Blackrock quality bus route delayed

The Blackrock quality bus corridor, which runs along the Rock Road in south Dublin, will not open until Dublin Bus provides sufficient buses to service it, the cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has said.

Work on the Rock Road including the development of the QBC began in March and is expected to be completed by the end of February 2007.

Traffic on the route has been severely disrupted since the beginning of the road works, with commuters experiencing extensive delays at peak times.

There was also considerable opposition to the QBC, with locals arguing that the road was already under too much pressure from traffic and reducing its width would cause havoc.

Councillors have also complained that the route is insufficiently serviced with buses.

The Blackrock route forms part of a plan for a dozen new QBCs in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown. Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council cathaoirleach Eugene Regan (Fine Gael) said he does not believe the QBC will operate for at least a couple of years.

"The Blackrock QBC will not become operational until councillors are satisfied that there are sufficient buses to justify its use,"" he said.

Meanwhile, the Dundrum-Blackrock Orbital QBC, which includes Foster's Avenue and Mount Merrion Avenue has not yet been opened.

Consultation on the corridor began in 2004 and locals launched acampaign to oppose it. Some 300 objections to the plan were received by the council.