28-04-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Part of newly opened Clontarf to city centre cycleway faces 10-week closure for ‘realignment works'
The outbound cycle track at Fairview Avenue Lower and Merville Avenue will be closed for approximately ten weeks to facilitate the works, following recommendations from a Road Safety Audit.
The €70m project officially opened in November last year, after years of disruption for local residents and businesses.
Local representatives have now raised concerns about the nature of the changes and the additional construction.
The planned realignment will move the cycle track closer to the main carriageway at two junctions.
It's been argued this is contrary to national and international best practice, which generally advises maintaining a setback between cyclists and turning traffic for improved safety.
Green Party councillor Donna Cooney has called for a pause and full review of the realignment plans before any works proceed.
'Bringing people out closer to where the cars are turning certainly won't make me feel safer anyway,' she said.
'There's a large number of children on bikes and parents bringing young children using the route, so it's important it's not made more dangerous.'
Cllr Cooney said she had requested a copy of the Road Safety Audit from Dublin City Council, but it has not yet been provided.
In addition to safety concerns, she suggested that smaller measures should be attempted first.
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'The parking space should be closed without obstructive barriers and the green space should be made free of all obstructions before a major realignment of the junction that deviates from the National Cycle Manual is considered,' she said.
'The roadworks required to carry out this realignment would also remove the busy bus lane for most of the daytime, while no provision seems to have been made to provide bus priority on one of the two northbound general traffic lanes.
'Not to mention the closure of what is now a very busy cycle lane for ten weeks without any alternative provisions.
'What we really need is funding to prevent rat running through Marino,' she added.
Separately, Green Party councillor and Transport spokesperson Feljin José raised concerns the proposed changes appear to deviate from national guidance.
'The proposed design does not comply with the National Transport Authority's Cycle Design Manual,' he said.
'The current layout has issues, but it is much more closely aligned with the Manual, and any realignments should be aimed at full compliance, not complete deviation.
'Carrying out ten more weeks of roadworks and such a major realignment after a two-and-a-half-year construction period would damage the public's confidence in Dublin City Council's ability to deliver active travel routes and could also be seen as wasteful spending,' he added.
Dublin City Council said the changes are necessary to address safety concerns identified in the Road Safety Audit.
Access to the bus stop at Fairview Avenue Lower will be maintained, but the cycle track will remain closed for the duration of the works.
A spokesperson for the council's Active Travel Programme Office said: 'As part of the Clontarf to City Centre Scheme, following the recent Road Safety Audit 3, the proposed cycle-track realignment works at Fairview Avenue Lower and Merville Avenue are scheduled to commence on Monday, April 28.
'A duration of approximately ten weeks will be required to complete the necessary realignment works. The outbound cycle track at these locations will be closed to facilitate the works.
'Dublin City Council apologises for any inconvenience caused and seeks the understanding and co-operation of the public during the course of these works.'
