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Lower Phibsborough: BusConnects Blanchardstown Bus Corridor and Ballymun Bus Corridor Changes – Winter 2020


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At the start of November, the NTA published their third and final set of proposals for the Ballymun Bus Corridor and Blanchardstown Bus Corridor. The consultation is now open so if you have a strong view on the changes for your area, do make a submission. The deadline is December 16th.  

For Phibsborough, there are some positive changes for cyclists and pedestrians with the development of the Royal Canal cycleway and the extension of footpath space outside the shopping centre and on Cross Guns Bridge.

However, changes along the Blanchardstown bus corridor will have the very worrying impact of pushing more vehicular traffic into Phibsborough.

A decision on whether to make permanent the Grangegorman “filtered permeability” trial is due to be made next month by Dublin City Council.

  • The proposed closure of the old Cabra Road to general traffic to make way for buses, taxis and local access only, will mean eastbound/city centre bound cars will have to divert at Cabra Cross to the Cabra Road or Rataoth Road. This, in turn, will push additional general traffic onto Cabra Road, Charleville Road, North Circular Road, Avondale Road and Monck Place.

National Transport Authority modelling appears to suggest that the combination of changes will generate an overall reduction in vehicular morning rush-hour traffic volumes along the Cabra Road and North Circular Road. However, there will be an estimated increase of 200-300 cars in the morning peak along Charleville Road, Avondale Road and Monck Place.

  • At St Peter’s Church, the no left turn (from the NCR) and the no right turn (from the Cabra road) will be lifted to allow traffic flows between the NCR and Cabra road.
  • The development of the new cycleway along Royal Canal Bank will be an important development for cyclists travelling north-south through Phibsborough. See image overleaf. However, access to the cycleway remains a key issue with a large share of Phibsborough residents living on the western side of the village – the areas off Connaught street, Monck Place and North Circular Road.  
  • There are two main changes to the traffic layout for Phibsborough Road1) Unfortunately, the current cycle lane segregation on Phibsborough road south of Doyle’s Corner will be removed to make way for a bus lane. 

2) The southbound right turning traffic lane into Leinster, Munster and Connaught street will be curtailed to make way for the planting of trees. In November 2019, 49,008 cars went through Doyle’s corner in a 24 hour period. The traffic modelling suggests this will decrease by between 100-300 in morning peak traffic. 

  • For pedestrians, three additional pedestrian crossings on Phibsborough Road; one outside McGowan’s pub, another connecting Monck’s Green and Permanent TSB and one between Leinster Street and Enniskerry road.

The footpath will be widened outside Phibsborough Shopping centre, multiple trees will be planted along the widened section, two existing trees will be removed and parking will be reduced to a single row. The footpath on Cross Guns Bridge will be extended on the side adjacent to Des Kelly Furniture to overcome the very narrow pinch point. 

The proposals here refer only to North-South traffic through Phibsborough and the spill over effects of changes made on the Old Cabra road.  The NTA have indicated to that they will start work separately on developing cycle lanes on the Cabra Road and North Circular Road next year. 

This is only an overview of the changes and is not exhaustive. For exact detail, please see busconnects.ie

Next Steps:   

Dec 16th: Deadline for submissions

Jan. to March 2020: “Preferred route” will be published. Environmental impact assessment report will then be published.

Mid 2021: Statutory Process will commence where application for compulsory purchase order to An Bord Pleanála (ABP) will be submitted. This will involve a statutory consultation and oral hearing.  

2022: Works will commence.