QBC to become hard shoulder

A quality bus corridor in Dublin that has not been used by a scheduled bus service for more than a year is to be removed.

However, the bus lane on the N32, which runs between the M1 and the Malahide Road, will be turned into a hard shoulder and not a lane for general traffic. The 24-hour QBC, which runs on both sides of the road for two kilometres, will be removed to coincide with the opening of the Dublin Port Tunnel, according to Dublin City Council.

A spokesman said the bus lane was put in place during the Port Tunnel works "as a viable alternative to the M1" which has been closed for short periods from time to time during the work on the project.

"It was put in place for the specific reason of providing extra roadway to the airport for buses and taxis," he said.

"But the QBC on the N32 will definitely be reverting to a hard shoulder," the spokesman added. He said there was no definite timeframe but the work would happen in conjunction with the completion of the tunnel, which is due to open in September.

The lane is not used by Dublin Bus services and has not been used by any scheduled bus service for more than a year.

A company that was running bus services connecting the rail network to Dublin Airport shut down the service in March 2005. But since AerDart's demise the lane has only been used by taxi drivers and motorists willing to take a chance of getting caught by gardaí. "We have had motorists on in frustration wondering what is going on," said Conor Faughnan of AA Ireland. "It discredits transport policy to have road space provided and buses not running in it."