Carlow firm spans the Shannon
The new bridge over the Rriver Shannon in Killaloe that was manufactured by Thompson Engineering in Carlow
WELL-KNOWN engineering company Thompson of Carlow has just completed one of its biggest projects in years. The firm was a key player in the manufacture of a bridge spanning the River Shannon at Killaloe, Co Clare.
Engineering and design experts as well as multiple tradespeople in Thompson spent 16 months making, painting and erecting a massive steel superstructure on the Killaloe bypass bridge.
The structure is 200 metres long and weighs in at 700 tons.
The bridge consists of six main span sections, the largest of which is 40 metres long.
Sections were transported from the company’s plant in Carlow by road to the site in Co Clare and lifted into position using a large crawler crane.
The duration of the work took 16 months from drawings, management, workshop fabrication, painting and site works.
It is one of the largest single structures that has been completed in Thompson’s in recent years.
“We are very proud here at Thompson of our skilled local workforce and our role in some of the country's largest infrastructure projects,” said Eoin Nolan from Thompson Project Management.
“Our workforce consists of approximately 100 people from the Carlow area, many of whom are employed over a long number of years, which benefits us greatly in relation to our engineering capabilities.”
