Cycling, walking and public realm modernisation is planned for a 1.6km section of Grange Road in Rathfarnham.
The work is to be undertaken by South Dublin County Council on the section of the Grange Road between Taylor’s Lane and Nutgrove Avenue. Public consultation on the new design is open until next Wednesday
The plan includes segregated cycle paths, cycle lanes and shared areas where bicycles join motor traffic on the road — existing narrow advisory cycle lanes are to be removed from the sections where motoring and cycling is planned to be mixed.
The council claims that the “development will primarily consist of off road cycle tracks, wider pedestrian routes and landscaping”, however, the project drawings show the cycle tracks are mainly non-continuous.
The route starts at its northern end north with cycle lanes for around 50 metres, then becomes a short section of segregated cycle track for about 140 metres, and then it is shared with buses and cars for 250m. It then goes back to cycle track for 130 metres before becoming cycle lanes again for around 100 metres and then cycle track again for 190 metres before becoming shared again for 160 metres.
The southern section of the route — alongside St Enda’s Park — is 500 metres of cycle track largely not interrupted, but including a short section of cycle lane and shared surfaces such as a bus stop and public realm section.
The council also said that a new pedestrian entrance and plaza are proposed at the corner of St Enda’s Park and the junction with Sarah Curran Avenue.
According to the council: “Grange Road represents an important link in the Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network Plan as it is crossed by Primary Route S05 and Secondary Route 10B runs along it. Primary Route S05 is a proposed radial route stretching from Dun Laoghaire to the N4. The recently constructed Grange Downs Shared Pedestrian and Cycle Facility forms part of this route linking Rathfarnham to Dundrum/Churchtown.”
The project is funded by the National Transport Authority under its Sustainable Transport Grants Scheme, while the public realm elements will be self-funded by the council.
MORE: Part 8 drawings and reports
IMAGES OF SAMPLE SECTIONS:
Another disjointed half-arsed effort. Even a footpath built like that would be laughed at. It’s so frustrating seeing stuff like this.
I think this looks really good. There is a narrow stretch with mixed use, but on the whole it looks like a design to suit cyclists and walkers. I notice that the plan includes the use of speed radar signs. I would be interested to to know if there is any research around how effective these signs are at slowing down traffic. From my own perspective, they work. When I see my speed in the red, I (usually) slow down.
This route will also link up with the Dodder cycleway, It’s good to see the network infrastructure developing.
I won’t comment on the route at this time but re speed radar signs: I pass one of these daily on a 50km/h road where many motorists do between 60-70km/h and sometimes 70km/h+.
Parking in the existing cycle lane at Loreto Beaufort and at the Nutgrove Ave junction is endemic at school run times. https://twitter.com/ShaneHoganD16/status/656070883614838784
Will this be addressed in the scheme?