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Irish Times
27-05-2025
- General
- Irish Times
Dublin traffic changes: Pearse Street ‘noticeably quieter' since left-turn ban
Traffic congestion appeared reduced along Pearse Street on Tuesday morning as the latest stage of a plan restricting and rerouting private traffic in parts of Dublin city centre took effect. With its traffic changes, Dublin City Council aims to reduce travel times for buses coming into the city centre via the quays. The first phase of the plan came into force last August, with a ban on private cars and commercial vehicles travelling directly east or west along the river Liffey at either side of O'Connell Bridge between 7am and 7pm daily. The second phase, which became operational on Sunday, involves a ban on private traffic turning left from Westland Row into Pearse Street. READ MORE While some private cars attempted to use the left-hand turn at the junction, traffic appeared quieter than usual along Pearse Street during Tuesday morning's rush hour. The latest phase of the Dublin City Centre Traffic Plan, which came into operation on Sunday, involves a ban on private traffic turning left from Westland Row into Pearse Street. Image: Paul Scott New signage and traffic management stewards were positioned at the junction between Westland Row and Pearse Street to direct and inform commuters of the new measures in place. Michelle Mahon, from Glasnevin, drives along the route 'every day' to drop her children to school. She said the changes have made her journey 'a lot longer'. 'I'd say it adds a good 20 minutes on, which feels like a lot to me because I have a busy household,' she said. [ Dublin bus routes move, paving way for traffic-free Parliament Street Opens in new window ] 'Unfortunately, I'm going right [at the junction] and I'm not sure yet which way I get over the quays. I come from Glasnevin, but I drive the kids to school on the south side,' she said. Despite the personal inconvenience, Ms Mahon said the change is 'fantastic' in that 'it brings less traffic into the city'. She heard about the plans 'five or six months ago' and knew it was coming soon. Sam Downes (25), a barista at Cloud Picker on Pearse Street, said he has seen less traffic on the street since the changes came into force. 'From Monday morning it was noticeably quieter, and the same this morning.' Like Ms Mahon, Mr Downes agreed the development 'has been signposted pretty well for the last month or so. I don't think there's really been that much confusion,' he said. Effy Lim (26), an employee of OffBeat Donuts at Pearse Station on Westland Row, said the business was 'informed a month or two ago' about the changes. Asked whether the new restrictions have had any effect on work operations, Ms Lim said the shop's delivery driver now has to take a different route. 'Our driver actually has to pass through here. In general, I don't think it's really bothering us because he can go another way around. It's just a little bit more time-consuming.' She said she has noticed an improvement in traffic on Pearse Street. 'Usually there's a long queue here. The bus lane especially. The bus is usually outside stuck here, but it's getting better now. It's smoother because they're the only ones who can use this lane.' A Dublin Bus spokesman said: 'This change will assist the flow of buses through Westland Row, getting more of our customers to their destination faster. [ Olivia Kelly: Dublin's biggest traffic transformation since bus lanes bypasses the usual gridlock Opens in new window ] 'Traffic congestion represents the biggest challenge to Dublin Bus providing an efficient and reliable service. The provision of quality bus corridors that give priority to our buses will allow us to move a greater number of customers more efficiently.' The new traffic regulations will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Parliament Street is set to become a traffic-free zone from 11am daily under the next phase of the plan this summer. The southside street faces Capel Street, which is already pedestrianised, on the north side of the river.
Irish Times
25-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
New phase of traffic restrictions and changes in Dublin city centre comes into force
The latest stage of a plan restricting and rerouting private traffic in parts of Dublin city centre has come into force. The first phase the Dublin city Centre Traffic Plan came into effect last August, with a ban on private cars and commercial vehicles travelling directly east or west along the Liffey at either side of O'Connell Bridge from 7am to 7pm daily. The aim of the move by Dublin City Council was to reduce travel times for buses coming into the city centre via the quays. The second phase, which came into operation on Sunday, involves a ban on private traffic turning left from Westland Row into Pearse Street. READ MORE The latest phase of the Dublin City Centre Traffic Plan, which came into operation on Sunday, involves a ban on private traffic turning left from Westland Row into Pearse Street. Image: Paul Scott Previously Pearse Street was one-way from Sandwith Street towards College Green. As of Sunday, a right-hand turn has been introduced allowing cars to head east on a two-way stretch of Pearse Street. Heading west from Westland Row, Pearse Street will remain one-way but with only public transport, taxis and cyclists permitted to turn left on to it. 'Access will be maintained to Westland Row for traffic due to the height of other railway bridges in the area,' the council said in a statement. 'This will allow the use of Westland Row by high-sided vehicles while ensuring that public transport will be prioritised. Westland Row will no longer be a through route to Pearse Street. There are no changes to disabled bays, loading bays or taxi ranks.' The local authority added: 'The anticipated reduction in general traffic resulting from this measure along Pearse Street from Westland Row and on to Tara Street will allow for opportunities for these streets to be reimagined with better walking and cycling facilities alongside the high priority afforded to public transport in the future.' The traffic plan seeks to address the fact that 60 per cent of general vehicles coming into the city centre involves people who are not stopping, working or shopping, but rather travelling through the area. The next phase of the plan will turn attention to Parliament Street. The southside street which faces Capel Street – already pedestrianised on the north side of the river – is to become a traffic-free zone after 11am daily.
