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A NEW BUS and cycle route from Clontarf to the City Centre has been officially opened after more than a decade in the works.
The Clontarf to City Centre project will provide segregated cycling facilities and bus priority infrastructure along a 2.7km route that extends from Clontarf Road at the junction with Alfie Byrne Road, to Amiens Street at the junction with Talbot Street.
The €68 million public infrastructure project also includes upgrades to six major junctions, 8km of upgraded pedestrian walkways and 6.8km of new and upgraded cycle lanes.
Some 6.5km of century-old water mains have also been replaced, while 5.4km of bus lanes have been upgraded.
The Clontarf to City Centre Project has officially been opened by Minister for Transport, Climate, Environment and Communications @EamonRyan and Minister for Public Expenditure @Paschald. #C2CC pic.twitter.com/TZKGoAH5Hx
— Dublin City Council (@DubCityCouncil) November 28, 2024
The project received a grant from the National Transport Authority back in 2012 and a Part 8 planning application was submitted in 2017.
Work began in 2019, but then the Covid pandemic struck and brought works to a halt.
Traffic diversions were also in place for over two years to facilitate the works.
The project will be officially opened later today, having missing several deadlines.
Speaking to The Journal, Green Party councillor for the North Inner City, Janet Horner, noted that the project is “not just the cycle lane” and pointed to “huge improvements to the look of Clontarf, through to Fairview and down into North Strand”.
“I totally accept that the works have been going on a long time, but the final product now is very welcome,” said Horner.
While she said that “nobody likes the construction phase of the projects”, Horner added that “managing them effectively is the name of the game, as opposed to whether or not to do construction”.
“Digging up the roads to relay water mains, for example, is always going to be disruptive, and it’s always going to be a lengthy process,” said Horner.
“When you’re in a city like Dublin, digging up roads is never just digging up roads, there is always something unexpected underneath.”
She added that the aim taken to this project, of “trying to bring a few different projects into one”, is a laudable one as it “limits the number of times we are going back and re-digging the same road”.
The project was originally scheduled to be completed by Q1 of this year, but that deadline was extended on several occasions.
“I was very frustrated, as a lot of other people were, that the timelines kept being extended as new issues kept coming up,” said Horner.
“But in general, I am happy to see that we are trying to consolidate our works into one project.
“That’s the counterpoint to the issues in Clontarf regarding how long it went on; the last thing you want to see is a project completed and then brought back to looking appalling again, instantly, when another public body goes and does their works in the same space.”
When asked if project delays and the two years of traffic diversions might make people resist further projects, Horner remarked that “everybody likes finished products, and no one likes the process”.
“That goes for Luas works, Bus Connects, major infrastructure and buildings in the city — construction phases are always challenging and always produce resistance.
“During the phase itself, nobody likes them, and everybody laments the disruption, including me.
“But if you want to keep moving forward, then you have to recognise that it is necessary to do construction phases.”
However, she said there is a need to look at “how we can minimise disruption caused by construction and streamline those processes as much as possible so we can deliver those kinds of projects quickly”.
“I do worry that the length of time of the construction has been used as an emblem of a kind of resistance to cycling infrastructure in the city, in general,” said Horner.
“But I don’t hear anybody saying, ‘look how long it took to build the Luas, we shouldn’t invest in public transport’.
“It’s as red herring an argument in this instance as that would be for why we should not invest in public transport.”
Meanwhile, Colm Ryder of the Dublin Cycling Campaign said that while it’s “been a long time coming, we’re delighted that the official open is taking place”.
When asked about project delays, Ryder noted that it “takes time before you actually get on the ground”, and that once this happened, the Covid pandemic hit.
He added: “Traffic diversions were absolutely necessary and it’s been difficult in lots of respects, because Covid came on board right in the middle of it, which didn’t help.
“Then you had construction inflation, but it has moved ahead, and the contractors have been brilliant.”
He too noted that it “isn’t just a bike project” and added that it is “going to make a huge difference in that part of the city and will encourage more people to cycle and walk”.
When asked if enough of an emphasis had been placed on the fact that it “isn’t just a bike project”, Ryder replied that that’s a “PR issue which applies to most infrastructure projects related to Bus Connect, because the bus routes are related to cycle routes”.
“Some people think it’s just a case of painting a line on the roadway and throwing in a cycle lane, but it’s a very complex infrastructure project for a city centre.”
Speaking at the launch, Transport Minister Eamon Ryan said: “Just standing here for a minute or two, you can see immediately by the numbers using it that it’s the type of people focused infrastructure that people want.”
Meanwhile, Councillor Naoise O’ Muirí said the project is a “clear demonstration of Dublin City Council’s commitment to working with local communities and other stakeholders in delivering high-quality and world-leading public infrastructure”.
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An absolute farce and a waste of money. Destroyed the quality of life for people in the area for over two years. And it’ll barely be used.
Greens can’t be gone quick enough. Zero seats might put manners on them.
@Alan OConnor: this was done by DCC not the Greens. Busconnects on Malahide Road will be putting in similar cycle lanes too. Not sure how you’ll blame the Greens then as they’ll be gone from government next week
@Alan OConnor: Nonsense. This will have a lot of benefits and will definitely be used. It’s been a long time since I lived in Fairview, but there were always walkers, cyclists, and rollerskaters etc all along the seafront between Sutton and Fairview.
@honey badger: have a look at 0830 in the morning, it’s absolutely rammed. If anything it isn’t wide enough for the amount of cyclists that use it at rush hour.
@honey badger: for the volume of disturbance to other road users? The sheerest nonsense. In winter in particular it’ll be empty. And you think the Greens don’t have any influence over DCC? Think again.
@Alan OConnor: its winter now and very busy. No disturbance to other road users either now that it’s finished. Get over yourself.
@Alan OConnor: You should stand at the side of the cycle lane and shake an angry fist at it as you recall the unbearable suffering you lived through. ;)
@eoin fitzpatrick: believing that the greens have nothing to do with DCC is sheer stupidity. What do you think the councils are made up of?
The greens infest all councils & have been ramming their ludicrous agenda through for years resulting in the risdiculousness of the traffic system which attacks motorists
@Jim: how has this cycle route “attacked” motorists?
@Alan OConnor: this was planned over 10 years ago.
@Alan OConnor: I’m sure the 6.5km of water main replacement, which probably took up a lot of the construction time, is already being used.
@Alan OConnor: it was started years before the greens were in power
@Alan OConnor: guess you think it was built by some left wing cabal who drink children’s blood to stay young !..”it’ll barely be used” oh such projection by your lazy ar$e !
@Jim: If the public in these locations decide to vote for them to represent their views, that is their right. You can bite for whomever you choose as is your right. It’s called democracy
@eoin fitzpatrick: did I say ‘this’ cycle route? No, no. I didn’t.
Typical of the mindset of the likes of you.
@Alan OConnor: ah yeah, who needs a new water main
Took a while but its great to finally be able to cycle through Fairview and North Strand in relative peace. It’s packed in the mornings at rush hour inbound, you’d swear you’re in Amsterdam or Copenhagen.
@eoin fitzpatrick: eh no you wouldn’t…and cycle lanes mixed with pedestrians at bus stops? Waiting to see how long for serious injuries to happen.
@eoin fitzpatrick: cyclist pests. Why don’t you start digging an underground cycle tunnel and leave the roads to people who can afford cars. One had a pest illegally pass me on the inside on his bicycle as I was turning left, then turns around and starts shaking his head when I nearly hit him.
@eoin fitzpatrick: Yep. I lived in Fairview many years ago and cycled to work on Thomas St. every day. Used to be mayhem in the mornings. Rainy winter evenings on the way home were the worst, though. Any improvement is a good thing.
@Maximilian Kolbe: if you were turning left you wait for the bike to pass. Read the Rules of the Road.
@James Chilton: www,citizensinformation.ie – A cyclist cannot overtake on the inside, if the vehicle you intend to overtake: Is signalling and intention to turn to the left. Is stationary for purpose of loading/unloading. Is stationary to allow passengers to alight or board the vehicle. Now James Charles isn’t the first one exactly what the pest did when I was turning left?
@Maximilian Kolbe: there is another bit to that quote on the citizen info website.
Is signalling an intention to turn to the left *and will move to the left before you overtake it*
It’s your word, but maybe the cyclist was already engaged to overtake and therefore was moving faster than you, which happens a lot in heavy traffic.
Not saying all cyclists are respectful of the rules of the road, far from it, some are outright dangerous. But to label them all pests when you can witness dozens of road traffic offences by drivers on a daily basis is extreme
@Anne WG: If I didn’t put on my indicator in good time I would give the benefit of the doubt that he was already engaged in the overtake and didn’t know. I had it on good timing and besides that, why if you’re a cyclist, take the risk? If you see a car indicating to turn and they are slowing down and about to make that turn, why try and pass them out on the inside to save 2 seconds of your time. At the end of the day your on a metal frame that weighs about 15kg going up against a car that weighs 2,000kg. The cyclist should be as risk averse as possible unless they want to be flattened by a 2 tonne car. They should be taking ZERO risks.
@Maximilian Kolbe: why don’t you inform yourself of the rules of the road you “ignoranus”.
Educate yourself on what is illegal and what is not…Also motorists don’t own the roads – everybody does.. what you need is a good ride for yourself lol
@UK Hurling Bloke: you know what Hurling Bloke, you’re goddamn right.
@UK Hurling Bloke: the laws of physics will always trump the rules of the road, stay safe kid.
Eamon Ryan told me to buy a diesel car back in 2010 as it was good for the planet and had little emissions….
When it went tits up a few years later and he called to my door looking for a vote again …I put this to him…he said that was the info he had on the day and studies from denmark etc etc…!!!!
U couldn’t make this up……
Fool me once shame on you , fool me twice shame on me.
Greens should be history
@Sean Brannigan: It went “tits up” because of proven fraud by car companies. Can’t blame the Greens for that
Cycle lane has puddles….obviously not level
Nor correct drainage.
@Helen O’Connor: *too level of the water isn’t running off.
@Helen O’Connor: a hazard for pedestrians
@Basildon Joe: if there’s a puddle and I see a on the other side of it, I’m accelerating straight into that puddle and giving the pest a little shower.
@Maximilian Kolbe: why would you do that? lots of school kids use this route. i’ll never understand the bizarre hatred for cyclists when they’re not the ones causing all the mayhem on the roads, hit and runs etc.
Ryan legacy Mott ball the lot causing huge traffic problems all over the cities and towns of Ireland, and bike sheds costing an arm and a leg with no one using same, hopefully this is all over(please)
@Phillip Smyth: yes the bike shed that had absolutely nothing to do with eamon and the greens is all eamons fault
Wouldn’t change the cyclists behaviour they would still use the roads and go through traffic lights etc
@sean o’farrell: probably wont. we also build roads and motorways too and still i see people in the news drink driving, drug driving, speeding, watching netflix on the M50, etc.
at least cyclists are mostly harmless.
@eoin fitzpatrick: don’t tell me cycle lanes are on the motorways now please no, there will be carnage.
@sean o’farrell: just like cars do..cyclists have every right to use the roads you dullard ?!
@UK Hurling Bloke: they have a government that is pro cyclists and anti everything else
What about the pedestrians people on bikes don’t obey the rules of the road everytime you get off a bus on the North Strand it’s so dangerous. They should be insured what a waste of money.
Spoilt bra ts
It’s so dangerous when you get off the bus at North Strand they dont know the rules of the road should have insurance.
Sickening watching Eamon Ryan grining at the photo op, absolute indictment on his tenure, five years of disruption for a 2.7 km cycle path that is hardly wide enough for two cyclists & costing an eye watering €26,000 a Metre. This guy should be under investigation for the Data Centre scandal along with the IDA & CRU, who have foisted the subsidization of Energy for these Centres on ordinary Households, including the upgrade to the National Grid. These Centres are blowing the National Emissions targets through the roof, yet Eamon Ryan & his party demonise Farmers as the only source of Emissions. The Greens need to be destroyed & we need an Inquiry into Ryan’s involvement with Data Centres.
There is no Dublin bike scheme on the route , on a project to encourage cycling, you would think there would be one in Fairview/Marino but no .
Won’t matter cause Dublin traffic is a jackpot either way.
The comments on here are embarrassing and totally missing the stupidity of the bike lane design . They have traffic lights at every junction that most cyclists don’t adhere to. No loading bays or stops near the business so the cars and vans park on the bike lanes . The cyclists then go on the roads .the buses have to move out a lane so the traffic gets blocked again. The whole design was a waste. At the 5 lamps you have a yellow turn light left. And a green light for bikes . Most of the bikes don’t even attempt to stop. And as for the just eat bikers . No lights signals or due care on the road. .
Dubliners need to be more aware that our elected TDs and Councillers approve schemes on the basis of “expert” planning , costing, implementation by DCC and bought surveys,legal, and relevant services.
When projects run over in time and cost, it is not political failure, but pure inefficiency by “professionals”.
The commissioning of major infrastructure needs to be structured to prevent such failures,with penalties for defaults, even if the upfront contracts are higher to nail this down.
And do not vary contracted specifications once signed, other than those applied for by main contractors, fixed priced and prior approved. Not even a coat of paint!
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