St Stephen’s Green: a square recast

Works begin on a new traffic management scheme at St Stephen’s Green this morning.

The scheme will divert cars and buses away from the site of the new Cross City Luas line to facilitate track-laying.

While motorists can expect to take the usual routes around St Stephen’s Green today, between now and the end of November, two new turns off the green will be introduced to divert traffic away from the area.

The first will be a right turn from St Stephen's Green East on to Merrion Row. Currently traffic heading north on the east side of the green must turn left passing in front of the Shelbourne Hotel. Motorists who want to access Merrion Row to head for Baggot Street or Merrion Square must currently take a right onto Dawson Street and use either Molesworth Street or Nassau Street to loop back around to the green and on Merrion Row.

The new system will give two right turning lanes on to Merrion Row from the green and one left turning lane continuing around the green.

The second major change is at the diagonally opposite corner of the green with the creation of a new turn from St Stephen’s Green South onto the west side of the green. Traffic taking this new turn will cross the existing Luas line and then run parallel with the line as far as York Street.

This turn allows motorists access to the Royal College of Surgeons and St Stephen's Green car parks, or they can continue on to Mercer Street and take Noel Purcell Walk to access Drury Street and the car parks in that area.

Dublin City Council says the works will be staggered to minimise disruptions. While some disruptions will occur, the Council says members of the public and businesses will be able to access the area and all car parks.

On completion, the new Luas route will begin at the terminus of the existing Green line on St Stephen’s Green West. It will turn right on to St Stephen’s Green North and then exit the green left on Dawson Street.