolition and reconstruction of the Bridge in situ are outstanding engineering feats.  Well done to all involved!

To visit and cross the Bridge during the winter, Mizen Head Signal Station is open at weekends 11-4 and from mid March - October it is open daily.