A contractor is expected to start work on the Deansgrange cycle route in the next 3-4 weeks, a senior Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council official said in an email to councillors at the end of last week.
After a 2.5-year saga which included looking at a number of options and councillors rejecting a trial one-way system, a clear majority of councillors voted in March to go ahead with the latest version of the project which retains two-way traffic on the full length of the road, but removes car parking from a short section in front of houses across the road from the graveyard.
Some residents in the area where parking is to be relocated and some others are continuing to object to the project.
Conor Geraghty, a senior engineer with the Active Travel section of the council, said: “We have completed the tender competition for the construction of the Deansgrange Road Cycle Route. Circet have been appointed to carry out the works and they are preparing to mobilise.”
He outlined to councillors two possible options for the construction works — a stop-go shuttle system and making the road one-way for the duration of the work.
Geraghty said that the stop-go system would only be able to operate in more limited hours and would result in a longer construction phase and more disruption to car parking on the road.
“The contractor estimated that construction of the works under shuttle system would take approx 12 months to complete. The use of a one way system would reduce this significantly. On balance we believe the best approach is to permit a one way system (towards Deansgrange) for the duration of the works. This will reduce the construction period but also allow for the retention of the parking for residents as a mitigation measure,” he said.
Geraghty said: “It also allows the works to the new cemetery entrance to be done from Deansgrange Road rather than within the cemetery with the movement of works plant within their works area rather than crossing the road.”
He told councillors that details are still being ironed out on the traffic management for the construction of the project. Other mitigation measures which are still being finalised include the details of the car park in Deangrange Cemetery, providing parking for some residents in a lane behind the houses, and relocating the disabled parking space from the roadside outside the Glebe Court car park to inside the car park.
Geraghty also said to councillors: “They [a group of residents] have also requested that we consider a proposed road layout that they have provided. We have provided feedback on this proposal, which we are not in favour of.”
The Active Travel section of the council is in contact with the planning section regarding planning and financial support for residents to carry out accommodation works on their own property.
He added that he would contact residents this week regarding the commencement details and for further ongoing discussions with them on the proposed mitigation measures.
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