Dublin Bay cycle route opening likely delayed until March

— 2km section will make route segregated from motorists for nearly 10km.

Completion of a section of the Sutton to Sandycove (S2S) cycle route next to Bull Island is likely to be delayed until March.

“It is likely that the cycle track will be open mid to late March instead of end of February due to testing requirements for the water main which has delayed the completion of the cycle track,” said a spokesman for Dublin City Council.

On Monday we reported how the 2km section seems to include larger-than-planned sections of shared footpath surfaces around junctions.

The long-awaited proposed 22km S2S route is planned to run along or near the coast of Dublin Bay, but only northside sections of the route have been finished to-date. It is also now part of the “East Coast Trail”, which is planned to stretch from Arklow to Drogheda.

The €5 million project includes laying a major new water main pipe, building coastal flood defences, and a full rebuild of footpaths and the roadway surfaces along the route. The project is largely finished except for the water main and finishing the cycle route over it.

Meanwhile, the public consultation on a large section of the S2S on the southside was extended to 5pm on Tuesday 31st of January 2017. The Sandymount / Merrion to Blackrock Corridor Study project includes the S2S route between Irishtown and Seapoint, as well as rail and bus priority measures.

It includes bringing the route inland for sections of the bay. IrishCycle.com’s overview of the Sandymount / Merrion scheme can be found here and an in-depth look at the route can be found here — submissions can be made on the NTA’s website, here.

MORE: Soon-to-open Dublin Bay cycle route to mix cycling and walking at junctions