Design and Engineering

The Anna Livia Bridge is constructed of four semi-circular masonry arches spanning 35m with the outer two arches being smaller than the central two. A report in 1991 found that the arches closest to the north side are of earlier construction, being of different and inferior construction to those on the south side. This is most apparent in the masonry of the piers, where large regular rectangular blocks are well coursed. The structure was refurbished and strengthened by Dublin City Council in 1991. Apart from the repointing it is noted that the base of the second pier from the east sits on a concrete pad (plate). The upper courses of the cutwaters on the north side of the bridge include some granite blocks, which are not indigenous to the masonry of the bridge. The flanks below the parapet on the north and south faces illustrate the original nature of the fabric, which is calp rubble, roughly dressed and brought to courses. This fabric could not be examined in any detail.

The voussoirs of the arches are of very well dressed and pointed stones, which appear to be a later addition. The soffit of the arches have been rendered in a smooth cementitious mortar (gunite), which is a deterrent to bat nurseries.

In modern times, the footpaths on the bridge were found to be of inadequate width and a safety hazard for pedestrians considering the volumes of traffic traversing the bridge. To resolve the situation the City Council constructed two light structural walkways on either side of the bridge. The walkways are supported off the cutwaters, upstream and downstream, and fixed to the spandrels of the bridge. This work was completed in 2011.