RICE BRIDGE WATERFORD CITY

The Rice Bridge is the city-centre bridge in Waterford, Ireland on the north side of the city. It was constructed in stages between 1982 and 1986, with an official opening of the first two lanes in 1984. It is named after Edmund Ignatius Rice (and occasionally also called the Edmund Rice Bridge or Brother Edmund Ignatius Rice Bridge). The Rice Bridge was constructed after the previous bridge was deemed unsafe.

Rising on the slopes of Devil's Bit Mountain, just north of Templemore in County Tipperary, the River Suir flows south through Loughmore, Thurles, Holycross, Golden and Knockgraffon. Merging with the River Aherlow at Kilmoyler and further on with the Tar, it turns east at the Comeragh Mountains, forming the border between County Waterford and County Tipperary. It then passes through Cahir, Clonmel and Carrick-on-Suir before reaching Waterford. Near the Port of Waterford it meets the River Barrow at Cheekpoint to form a wide navigable estuary, capable of accommodating seagoing vessels up to 32,000 tons dwt. It exits to the sea between Dunmore East and Hook Head.