Seven Arches Bridge (Newport) Explained

The Seven Arches Bridge is a historic bridge in Newport, County Mayo, Ireland.

Built around 1892, the bridge is a seven span squared red sandstone structure with limestone detailing over the Black Oak River/Newport River. It carried the Achill branch of the Midland Great Western Railway line,^[1] with the last train running on this line in the autumn of 1937.^[2] It was recently restored as part of the Great Western Greenway, the longest off-road cycling & walking route in Ireland.^[3]

The bridge is listed as number 112 on the Record of Protected Structures for County Mayo.^[1]

Technical Details

The single track viaduct has an overall length of 305feet and width .^[4] The seven segmental arches have a 37feet span, with a rise of . The arch rings are 24inches. The bridge piers are thick with pointed cutwaters.^[5] The cost of the viaduct was over £7,000.^[6]

The rail line over the viaduct was not opened until 1894 pending completion of a nearby tunnel.^[4]

External links

53.8843°N -9.5449°W

Notes and References

1. Mayo County Development Plan 2014 – 2020, Volume 4, List of Structures on the Record of Protected Structures for County Mayo. Proposed Amendment V4 . Mayo County Council. 2014.
2. Web site: Heritage Trail - RAILWAY VIADUCT . 2007–2013 . newportmayo.ie. Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government . 31 March 2014.
3. Web site: Newport - County Mayo - Seven Arch Railway Viaduct over Black Oak River. Joseph. Mischyshyn . 2013 . geograph.ie. 27 March 2014.
4. Web site: Realised Vision-Railways . 2000 . www.realizedvision.com. Institution of Engineers of Ireland . 31 March 2014.
5. Book: Cox, Ronald C. . 1998 . Civil Engineering Heritage: Ireland. Thomas Telford . 297 . 0-7277-2627-7 . 31 March 2014.
6. Web site: Bridges . 2014 . www.askaboutireland.ie . Changing Libraries Initiative and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government . 31 March 2014.