Extra signs are to be added to North Road to make it clear that there’s only limited access in the westbound direction before the road becomes one-way for motorists, while the segregation of the two-way cycle lane on the road is being “actively considered”.
The information was released after former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar asked a parliamentary question on if the OPW would install planters on the road “to segregate the bicycle lane from the new one-way road system”.
Dublin West TD and former Fine Gael leader asked a parliamentary question seeking the minister in charge of the OPW to “provide an update on the previous commitment by the Office of Public Works to install planting on the north road in the Phoenix Park to segregate the bicycle lane from the new one-way road system, which would make the system clearer for drivers and safer for cyclists.”
Kieran O’Donnell, Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure with responsibility for the OPW, said that new signage will be added in the next few weeks and that the OPW is looking at planters.
The written response said: “The one-way system on the North Road has been in place now since February 2022. This followed a successful pilot of recommendations that were set out in the Phoenix Park Transport and Mobility Options Study.”
“There is currently signage and line marking in place to advise all road users of the one-way system. The installation of planters is one of a variety of options which are being actively considered in order to maintain the safety of all road users on the North Road,” he said.
Minister O’Donnell added: “Over the coming four weeks, additional signage will be installed at this location advising that it is a cul-de-sac and additional line marking will also be considered based on recommendations by the OPW Civil and Structural Engineering section.”
He also outlined that the OPW “will also liaise with An Garda Siochána in relation to alleged dangerous driving at this location.”