Progress is on-going on the Interim Liffey Cycle Route — including a new space for cycling on Victoria Quay outside the wall of Guinness Brewery — but further delays ahead for the project.
The section on Victoria Quay has been partly painted and is to be protected by bollards and kerbs. But — as with other sections of the Liffey Cycle Route and other Dublin City Council projects — people on bicycles will be mixed with buses at bus stops.
Works still ongoing, but the new bike lane along Victoria Quay is taking shape nicely!
It's part of the ongoing Interim Liffey Cycle Route, approved by councillors back in 2020. pic.twitter.com/d8fZ6lqRVh
— Michael Pidgeon (@Pidge) July 9, 2021
Interim Liffey Cycle Route is more expansive than first thought, but it also includes short and longer sections shared with buses and taxis, and sections of sub-standard cycle tracks.
The new cycle lane will start after James Joyce Bridge. There is no cycle lane between Bridge Street/Queen Street and here. You must share with the 24 hour bus lane. pic.twitter.com/gSZ5SFpDZi
— Kevin Baker (@__kbaker__) July 9, 2021
Cycle lane too narrow at Croppies memorial park. Cargo bike wouldn't fit @cargobikemum pic.twitter.com/3XPFIPC5tg
— Paul corcoran (@Paulcorcoran10) July 9, 2021
Update to councillors
The latest updates to councillors were recently issued in the June and July Covid mobility reports from Brendan O’Brien, Executive Manager covering traffic, and John W Flanagan, Assistant Chief Executive and City Engineer.
On the project, the June Covid mobility project said: “Works have been completed at a number of locations on the South Quays from Fishamble Street to Queen Street. During May, works were completed on Merchants Quay/Bridge Street. Works were ongoing along Victoria Quay. Carriageway repairs are now complete. Works at St John’s Road West/Victoria Quay junction have been progressing slower than anticipated due to the challenges with accommodating existing services. As a result, it is now expected that works will be substantially completed by end June 2021.”
Delay on section east of O’Connell Bridge
Based on a previous Covid mobility report issued at the in January 2021, this website reported: “Work on the eastern section between O’Connell Bridge and the Docklands is only due to take place in April of this year, a year after construction work started on the route. That start date in April 2020 was it self a delayed starting date. The report said: ‘The designs from O’Connell Bridge to Matt Talbot Memorial Bridge, for both the North and South Quays are being finalised. However, Covid has affected progress and works over this section is anticipated to take place in April.'”
But in the June report, the two officials wrote: “The designs from O’Connell Bridge to Matt Talbot Memorial Bridge, for both the North Quays and South Quays are being finalised. Tenders leading to the appointment of Contractors have been deferred to allow for the new Framework for Works Contractors to be activated. Tenders will now be issued in August 2021,” the report said.
In the July update, the two senior officials said: “Works have been completed at a number of locations on the South Quays from Fishamble Street to Queen Street.”
“In June, works were ongoing along Victoria Quay. Works are now substantially complete with the exception of road resurfacing and signals installations. The designs from O’Connell Bridge to Matt Talbot Memorial Bridge, for both the North Quays and South Quays are being finalised. Tenders leading to the appointment of Contractors will be issued in August 2021,” they wrote.
Further delay on permanent Liffey Cycle Route project
Regarding progress on the permanent project, the June report said: “For the full permanent scheme, Dublin City Council has appointed service providers to provide the baseline archaeology, architectural heritage and conservation reports. The archaeology has received the final draft report. This will enable the screening report to be finalised in June 2021. The drafting of the public realm and opportunities study will resume thereafter.”
However, in the July report, the phrase “finalised in June 2021” changed to “will resume in June and will be finalized over the next two months”.
The two officials wrote: “For the full permanent scheme, Dublin City Council has appointed service providers to provide the baseline archaeology, architectural heritage and conservation reports. The desktop studies to inform the brief for the design team and the screening reports are now being finalized. A final draft report on archaeology has been received. The drafting of the public realm and opportunities study will resume in June and will be finalized over the next two months.”
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