Low-key start to suspension of busgate

THE LIFTING of the controversial bus corridor in Dublin’s College Green had a “very unspectacular” effect on traffic yesterday evening, according to Dublin City Council, the AA and city traders.

From yesterday, restrictions on private car use in the College Green area were temporarily suspended during the evening rush hours. The suspension, designed to facilitate city centre shoppers, will be in place until January 15th.

Restrictions still apply in the morning to discourage commuters, but any expectations that shoppers, encouraged by the temporary suspension, would flock into the city were dashed – at least on last night’s evidence.

Two hours into the lifting of the bus corridor at 6pm yesterday, the city was “unusually quiet” according to Brendan O’Brien, head of technical services in the city council’s Roads and Traffic Department.

Estimates for the level of private cars using the e route through College Green were in the order of 10 to 12 per cent of normal, definitely “not up to pre-imposition levels”, said Mr O’Brien. He speculated that the Ireland v France play-off match on the television had deterred people from going out shopping.

Tom Coffey of the City Business Association, which had campaigned for the suspension, said the match “or the fact that there is little or no shopping in the city centre on a Wednesday night” contributed to yesterday’s slow trade. “Thursday will be a better day, but it is likely to be December before it sinks in with people,” he said.

AA Roadwatch was also downbeat about the level of activity in the city. “It is a very unspectacular evening,” a spokeswoman said.

While motorists may have been slow to return to College Green, transport in Dublin is set to improve significantly next month with the completion of Iarnród Éireann’s Kildare route project; the completion of the Macken Street Bridge and the opening of the Luas extension to the Point.

The Kildare route project involves increasing capacity between Heuston station and Hazelhatch, Co Kildare, from two rail lines to four. It allow for a doubling of services from Hazelhatch, Sallins, Newbridge and Kildare into Dublin.

Iarnród Éireann’s chief executive Dick Fearn gave details of the project’s completion to members of Dublin Chamber at a breakfast meeting yesterday.

Railway Procurement Agency corporate services director Ger Hannon said the Luas to the Docklands would also open next month.

Tim Brick for Dublin City Council said the new Macken Street, or “Samuel Beckett” bridge, would also open in the first two weeks of December.

A spokesman later said the bridge would open to sightseers on December 10th and to motorists on December 11th.