THE LATEST PHASE of the 22km Sutton to Sandycove (S2S) promenade and cycleway running along the shore of Dublin Bay opened today.

An 8.5km cycle path from Clontarf to Sutton started in the 1990s but a 2km gap was left between Wooden Bridge to Causeway Road in Clontarf.

That 2 km section was officially opened today and includes a segregated two way cycle track and 4 km of upgraded footpaths.

The Lord Mayor of Dublin Brendan Carr said, “I am delighted to open this stage of the Sutton to Sandycove (S2S) Cycleway. I hope that residents and tourists alike will get great enjoyment from this wonderful amenity on the north side of the city.”

Construction work has been taking place on Clontarf Road for the past two years and while the Clontarf section opened at 10am this morning, the work is still not complete.

A further 12 months of construction is expected to begin this year in order to reduce the height of the flood defence wall by up to 30cm along a half kilometre stretch facing St Anne’s Park.

It is reported that the wall height is being reduced to allow motorists have unrestricted views of the sea.

Residents and business owners in the area say that the traffic complications from the wall work has caused major problems. Clontarf Business Association (CBA) declined the invitation to attend today’s official opening.

In a statement is said, “The works are not yet completed and there are serious concerns over safety for our members, our member’s customers, pedestrians, cyclists, residents and traffic.

Many businesses locally have suffered grave financial losses during the period with some leading to job losses. The CBA continue to work with Dublin City Council for a swift and successful conclusion to the works, however, we are not at that point just yet and as such any event is premature for now.

The €5 million Clontarf cycle path also included renovation of the tram shelter, upgrading of footpaths and public lighting and improved flood-defence.

Green Party Spokesperson for Transport Ciarán Cuffe welcomed the opening. He said it was “the start of a safe, child-friendly and pollution free promenade for all Dubliners”.

It’s hoped that the plans will eventually extend approximately 22 kilometres from Sandycove to Sutton, linking where appropriate existing walkways and cycleways.

Cuffe said, “This is an environmentally friendly and achievable project that deserves support. The proposal involves some stretches of new promenade and a new pedestrian and cycle bridge in Ringsend, but it consists mostly of the joining together of stretches of existing walkway.”

Read: The Clontarf sea wall is changing again – and people and businesses in the area aren’t happy>