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Rice Bridge to undergo remediation works and an upgrade as contracts are officially signed
It has been identified that most of the electrical systems and some mechanical elements need upgrading
The Edmund Rice Bridge in Waterford City, commonly known as Rice Bridge, was opened in 1984
Reporter:
Ellie McCarthy
17 Jun 2025 8:33 AM
On Friday, June 13, Waterford City and County Council and Fluidpower Group Services UK Ltd entered into a contract for remediation works and an upgrade of mechanical and electrical systems of Rice Bridge.
The contracts were signed in the Mayor’s Parlour in City Hall in the presence of Mayor of Waterford City and County Cllr Jason Murphy, Government Chief Whip and Minister of State for Mental Health Mary Butler TD and Minister of State for Local Government and Planning John Cummins TD.
The Edmund Rice Bridge in Waterford City, commonly known as Rice Bridge, was opened in 1984. A vital piece of infrastructure and a symbolic landmark in Waterford, Rice Bridge not only supports modern transportation but also pays tribute to one of Waterford’s most influential historical figures: Edmund Ignatius Rice, founder of the Christian Brothers and a pioneer in Catholic education.
Carrying thousands of vehicles daily, Rice Bridge is a key component of the city’s transport network. Its strategic location near the city centre makes it essential for local commerce, emergency services and public transport.
Over the past four decades, significant technological advancements have rendered many of the electrical components required to operate the opening span obsolete. In 2018, Waterford City and County Council engaged the consultancy firm Mott MacDonald to conduct a full assessment of Rice Bridge under the Regional Roads Rehabilitation Programme.
The report concluded that the mechanical and electrical systems were outdated, with many components no longer available for direct replacement. It identified the need to upgrade most of the electrical systems and some mechanical elements.
In 2021, Waterford City and County Council applied to the Department of Transport for multi-annual funding under the Specific Improvement Grant scheme to support the necessary upgrades.
Roughan and O’Donovan (ROD), with a head office in Dublin and extensive experience in bridge design, were appointed as the engineering consultants to design the upgrade works. Sub consultant Hardesty and Hanover, an American-based company with extensive experience in movable bridges, worked with ROD to prepare the optimum design for the bridge.
Speaking at the contract signing, Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr Jason Murphy said, “This is a hugely positive step in the upgrade of Rice Bridge, which has served Waterford well for over 40 years as the main thoroughfare from the city to Ferrybank and beyond.
“Investment in Rice Bridge will only serve to further improve logistical and structural integrity and allow Rice Bridge to operate as efficiently as possible into the future," he added.
The proposed scheme includes upgrades to the bridge’s mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, control and automation systems, specifically:
Remediation and/or replacement of the mechanical, electrical, and control equipment associated with the opening span.
Works on utilities and services running through the bridge’s plant rooms.
Installation of a new access hatch to the plant room.
The contract was tendered in late 2024 and the successful contractor was Fluidpower Group Services UK Ltd., T/A Flowtech, a UK-based specialist in bridge engineering, with sub offices in Ireland.
The overall value of the contract is €4,467,750 ex VAT. The works contract is for 15 months with a further 1-year period for completion of snags.
This is being funded on a multi-annual basis - with an allocation of €1,500,000 in 2025 - under the Strategic Grant category for local and regional roads with the specific objective of funding fund a variety of projects, including bridge repairs, junction reconfigurations and initiatives to reduce traffic congestion in towns.
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