THE BIGFISH IS AT THE LAGAN WEIR
The Lagan Weir, located in Belfast, Northern Ireland, is a significant structure that crosses the River Lagan between the Queen Elizabeth Bridge and the M3 cross-harbour bridge.
History of the Lagan Weir
The planning for the weir commenced as early as 1988. The £14m project was jointly funded by the Laganside Corporation and the European Commission. It was designed by Ferguson and McIlveen and constructed by Charles Brand Ltd. The Prince of Wales was involved in the ceremonial setting of the first pile for the weir on 7 March 1991. The floating crane Mersey Mammoth lifted the five 32-tonne weir gates into position in May 1992. The weir was officially opened in March 1994.
Prior to the building of the weir, the river would be subject to tidal fluctuations, and low tide would expose mudflats, which were unsightly and emitted a strong odour, particularly in the summer months. The weir was seen by the Laganside Corporation as a catalyst for its redevelopment projects and was judged to be the “centrepiece” of that effort.
The Pedestrian Bridge
In 2011, the pedestrian bridge that I mentioned elsewhere was still in place. However, recognising the increasing number of users of the existing bridge, Belfast City Council decided it was time for something wider with more capacity. A new £5.5m bridge was announced to replace the existing Lagan Weir footbridge. The new bridge, which included access for cyclists and improved access to the Queen’s Quay area, was completed in 2015. It is estimated that 16,000 people now cross this footbridge each week.
The Smell of the River
The smell of the River Lagan has been a longstanding issue. Prior to the building of the weir, low tide would expose mudflats, which were unsightly and emitted a strong odour, particularly in the summer months. This smell was due to the accumulation of waste that digests without dissolved oxygen, or anaerobically. Anaerobic digestion is slow and releases foul odours.
When the river was last dredged extensively in 1994, its level was lowered, exposing acres of mudflats and creating major “smell problems”. However, measures have been taken to reduce the smell. For instance, during subsequent dredging, the water level was kept high to reduce any smells to a minimum.
While the smell has been reduced, it has not been completely eliminated. Factors such as agricultural runoff upstream and the lack of rainfall over the summer can give algae time to build up, which can contribute to the smell. However, efforts are ongoing to manage these issues and improve the condition of the river.
History of the Lagan Weir
The planning for the weir commenced as early as 1988. The £14m project was jointly funded by the Laganside Corporation and the European Commission. It was designed by Ferguson and McIlveen and constructed by Charles Brand Ltd. The Prince of Wales was involved in the ceremonial setting of the first pile for the weir on 7 March 1991. The floating crane Mersey Mammoth lifted the five 32-tonne weir gates into position in May 1992. The weir was officially opened in March 1994.
Prior to the building of the weir, the river would be subject to tidal fluctuations, and low tide would expose mudflats, which were unsightly and emitted a strong odour, particularly in the summer months. The weir was seen by the Laganside Corporation as a catalyst for its redevelopment projects and was judged to be the “centrepiece” of that effort.
The Pedestrian Bridge
In 2011, the pedestrian bridge that I mentioned elsewhere was still in place. However, recognising the increasing number of users of the existing bridge, Belfast City Council decided it was time for something wider with more capacity. A new £5.5m bridge was announced to replace the existing Lagan Weir footbridge. The new bridge, which included access for cyclists and improved access to the Queen’s Quay area, was completed in 2015. It is estimated that 16,000 people now cross this footbridge each week.
The Smell of the River
The smell of the River Lagan has been a longstanding issue. Prior to the building of the weir, low tide would expose mudflats, which were unsightly and emitted a strong odour, particularly in the summer months. This smell was due to the accumulation of waste that digests without dissolved oxygen, or anaerobically. Anaerobic digestion is slow and releases foul odours.
When the river was last dredged extensively in 1994, its level was lowered, exposing acres of mudflats and creating major “smell problems”. However, measures have been taken to reduce the smell. For instance, during subsequent dredging, the water level was kept high to reduce any smells to a minimum.
While the smell has been reduced, it has not been completely eliminated. Factors such as agricultural runoff upstream and the lack of rainfall over the summer can give algae time to build up, which can contribute to the smell. However, efforts are ongoing to manage these issues and improve the condition of the river.
THE BIGFISH IS AT THE LAGAN WEIR