Dublin City Council

PIGEON HOUSE ROAD IN RINGSEND

August 28, 2023 by infomatique

A COMPLEX OF STREETS RATHER THAN A SINGLE STREET

Pigeon House Road is a residential area and reports from elected Councillors and members of the public outlined that there were on-going issues of speeding, congestion, rat-running, noise and air pollution. Dublin City Council proposed a scheme to promote cycling and pedestrian transport while make the neighbourhood a more liveable community where conditions are better for all residents in the area. In August 2020 temporary traffic calming measures were implemented to create a pedestrian and cycling friendly zone on Pigeon House Road.

The trial closed a section of road to motor vehicles and retained access for pedestrians, cyclists, and emergency vehicles through the use of bollards and planters east of the Poolbeg Quay apartments and north of Ringsend Recycling Centre. The trial also included the appropriate traffic and road markings and signage. The trial commenced on the morning of 16th August 2020 for an initial period of four weeks, and was extended as agreed by elected Councillors for a further period of 12 months.

It is important to note that emergency services continue to have access through the filtered permeability measures in cases of emergency and this was one of the critical design briefs taken into consideration at initial design stages.

Based on observational surveys of the Pigeon House Road Area and research into the impacts of filtered permeability measures, the following positive impacts of the trial were observed:

Cut-through traffic (rat-running) has been eliminated on Pigeon House Road so that drivers are no longer able to use this local route as a short-cut from Sean Moore Roundabout to Ringsend via Pigeon House Road, and vice versa.
Less traffic has created a safer space for local residents, pedestrians, cyclists which include children attending local schools in Cambridge Road and surrounding areas.
Permeable neighbourhoods benefit the public health by encouraging walking and cycling, interaction and inclusion.
Reduction in motorised traffic has led to improvement in local air quality and reduction in noise pollution.
Safer cycling routes to the local Ringsend Park and the local amenities it offers.
These measures have created a safer and more liveable area for residents of Pigeon House Road, Poolbeg Quay Apartments, Cambridge Avenue, Ringsend Park, Cambridge Road, York Road, Thorncastle Street, and other local streets.
Local vehicular access to Pigeon House Road has been retained.
Access through the bollards has been maintained for emergency vehicles.
Positive health benefits.

The following negative impacts were observed:

Local residents who travel by car are required to take a more circuitous route.
Drivers who used to travel down Pigeon House Road to access to the Sean Moore roundabout (and vice-versa) have to take a longer more circuitous route on the Arterial roads.

TRAFFIC FREE MARY STREET

March 27, 2023 by infomatique

STARTING TODAY 27 MARCH 2023

Dublin City Council have made the section of Mary Street between Wolfe Tone Street and Jervis Lane Upper Traffic Free from Monday the 27th of March 2023.

This will be a similar arrangement to the section of Mary Street between Jervis Lane Upper and Capel Street and will provide more space for pedestrians and reduce vehicles in the local street network. Deliveries will be facilitated daily between 6am and 11am.

WHERE IS THE BICYCLE LANE

February 17, 2023 by infomatique

WHY IS FRANCIS STREET STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS

SEE HIGH-RES SLIDE SHOW

The Street is on one way street but there is no sign of a bicycle lane despite the fact that there is a DublinBikes Docking Station at one end of the street. Here is an extract from the mission statement: “Francis Street Environmental Improvement Scheme aims to upgrade the public realm of this key part of Dublin’s street heritage through the realignment of the street and footpaths. The main aims and objectives of the Francis Street Environmental Improvement Scheme include providing a more pedestrian-friendly environment along the street, improving the environment for vulnerable road users (pedestrians and bike users) and providing a safe environment for people of all ages and all levels of physical ability, by providing designated crossing areas.”

I cannot that FrancisStreet has been, effectively, a building site for at least six years and while I was lead to believe that all work would be, according to the most recent updates, completed by completed by now but there has been little sign of progress since my last visit.

In July 2021 Dublin City Council published the following Tweet: “Work on the Francis St Environmental Improvement Scheme is set to start on Mon 5th July. When completed, the scheme will provide wider footpaths, new granite paved public spaces to the front of the Iveagh Market & St Nicholas de Myra Church. 20 new trees & landscaped areas, new street furniture, and the reorganisation of car parking and loading on the street. The project will take 10 months to complete. #Dublin #YourCouncilDay”.

Previously I read the following: “With a strong emphasis on pedestrians, the plan envisages widened pavements and new threshold spaces to the front of the Iveagh Market and St Nicholas de Myra Church. The current awkward widening and narrowing of the carriageway will give way to a consistent width and measures to reduce speeds and allow for more relaxed cycling and easier crossing. Changes to car parking and loading arrangements, 20 new street trees and landscaped areas, sustainable urban drainage measures (SUDs), new street lighting, street furniture and utilities will all serve to create a much improved street and establish Francis Street as a destination.” At the time I did not notice that there was no mention of bicycle lanes.

WOOD QUAY CIVIC OFFICES AND NEARBY

February 15, 2023 by infomatique

DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL

The Wood Quay site was allocated as a proposed headquarters of Dublin City Council in the 1940s but construction did not begin until the early 1980s due to the discovery of the remains of the Viking city.

The monumental towers were built to a design by Sam Stephenson, whose original design included two more towers to the north-west. However the latter part of the design was shelved, with the later phase of the offices built to a design by Scott Tallon Walker in the late 1990s. A strong horizontal emphasis is created by recessed window strips, which articulate the facades.

The later connecting glass atrium to the centre provides a contrast to the solidity of the granite cladding, the combination of these materials characteristic of contemporary architecture. The building has continued in its original use and remains a controversial but focal point and landmark structure in the city.

MOTEL ONE STILL A WIP

January 16, 2023 by infomatique

SO THE LIFFEY STREET PUBLIC REALM WORKS SCHEME IS SLIGHTLY DELAYED

In May 2919 I wrote the following: “Construction of a 310-room hotel at this location is underway. When completed in mid-2020, the hotel will be operated by the budget hotel brand Motel One. It is claimed that the development will transform the area, encouraging tourist footfall and general retail activity in the surrounding area.”

It is now January and for various reasons the hotel is still a work in progress.

Dublin City Council, through its’ Public Works Contractor, Cairn Construction, now propose to commence work on the LIFFEY STREET PUBLIC REALM WORKS Scheme in the fourth (4th) week of January 2023 (Monday, 23rd). This brief postponement of commencement (from the previously advertised 9th January Starting Date) is consequent on unexpected delay(s) to the completion of Motel One on Liffey Street Upper (previously due to open at the end of December). Unfortunately, there is not enough space on the street to accommodate both the Motel’s Contractor and the Roadworks Contractor at the same time.

Liffey Street (both Upper and Lower) provides an important link between the north and south city centre shopping and tourist precincts. Liffey Street can experience some 30,000 pedestrians and some 2,500 vehicles per day, and accommodation of same will present the Contractor no small challenge during the Works.

This scheme is being progressed as part of the Public Realm Strategy, the City Centre Masterplan and the Reimagining Dublin One Study, which was developed to meet the objectives of the overarching Dublin City Council Public Realm Strategy ‘Your City Your Space’ document.

A high quality design is being utilised to improve the ambiance of the street, with increased greening and wider footpaths creating a quality space to be enjoyed by all.

The proposed Works will involve a full upgrade of the footpaths and carriageway at this location. The footpaths will be widened and repaved in granite, and notable new planting will be included to match those already introduced in other recently completed city centre streets.

The above Works include, but are not limited to:-

The proposed works extend the full length of Liffey Street Upper and Lower from its junction with Henry Street running south to its junction with Ormond Quay and Bachelor’s Walk along the Liffey Quays. The Scheme’s Works endeavours to minimise disruption to local businesses and the general public.

The Liffey Street Public Realm project involves the excavation, reconstruction, milling and reconstruction of the asphalt carriageway and the repaving of the footpaths with new granite slabs and setts laid on a new high strength bedding mortar, replacing the existing pavement materials, and as shown on the scheme design drawings.

The existing pedestrian area on Liffey Street Upper is extended to the intersection with Abbey Street. A new pedestrian plaza will be created on Liffey Street Lower between Strand Street and the Quays.

The Works involve the replacement of an existing gas main, the provision and installation of new water mains, the provision of new surface water sewers, public lighting and communications ducts, street furniture in the form of bollards, benches, bicycle stands, and bins and the replacement of some utility covers and frames within the site extents.

The Works also involve the provision of planted areas throughout the scheme.

Liffey Street lower is currently open to one-way southbound traffic along its entire length from Abbey Street to the Quays.

There are pedestrian footways on both sides of the road. Insofar as is reasonably possible, through-traffic will be maintained for the duration of the works between Abbey Street and Strand Street. However, it is acknowledged in advance, that Temporary Road Closures (affecting vehicular traffic) will have to be an integral part of these Pubic Roadworks.

Temporary Traffic Management will be a major part of the proposed Works, with the safety of pedestrians and other road users remaining paramount throughout the construction period.

The Contractor will do its’ utmost to preserve vehicular passage along the street insofar as is reasonably possible, during the course of the Works.

Dublin City Council, and its’ Public Works Contractor, Cairn Construction, apologise in advance for any inconvenience or disruption these Works may cause.

https://www.dublincity.ie/residential/transportation/roads-and-traffic-projects/liffey-street-public-realm-works