Fitzfiddler's Bridge aka BladeBridge
We made the most of Ireland's recent Indian summer to get on our bikes and check out what can only be described as upcycling on a grand scale! A 5.5-meter-long pedestrian bridge made using two repurposed LM 13.4 wind turbine blades, used in place of traditional steel girders.
Located on what is officially known as Fitzfiddler's Bridge, the project is the brainchild of the Re-Wind Network , a research group founded in 2017, that aims to find sustainable solutions to wind turbine blade waste.
Inception
The "BladeBridge" came about through a collaboration by the Re-Wind Network alongside Munster Technological University Cork (MTU), the MaREI research centre at University College Cork (UCC), as well as partners in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and the United States.
The first stage of the project involved the transportation of eight 40-foot-long wind turbine blades from Belfast in Northern Ireland to County Cork. Five of the blades were placed in storage, one was sent to the MTU structures laboratory for test purposes — tested to the point of failure by continuously adding weight until it reached breaking point, to verify their predictions on its strength — the other two blades were then used as the load-bearing components within the final construction.
Installation
Constructed and installed in January 2022, the BladeBridge was the first of its kind in Ireland, and only the second of its kind on the planet. The first was a pedestrian bridge on the Szprotawa River, Poland in 2021.
Environmental Benefit
The BladeBridge boasts an 18% reduction in carbon footprint compared to traditional construction methods. As wind turbine blades have a lifespan of around 25 years — largely due to constant exposure to harsh weather conditions like sun, wind, rain, and even lightning — finding new ways to repurpose their commercially non-recyclable parts is another welcome step towards sustainable construction practices and towards circular living as a whole.
According to Science Foundation Ireland , every tonne of blade waste that is reused (instead of being incinerated or sent to a landfill) reduces CO2 emissions by up to 342 kg.
Location
If you're in the area and fancy checking out Fitzfiddler's Bridge yourself, you can find it here on Google Maps . The town of Midleton is located 23 km east of Cork City, and from there, the bridge is another 3 km northeast along the Midleton to Youghal Greenway .
Find out more
Here are some other projects involving Re-Wind Network, alongside their sister company, BladeBridge .
- Wind turbine blade street furniture in County Mayo. Commissioned for the opening of the Achill Greenway Extension. (See article )
- Wind turbine blade furniture for a local community centre in County Clare. (See article )
- Partnership with ESB to create an innovative e-mobility hub using repurposed wind turbine blades. (See article )
