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THE LATEST PHASE of the 22km Sutton to Sandycove (S2S) promenade and cycleway running along the shore of Dublin Bay opened today.
An 8.5km cycle path from Clontarf to Sutton started in the 1990s but a 2km gap was left between Wooden Bridge to Causeway Road in Clontarf.
That 2 km section was officially opened today and includes a segregated two way cycle track and 4 km of upgraded footpaths.
The Lord Mayor of Dublin Brendan Carr said, “I am delighted to open this stage of the Sutton to Sandycove (S2S) Cycleway. I hope that residents and tourists alike will get great enjoyment from this wonderful amenity on the north side of the city.”
Construction work has been taking place on Clontarf Road for the past two years and while the Clontarf section opened at 10am this morning, the work is still not complete.
A further 12 months of construction is expected to begin this year in order to reduce the height of the flood defence wall by up to 30cm along a half kilometre stretch facing St Anne’s Park.
It is reported that the wall height is being reduced to allow motorists have unrestricted views of the sea.
Residents and business owners in the area say that the traffic complications from the wall work has caused major problems. Clontarf Business Association (CBA) declined the invitation to attend today’s official opening.
In a statement is said, “The works are not yet completed and there are serious concerns over safety for our members, our member’s customers, pedestrians, cyclists, residents and traffic.
Many businesses locally have suffered grave financial losses during the period with some leading to job losses. The CBA continue to work with Dublin City Council for a swift and successful conclusion to the works, however, we are not at that point just yet and as such any event is premature for now.
The €5 million Clontarf cycle path also included renovation of the tram shelter, upgrading of footpaths and public lighting and improved flood-defence.
Green Party Spokesperson for Transport Ciarán Cuffe welcomed the opening. He said it was “the start of a safe, child-friendly and pollution free promenade for all Dubliners”.
It’s hoped that the plans will eventually extend approximately 22 kilometres from Sandycove to Sutton, linking where appropriate existing walkways and cycleways.
Cuffe said, “This is an environmentally friendly and achievable project that deserves support. The proposal involves some stretches of new promenade and a new pedestrian and cycle bridge in Ringsend, but it consists mostly of the joining together of stretches of existing walkway.”
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5million on a cycle path 2km that took 2 years and another 1year to fully complete.. honest to god its some absolute joke of a country !!
@Ollie Payne: They had to reallign the coast road which would have been costly.
@Ollie Payne:
Well Ollie if that’s the way you feel, move out.
We won’t miss you.
@Ollie Payne: just because they used funding from a cycling budget dies t mean it was for cyclists, they renewed water pipes and built flood protection the cycle elements accounted for a small percentage
@Ollie Payne: oillie oille Ollie oi oi oi
@Ollie Payne: The €5 million was for more than a cycle track. It also included road re-surfacing, sea wall repairs and a 2km trunk water main. There was talk of rebuilding the old tram shelter on Clontarf road too. Although I’m not sure if that was done?
How much protection would a straw hat offer a cyclist in the event of being knocked from a bike?
@Yenreit: Not as much as a hat made of sticks or bricks.
@Yenreit: leave her alone, it’s a lovely hat! the real question is why are the others wearing a helmet on a segregated cycle track?
@Yenreit: what protection does a cycle helmet give to a cyclist who is crushed by a HGV on a shared road?
@Barry Somers: or eaten by a weird wolf…
A helmet is a good idea segregated lane or not. I wouldn’t go the compulsory route but if she’s going 25km/h and hits a stick or a bit of litter without a helmet she could be in trouble. A helmet from a good bike shop is a small cost for your surviving another day.
@Darren Bates: Does she look like she’s going to be going anywhere near 25km/h on a flat path? But I’m open to change my mind when presented with statistics – so exactly how many cyclists have been killed on segregated cycle paths on dutch style bikes by not wearing helmets?
12 months of construction work to lower a wall 30 cm. Did I read that right. What a waste of money
@Stephen Cahill: 12 inches is nothing to complain about !!
Still no motorway between Cork and Limerick. Pure joke.
Sure why would anyone want to get to Cork faster?
@Elizabeth Barry: I think all of munster’s infrastructure budget has gone into ring roads around little towns in kerry. Maybe that €100m to build a tralee bypass may have been better served by building a motorway between the only two population areas in the province, but what do I know!
@Diarmuid: might want to escape!
@Diarmuid: you mean why would limerick people want to get to cork. Not all people travel from Dublin and there’s nothing wrong with cork
@Elizabeth Barry: It’s not all about motorists
@Elizabeth Barry: what’s the population between the two ?
Ah great , a new cycle path that cyclists wont use
@PaulOD: if it’s a good design they will. If it’s not they they won’t
Cause and effect.
@PaulOD: would you cycle in glass filled undulating lanes often filled with pedestrians or parked cars?
It’s the taxpayer who is paying for the councils indecision. It’s taken years and millions to have this relatively easy job done.
Hopefully we will soon see Athenry linked up with Tuam and Milltown via a greenway on the disused railway track.
@Rodger 5: aren’t they reopening that as part of the western rail corridor ?
During periods of great under-use of all of these cycle lanes in Dublin, such as in the depths of winter, the cycle lanes which, for example, have simply been painted into part of the road (narrowing the Dublin roads yet further and contributing even more to traffic congestion) should all be opened to car traffic in order to let commuters and businesses actually get to where they need to go in Dublin in a reasonable period of time.
@John Reid: Cycle lanes are already used as de facto car parking spots across Dublin, so I don’t think you’d be able to drive down them even if ‘under-used’.
@John Reid: They should be painted black and be done with it. They are a danger to motorists and cyclists alike, and are completely unusable. This is a perfect example of idiots running councils: http://bit.ly/2pIRutf – are they expecting 2′ wide cars?
@Gulliver Foyle: There is nothing against motorists using part of that cycling lane as it has broken white lines.
What is a pedestrian doing on the cycle way
Tallaght to the city centre along the Dodder has been talked about for years and years.
Some day maybe.
It seems the CBA might be shooting themselves in both feet…
@Fank Pulman: how? Please explain.
Ciaran Cuffe welcomed the opening, saying anyone now found driving a car should be subject to public flogging
Cyclist think it’s a race track,most dangerous part is at the car park opposite sheds pup only a mater of time before a child is killed .
@John Mc Mullen: agreed it’s a bad design, however cyclist will move slower than cars on the road. Do you walk on the road ?
Niceeeee
Hopefully they use it
have your say