Long-awaited plans for a walking and cycling bridge alongside the Tom Clarke Bridge (East Link) are progressing, with an anticipated opening date of around 2029. However, the project has also expanded to include road widening on the existing bridge which will also require a new bridge control building.The walking and cycling bridge will be a separate bridge, called the Point Bridge. But, as with many active travel projects undertaken by Dublin City Council, the project has morphed into a wider project which is now called the Point Bridge and Tom Clarke Bridge Widening Project.The new Point Bridge will also be a lifting bridge and include future-proofing with a 5.3m wide cycle path and 4.6m wide footpath.Its understood that part of the reason for a separate walking and cycling bridge was originally to simplify the projects delivery compared to adding structures to the existing Tom Clarke Bridge.The widening of the projects scope follows the examples of other city council projects, including the Clontarf cycle route project, which expanded into a massive wall-to-wall street renewal project. The same thing happened with the Liffey Cycle Route project, which was expanded into the Liffey Corridor project, where costs ballooned to above 100m before the project was cancelled in favour of a more cost-effective approach.A Dublin City Council Active Travel office update on the East Link bridge project said: It is also proposed to upgrade the existing Tom Clarke Bridge by widening the northern and southern bridge decks. The works will include replacing elements of the bridge deck furniture such as barriers, lighting columns and traffic lights.This widening of the bridge decks will mean the removal of the existing control building, which is located on the bridge and the building of a planned replacement control tower between the two bridges.Dublin City Council said: It is anticipated that construction works will commence in 2027 and last approximately 24 months. During construction, traffic on East Wall Road, the R131 and North Wall Quay will be maintained at all times, except for limited short periods.Early-stage public consultation is planned for the project is planned next week from 4-7pm on Tuesday, June 18th at the Ringsend & Irishtown Community Centre, 22 Thorncastle St, Dublin 4, D04 Y6V3, and from 4-7pm on Wednesday, June 19th, at the Sen OCasey Community Centre, 18-26 St Marys Rd, Dublin, D03 AY74.More drawings and details can be found at consultation.dublincity.ie.