Businesses react to major new traffic changes banning left turn from Westland Row to Pearse Street
As part of the Dublin City Centre Transport Plan, a new traffic arrangement at the junction of Westland Row and Pearse Street has been introduced.
Only public transport, taxis, and cyclists will now be permitted to turn left from Westland Row onto Pearse Street.
Instead, general traffic, such as cars and delivery vans, will now have to turn right at the junction.
To facilitate this, the section of Pearse Street between Westland Row and Sandwith Street has been converted into a two-way street.
Traffic arrangements on Lombard Street East and Sandwith Street Upper will remain unchanged.
The new traffic restrictions will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
While Westland Row will no longer function as a direct through-route to Pearse Street, there will be no changes to existing disabled parking bays, loading bays, or taxi ranks in the area.
New signage has been erected and traffic management stewards were on hand this morning to ensure these measures are adhered to.
While some private cars attempted to use the left hand turn at the junction between Westland Row and Pearse Street, general traffic appeared quieter than usual.
Sam Downes, a barista at Cloudpicker on Pearse Street, said 'it does seem kind of quiet on the road', but is relieved to see the end of roadworks and the noise pollution it brought with it.
Jerome Ingel-Smith, owner of menswear store Olann Glas, is happy to see the new traffic management measures coming into effect.
'The concern about the amount of traffic on [Pearse] Street is the air quality. I keep the door open all the time and it can choke me. I'd be happy to see the street pedestrianised,' he said.
Nate Seligman, barista at Mimi's on Pearse Street, fears the plan could 'impact our footfall on weekends'.
'I had a customer who came in this morning who said it was more of a hassle getting to her job,' he said.
'She was saying she had to come in to work earlier to navigate that.'
Dublin City Council anticipates a reduction in general traffic along Pearse Street from Westland Row towards Tara Street as a result of the new restrictions.
This is expected to create opportunities to improve the public realm with enhanced walking and cycling infrastructure, while continuing to prioritise public transport.
The Dublin City Centre Transport Plan is a long-term strategy to reduce through-traffic in the city centre and encourage more people to walk, cycle, and use public transport.
The first phase of the plan was introduced last August, banning private cars and commercial vehicles from travelling directly east or west along the Liffey at either side of O'Connell Bridge between 7am and 7pm daily.
The next phase of the plan will address traffic on Parliament Street.
The southside street, which faces pedestrianised Capel Street across the river, is set to become another car-free zone after 11am daily. This change is due to be implemented at the end of June.
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