On Saturday, May 17th, Waterford welcomed the arrival of the HEBO Lift 9, a massive 800-tonne capacity floating crane from Ghent, Belgium. Towed from Dunmore East to the Frank Cassin Wharf, the crane’s task was to lift and install the 207m Sustainable Transport Bridge over the River Suir.

Over the following days, four spans of the steel deck superstructure—fabricated by Victor Buyck Steel Construction and equipped with mechanical and electrical systems by Qualter Hall in England—arrived by barge from Belgium.

Lifting operations began on Wednesday, May 21st, with the North Main span (65m and over 500 tonnes) installed onto temporary supports. Large crowds gathered to witness the event. The South Main span followed the next day. After a brief pause due to weather, the North and South Approach spans were installed on May 27th and 28th, completing the bridge’s structural installation.

Mayor Jason Murphy hailed the moment as historic, thanking the extensive teams behind the project, including Waterford City and County Council, BAM, Roughan & O’Donovan, Victor Buyck, Qualter Hall, and the tug and crane crews.

The bridge includes a central opening span—a double-leaf bascule design—allowing vessel passage. Finishing works are now underway, including surfacing, lighting, and safety features. The bridge will open to the public in late 2026.

The bridge is a key element of the North Quays Strategic Development Zone (SDZ), designed to link the city’s transport networks and public spaces. Planning permission for the SDZ was granted in April to Harcourt Developments (t/a Hopcast Ltd). Phase one includes:

  • 350 residential units

  • Office and retail space with a ground-floor crèche

  • A 160-bedroom hotel and a 163-room aparthotel

  • High-quality public areas, including plazas, a riverside boardwalk, and greenway connections

The €350 million development is expected to create over 1,500 jobs post-completion, with 200 employed during construction.

Check out some photos below from the last two weeks.

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