Bridge

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Single span reinforced concrete road over rail bridge, dated 1932, carrying the Doagh Road on a north/south axis across the Belfast to Antrim railway line.

Continuous reinforced concrete deck supported on four pairs of cantilevered concrete beams and three sets of vertical concrete piers with three parabolic arches forming a single arch bridge. Original concrete parapets removed c. 1993 replaced by metal railings. A section of the concrete parapet has been retained or reconstructed to the northwest, inscribed 'L M S NCC 1932'.

Historical information

This reinforced-concrete bridge was built in 1933 by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Co (Northern Counties Committee) as part of its 'Greenisland Loop' scheme. This scheme involved the laying of a track between Whiteabbey, on the Belfast-Carrickfergus line (opened 1848), and Monkstown, on the Belfast-Antrim line (also 1848). Until the opening of the loop in 1934, Antrim-bound trains ran to Greencastle, then reversed all the way to Antrim. Not only did the loop do away with the need to reverse, but it also shortened the journey by some 2.5 miles. The loop scheme has been described as "one of the most significant examples of modern railway architecture in the British Isles" (W.A. McCutcheon, The Industrial Archaeology of Northern Ireland: 214, note 174, 1980 (Belfast: HMSO)). It was directed by NCC's resident engineer W.K. Wallace.

Several other reinforced-concrete bridges were also erected in connection with the loop scheme: Bleach Green Junction (1931-33), Jordanstown Road (1931), Jennings Park (1931), and Auld's Bridge (1933). The loop line remained in regular service until 1976 when Belfast's Central Railway was opened. Antrim-bound trains were subsequently re-routed via Lisburn and Crumlin. The line is still in periodic use for goods trains, and it is intended to reopen it for passenger services once the new Central-York St. station linkup is completed.”

"...Most of Ireland's early ferro-concrete bridges were designed by Mouchel and Partners, using the Hennebique system..." from 'Industrial Ireland 1750-1930 An Archaeology' by Colin Rynne p.335

References

Secondary Sources

1. F.W. Hammond First Survey Information 18 August 1994.
2. Colin Rynne , 'Industrial Ireland 1750-1930 An Archaeology', Collins Press, 2006
3. W.A. McCutcheon, ‘The Industrial Archaeology of Northern Ireland’, 1980

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
F. Structural System
H-. Alterations detracting from building
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A twentieth century concrete bridge of considerable technical interest and displaying innovative design quality. Erected by London, Midland & Scottish Railway (NIC) as part of a series of similar bridges built on the Greenisland Loop scheme. One of the most significant examples of modern railway architecture in the British Isles. The removal of the parapet has degraded its character but its main feature, the parabolic arches, remain and are an element that links to modern bridges.