Bloomsday sees James Joyce Bridge open

Bloomsday, more usually renowned for Joyceans strolling the streets of Dublin reciting passages from Ulysses, today marked the opening of the James Joyce Bridge in Dublin.

The bridge, linking Usher's Island (the location of Joyce's The Dead) to Blackhall Place, was officially opened to traffic by the Lord Mayor, Mr Dermot Lacey, at lunchtime.

It is the 16th bridge spanning the Liffey and was designed by the famous Spanish engineer and architect Dr Santiago Calatrava.

The bridge cost €9 million to build and took almost two years to complete.

At the opening ceremony Mr Lacey called the bridge a "spectacular achievement" and thanked all involved for "turning a design into a living reality".

The new bridge is designed to improve the north/south traffic flows by enabling traffic travelling westward along the quays to trun right and enter Blackhall Place.

Ironically, Dr Calatrava could not make the opening as he missed his flight due to traffic.