New Bridge West of O'Connell Bridge.

The position of this new road bridge is of the utmost importance to the planning of the whole city and we have given the matter the most prolonged and careful attention.

The map will show that the eight central Dublin bridges are virtually evenly spaced along the quays. Among these eight is the "Metal" footbridge, situated midway between O'Connell Bridge and Grattan Bridge. The Corporation's earlier intention of converting the "Metal" Bridge into a roadway is shown by the fact that Liffey Street on the North has already been widened in anticipation of the rebuilding of the bridge.

In deciding whether the site of the "Metal Bridge is, or is not, the best for a road connection, one of the dominating considerations in our minds has been the easing of the traffic congestion in College Green and over O'Connell Bridge. This College Green congestion is largely due to the traffic from Lord Edward Street and George's Street which is making for the North-East area of the city. To obviate this, it is necessary to provide the easiest alternative route. The map will show that no bridge West of the " Metal" Bridge would serve this purpose as efficiently as the rebuilding of the "Metal" Bridge on its present site. Liffey Street would then provide connections with O'Connell Street via Abbey Street and Henry Street and a fine and direct connection with the North-East area would be available via Parnell Street. At the North end, Liffey Street would be linked directly with Dominick Street - a very wide street at present but little used but which could be made to form part of the inner ring traffic system. This would also provide direct communication with the North via Phibsboro' Road.

We propose, therefore, that the existing footbridge known as the "Metal" Bridge be rebuilt to the width of the widened Lower Liffey Street produced across the river, thus giving connection between Dominick Street on the North and George's Street on the South.

To connect with this bridge on the South side, George's Street would be continued axially by taking in the block of buildings between Eustace Street and Temple Lane. The new frontage would line with the existing frontage of Temple Lane straightened, but the Eustace Street frontage would be brought forward to balance the Temple Lane frontage, about the central axis of George's Street produced. In order to give adequate and properly planned access from this continuation of George's Street to the new bridge, the block of buildings bounded by a line some 40 yards beyond the East line of the new bridge produced, Temple Bar to the South, the new street to the West, and Wellington Quay on the North, should be demolished and the area opened up into an elongated traffic circus with an ornamental garden in the centre.

The only line of cross traffic would be where the small volume of West bound traffic from Fleet Street would cross the new George's Street. Traffic lights would be required at this point. We are aware that this proposal does not produce a perfect diagram on paper. Such a diagram would easily be produced by connecting the existing George's Street with the new "Metal " Bridge by a new diagonal or a crescent street. Our reasons for not recommending this are twofold. First, we are satisfied that the cost of acquiring the property and settling with all the interests in forming a diagonal street, or a connecting crescent would be far too great, and this is not a matter to be indefinitely postponed. Secondly, the cheaper and more practicable proposal which we put forward would enable George's Street and its new continuation to command a vista of the principal feature of the Cathedral. This magnificent effect should not readily be sacrificed. Thus practical economy and aesthetic considerations pull, in this case, in the same direction.

In reference to the dilapidated area bounded on the East by Moore Street and on the West by the Liffey Street Continuation, we suggest that, after allowing for frontages, the central portion should be occupied as a public market. Provision would be made for some lock-up accommodation in connexion with the open stands. The Moore Street frontage would contain shops with flats over.