
Experimental bicycle lights are to be tested on the €5.8 million cycle route linking Dublin’s Royal and Grand canals, due open in March, as reported by the Irish Independent last week. Here’s more details:
Dublin’s Canal Way cycle route, which links the Grand Canal to the Royal Canal, is due open in March, so here’s a video preview of the route so-far (notes are not shown … Read more
Experimental bicycle lights are to be tested on the €5.8 million cycle route linking Dublin’s Royal and Grand canals, due open in March, as reported by the Irish Independent last week. Here’s more details:
As revealed in The Sunday Times at the weekend (subscription required), the Sutton to Sandycove walking and cyling route — which includes flood defences — is now estimated to cost over €100 million. Some of the details and related documents are below.
The outer section of the Grand Canal cycle and walking route is close to being finished. It is due to be opened by South Dublin County Council on Friday June 18, at the end of Bike Week 2010.
As shown in the photograph above, it’s a large path with lighting along side it. There will also be CCTV on the route.
It will link the Lock Road, near Adamstown and south Lucan, to the Blackhorse Luas stop between Inchicore and Drimnagh. It will run close to Park West, Clondalkin, Walkinstown, and Ballyfermot. It is easily accessible from the City Centre.
It’s just under 8.5km, but with just a few road crossings along the route, it will be quicker than cycling on roads with many junctions. Pedestrian and cycle lights are at the few junctions, but have yet to be turned on.
At least one section is still blocked off and completely unsurfaced, while other sections are accessible but currently have different surface quality. If you attempt to use it at the moment, note that only pedestrian gates are open and construction work is still ongoing.
It is planned the route will eventually continue further into the city and into the Docklands. Dublin City Council is currently planning to build another section under the name Dublin Canals Cycle Route, this will go from Rathmines to Fairview Park on the northside where it will link up with part of the planned Sutton to Sandcove cycle route around Dublin Bay.
The missing link between Rathmines and Inchicore has been surveyed by the city council, but no firm plans to upgrade it have being announced. There are also no firm plans for an upgrade of the Royal Canal path beyond a small section near the Docklands. Although, most of the Royal Canal is passable near Dublin, the surface quality varies and pedestrian gates slow access at points.
The above shows how wide the path is, as well as the scenic nature of the route.
More below: