North Of The River

MORE OR LESS COMPLETE – 12 MARCH 2024

THE UPPER LIFFEY STREET PLAZA [MORE OR LESS COMPLETE – 12 MARCH 2024]

History of Upper Liffey Street

Medieval Origins: Liffey Street traces its roots back to Dublin’s medieval period. It formed a significant route connecting the city centre to the River Liffey’s quays, a bustling hub of trade and commerce.

Commercial Importance: Over centuries, Liffey Street evolved into a major commercial thoroughfare. It was lined with shops, warehouses, and businesses catering to the city’s growing population.

Architectural Variety: The architecture along both sections of Liffey Street presents a mix of styles. You can find Georgian buildings, Victorian structures, and more modern additions, reflecting the street’s changing face through the ages.

Upper Liffey Street Redevelopment, which was announced in January 2023 and has now been, more-or-less, been completed.

Project Overview:
Objective: To enhance the pedestrian experience and create a more vibrant urban environment.
Cost: Approximately €6.5 million.
Timeline: Construction began in January 2023 and has recently been completed.

Key Features:
Pedestrian Plaza: A new pedestrian plaza was developed beside the iconic Ha’penny Bridge on Liffey Street. This is a bit misleading as it is Lower Liffey Street that is closet to the bridge. [I suspect that the source of the information did not realise that “lower” means closer to the river and “upper means further from the river]

Upgraded Environment:
Liffey Street Upper [the Plaza] : Closed to traffic, this section now features benches, bicycle stands, and trees.
Liffey Street Lower: Upgraded to create a more “pedestrian-friendly” environment. Currently, Liffey Street Lower is open to southbound traffic from Abbey Street to the quays. According to some reports the final configuration will mean that traffic on Abbey Street, including cars exiting the Arnotts car park, will no longer be able to access the quays via Liffey Street Lower.
Instead, vehicles will need to turn right onto Strand Street and continue to Capel Street to reach the quays at Grattan Bridge. [Getting accurate information that I can verify has been impossible]

Completion Date:

The project was to be completed by the end of the year following its commencement in January 2023. It would appear that is not yet fully complete and this is especially true for lower Liffey street.

Pedestrian access was maintained during the construction period.

Background:

The idea for a Northside plaza emerged after the refusal of the College Green plaza project by An Bord Pleanála in 2018.
Unlike the College Green scheme, the Liffey Street project was progressed through Dublin City Council’s internal planning process.
The plans underwent public consultation and were approved by city councillors in September 2019.
Although initially scheduled for mid-2020 completion, work was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
This revitalised space now offers Dubliners and visitors a pleasant area to stroll, rest, and enjoy the cityscape.

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