DUBLIN will get three new bridges over the Liffey as part of a plan to redevelop the docklands region into a business hub.

It is understood the council will soon begin searching for designers for at least one of two planned new pedestrian bridges, with work due to begin next year.

The other is a traffic bridge to connect Ringsend with the quays.

The council will this year commission the designer of one of two footbridges.

It will be located between the East Link Bridge and the Samuel Beckett Bridge.

Plans for the bridges had been in the works for several years, but the financial crisis halted the progress.

However, rising property prices have prompted work to begin again.

Planning applications for the crossings are likely to be lodged early next year, with the area designated a special development zone.

The pedestrian bridges will cost between €10m and €12m each to build, but this will not be borne by taxpayers. It will be paid for with levies on the developers revamping the region.

All three of the bridges should be completed within four years.

The Sunday Independent reported yesterday that the council may have to borrow initially to fund building costs and be repaid over time as the levies accrue, but ultimately the work should be entirely privately funded.

estimate

However, the road bridge will be funded by the National Transport Authority, which is ultimately financed by taxpayers.

No estimate of the cost is yet available.

The bridges will be built with lifting mechanisms to enable ship traffic up the river.

Nama has plans in place for a €2bn investment in developing the area in the coming years.

Nama controls up to 80pc of the sites in the docklands, including buildings and land previously controlled by Johnny Ronan's Treasury Holdings and developer Harry Crosbie.

hnews@herald.ie

Online Editors