Capel Street Bridge will be closed to traffic for an extended period each day until the end of this month as it needs "urgent major remedial work", Dublin Corporation has said.
Closures began yesterday on the the bridge - officially named Grattan Bridge - and will take place outside rush hours, from Monday to Friday from 7.30 p.m until 6.30 a.m.
The bridge will also be closed each Friday at 7.30 p.m until noon on Saturday. On Sunday, it will close from 7 a.m to 4 p.m.
Restricted pedestrian access will be maintained during the closure and traffic diversions are in place, and Dublin Corporation are advising drivers to heed diversion signs.
Traffic approaching from Capel Street and Ormond Quay Upper will be diverted via Ormond Quay Lower, Bachelor's Walk, O'Connell Bridge, D'Olier Street, College Street, Westmoreland Street, Aston Quay and Wellington Quay.
Dublin Corporation said the bridge is scheduled to reopen on July 25th.
When the bridge re-opens to traffic, the main structural structural work will be completed. Further work will then take place.
Parts of the bridge's steel-work are decayed and need to be re-welded. Also, the main beams, holding up the footpaths need to be counterbalanced by placing concrete slabs in the centre of the structure. For this work, it is necessary to close the bridge.
The bridge, formally named Essex Bridge, was rebuilt on its original foundations in 1874.
The Corporation said it regrets any inconvenience caused as a result of the closure.