The Alexandra Road Bridge in Dublin Port isn’t just a vital piece of infrastructure — it’s a beacon of dynamic design and innovation. Watch the short video below as Rocky dives into the story behind this award-winning project.
With its bold form and cutting-edge lighting scheme, this bridge has become a standout example of how engineering and art can intertwine. In fact, it’s earned multiple awards, including an Honourable Mention at the LIT Lighting Design Awards, for its mesmerising light show.
Lighting That Moves With the Tide
The lighting concept was designed to reflect the natural rhythm of the sea. A series of dappled luminaires, installed across the bridge, are directly connected to a tidal sensor. As Rocky explains in the video, when the tide is high, the luminaires shine brighter — and as the tide lowers, they dim. This creates a subtle but powerful visual metaphor for the ebb and flow of port activity, and a connection to the moon and the sea that influence it.
Photo credit: Enda Cavanagh Photography
Precision in Every Detail
The bridge’s robust architecture is celebrated through lighting that enhances — rather than overwhelms — its form:
Four projectors with gobo shutters were used to light the face of the structure with precision, avoiding any spill onto the upper deck or roadway.
The elegant ribbed underbelly is illuminated by eight projectors, cleverly installed between each truss to preserve clean sightlines. Integrated honeycomb lenses help reduce glare for passing vehicles and pedestrians.
The overpass is subtly lit with linear wall washers, tucked discreetly under the top rail of the crash barrier — a nod to thoughtful, integrated design.
Flexible, Sustainable & City-Connected
All luminaires used on the bridge are RGBW and fully dimmable, making them energy-efficient, sustainable, and adaptable. This also allows the bridge to participate in city-wide lighting themes for special events, reinforcing its connection to the wider urban fabric.
The Alexandra Road Bridge project is a brilliant example of lighting that’s not just decorative — it’s responsive, meaningful, and intelligent. It brings together the tides, the city, and the people who pass through both.
