Mizen Bridge: Shortlisted for a prestigious heritage award.

THE new €1.8 million footbridge onto the Mizen Head in Co Cork is in line for a number of prestigious awards.

It has been shortlisted for a heritage award by the Institute of Structural Engineers, headquartered in Westminster, London.

County engineer Noel O’Keeffe hopes the Westminster connection is a good omen. “The original bridge, completed in 1909, was designed by Noel Ridley and built by Alfred Thorne & company. Both were based in Westminster at the time. The original bridge cost £1,272 to construct,” Mr O’Keeffe said.

The Mizen bridge was paid for by Cork County Council, Fáilte Ireland and the Commissioner of Irish Lights. Representatives from the three organisations will visit Westminster next month, where they will present a paper on the bridge to the Institute of Structural Engineers.

The winners of the award will be notified in October.

Meanwhile, the Mr O’Keefe revealed the concrete bridge had also been shortlisted for an excellence award by Engineers Ireland.

Cork County Council is to submit the project for the annual Excellence in Local Government awards.

“We hope that we will win some of these awards because it is a spectacular construction,” Mr O’Keeffe said.

The council also built a series of elevated viewing platforms on the island at a cost of €400,000.