AT A COST of €4 million to the taxpayer, there were some disappointed sighs when pictures of the initial stage of the Grafton Street refurbishment were posted online.
However, Dublin City Council has promised that stains on the expensive, pedestrian street were not there to stay.
The local authority acknowledged that concerns had been expressed about the marks on the stones but said the finished project will be of a “very high standard”.
There are plans to “thoroughly clean the entire area” once the current phase of the redevelopment is complete. A sealant will also be applied to the stone to facilitate “the future cleaning of the paving and the removal of stains, gum and dirt”.
In a statement, the council said:
As granite is a natural material it is normal that stains appear initially. Use and weathering will reduce the appearance of stains.
Stains are more noticeable because of the recent very dry weather and the lack of rainfall, which in normal circumstances would wash away much of the staining.
It added that the works are “progressing well” and Phase 2 (the section from Nassau Street to Wicklow Street) will commence in September.
The €4 million development will also include the installation of street furniture and new lighting fixtures. It is due to be complete by November 2014.
The Grafton Street Improvement project is the first makeover of the busy shopping street since the late eighties. KN Networks – an Irish company with offices in Dublin, Belfast and London – won the lucrative €2.9million contract to repave the street.
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