Cycle path to be built outside Irish Government Buildings and parliament -- IrishCycle.com

A two-way cycle path is to be built from Ely Pl to Merrion Street Lower, including along Merrion Square West outside of Government Buildings and the rear of the Oireachtas.

The quick-build two-way cycle path will act as a link from the St Stephen’s Green area towards the Pearse Street area.

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With a general width of 3-4 metres plus buffer space, the planned cycle path is one of the highest standards of quick-build projects by Dublin City Council to date. Although, the first section is only 400 metres.

At least at first, it’s planned that Merrion Street Lower will only provide for cycling in the with-flow, southbound direction. This means anybody travelling onwards to Westland Row or Fenian Street will have to use the one-way system which borders the southeast corner of the Trinity College campus, where there will also be the chance to use the contra-flow track on Nassau St.

The council promises further progress to follow on the project, which is part of a renewed focus on building interim cycling routes ahead of longer-term projects which can take years to plan and build.

On the public consultation page published on Monday, Dublin City Council said: “Dublin City Council are proposing to provide interim cycling facilities along Merrion Street Upper, Merrion Square West and Merrion Street Lower. These interim cycling measures are intended as the first step towards a more permanent scheme being delivered.”

“The main aim of the scheme is to provide a safer environment for cycling. It will also improve cycling access in the South Georgian Core and provide links to important cultural and government institutions such as: Leinster House, The National Gallery, The Natural History Museum and Merrion Square,” the council said.

THIS DRAWING SHOWS A PROPOSED 2 WAY CYCLE TRACK RUNNING ALONG THE WEST SIDE OF MERRION STREET UPPER AND MERRION SQUARE WEST. THE CYCLE
LANE WILL BE THREE TO FOUR METERS WIDE AND WILL BE PROTECTED BY LOW FLEXI BOLLARDS. PARKING WILL BE
RELOCATED TO OUTSIDE THE CYCLE
TRACK. ON THE EAST SIDE OF MERRION SQUARE WEST THE EXISTING ONE WAY CYCLE
LANE WILL BE RETAINED. THE EXISTING BUS STOP WILL BE EXTENDED. THERE WILL BE 2 DISABLED PARKING BAYS
PROVIDED ON EACH SIDE OF MERRION SQUARE WEST.
THE RIGHT TURN TRAFFIC LANE FROM MERRION STREET LOWER ONTO CLARE STREET WILL BE MOVED TO THE EAST OF
THE TRAFFIC ISLAND AND THE EXISTING SLIP LANE GIVEN OVER TO BICYCLE TRAFFIC.

The council said that protection of the cycle lanes will be provided by “bolt-on kerbs/bollards and flexi bollards” and that “New road markings, cycle logos and signage will be installed across the scheme.”

It added: “As further phases of the scheme are progressed additional details will be added to this page.”

MORE: Consultation page for Merrion Street Upper, Merrion Square West and Merrion Street Lwr Interim Cycling Scheme

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