All major construction work under way on the Luas metro lines in Dublin city centre will be finished by Christmas, the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) claims.
The RPA said today the bulk of the heavy work of shifting underground services and installing the Luas railtrack is nearing completion, especially in areas such as Harcourt Street, Middle Abbey Street, St. Stephen's Green and Beresford Place.
Businesses in these areas are angry at the level of disruption to their businesses over recent months, with some claiming they had not been prepared for the noise, dust and access problems caused by the Luas works.
However, the RPA said that between now and Christmas, the track work will be completed on an area-by-area basis.
For example, the Luas track on Middle Abbey Street will be in place by the end of August, the agency said. New road surfaces and footpaths will also be completed in the areas where the works have been taking place.
Thirty-eight of the 40 Luas trams have been delivered.
Mr Frank Allen, chief executive of the RPA, said: "We are now over the peak of the heavy construction work and it is now a run-in to completion of both lines and the bringing into service of the first trams.
"We appreciate that the heavy construction work that is coming to a close has brought problems for motorists, pedestrians and businesspeople, but the good news is that the worst is over and we will be out of all of those areas by Christmas".
Two Luas lines are under construction: Line A/C will run between Tallaght and Connolly Station; Line B will link St. Stephen's Green and Sandyford Industrial Estate.
The first and most difficult phase of Luas works focused on moving underground services from beneath the tram path and proved a "mammoth" task, according to the RPA. It involved lifting and laying some 500 kilometres m of pipes and cables as well as co-ordination with about a dozen different utility agencies.
Luas has also been criticised over the way it will intersect with the Red Cow roundabout on the Naas Road. The junction is one of the busiest in the country, but traffic travelling from several directions will be forced to stop at frequent intervals to allow trams to pass.