Clontarf to City Centre Active Travel Project officially opens

The Clontarf to City Centre Project was officially opened last week following a 30-month construction stage. The project provides high quality walking, cycling and bus infrastructure along a 2.7km route that extends from Clontarf Road, at the junction with Alfie Byrne Road, to Amiens Street, at the junction with Talbot Street. 

The €71 million scheme is part of the ongoing transformation of Dublin city’s transportation network and delivers state-of-the-art infrastructure, encouraging a more sustainable, connected and efficient city for residents, commuters and visitors. It was led by Dublin City Council (DCC) and funded by the National Transport Authority. 

ROD has been working continuously on the project since 2017, finalising the preliminary design, preparing the detailed design and contract documents, supervising and administering the construction contract, and providing general support to DCC. The main contractor was Clonmel Enterprises Ltd, with CSR Land Planning and Design serving as landscape architect and Kevin Cleary as public lighting designer.

The scheme rebalances the road hierarchy along the route in favour of pedestrians and mobility impaired road users. It features quality landscaping, paving upgrades and new stopping spaces with seating designed to encourage people to linger and enjoy opportunities for social interaction. 

As many mature trees as possible were retained along the route and, together with the new landscaping, they help minimise surface water runoff into the municipal sewerage system. Meanwhile, a bespoke tree pit design for the street trees planted along the footpaths was devised in consultation with the DCC Parks Department. 

The scheme incorporates 12km of new watermains, addressing water leakage issues in the area; nine major junction upgrades; five signalised toucan crossings; traffic and fibre ducting; utility diversions; and enhancements to the surface water drainage network. 

Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) measures, including bioretention areas and swales, were incorporated throughout the scheme. 

Several retaining walls along the route, most notably the heritage wall and decorative railing at the CIÉ Headquarters on Amiens Street/Sheriff Street, were set back and rebuilt to provide sufficient width to allow for the proposed cycle track. This required extensive coordination with the site heritage conservation architect. 

Fourteen 'island bus stops' were installed to provide a refuge from the through footpath for waiting bus passengers and to allow cyclists to pass behind the shelter. A new public lighting system was implemented along the route, and existing heritage streetlights were restored as part of the works, with additional lights installed from Annesley Bridge through Fairview Village to the Howth Road, and gaps filled with replica columns. 

The scheme was delivered in close coordination with DCC site staff, local councillors, business and residents groups, with a consultative forum meeting at three-month intervals. Major road reconstruction and resurfacing works on the carriageway were undertaken at evenings and weekends. Traffic disruption, while significant, was kept to a minimum during the construction stage through close coordination with the roadworks control department in DCC. 

Speaking at the launch event, Ms Anne Graham, CEO, National Transport Authority (NTA), stated: 'The project aligns with our vision for a more integrated and efficient transport system not only at a regional level but also at national level. It is another step forward in the delivery of an effective and efficient integrated travel network for Dublin City. This project will not only enhance walking and cycling and public transport in the city but also support Ireland’s broader transport and environmental objectives.'