RESIDENTS OF NORTH inner city Dublin have raised concerns over works on the Luas Cross City going on late into the night and disrupting their sleep.
Construction on the Luas Cross City has been ongoing in Dublin since early 2013, and is due to be completed and running by the end of this year.
Once completed, the tram service will link the north and south of Dublin: from Stephen’s Green to Broombridge in Cabra.
The laying of the tracks is a huge infrastructure project, and much of Dublin’s inner city is currently a construction site. Traffic is down to one line in some areas and roads and footpaths are closed off.
Testing is to start on the track next month, with the first passengers on the service expected by the end of the month.
As the construction nears its completion, inner city residents and businesses are becoming more frustrated with the works.
Businesses on Parnell Street and Moore Street on the north side of the city say that the works have severely affected their business, and that they would be taking legal action for losses incurred as a result.
Residents around Dublin city have also expressed annoyance with the construction, which can continue late into the night in many instances.
Twitter user @ExecutiveSteve – who lives in the Parnell Street area – said that loud construction works were going on “every other night” in the area.
“They have twice hung notices on our door warning of overnight works, but in practice they’re out there every other night,” he told TheJournal.ie.
He said that it was clear the works were nearing completion, but that the noise was hard to handle.
If I had kids or shift work or anything like that (like many in my building do) I’d be tearing my hair out.
‘No rest’
Jose Maria Alba – originally from Spain but living in Ireland for the past two years – lives nearby and said late night works have been upsetting his sleep for months.
Alba lives around Granby Place, where he said trucks involved in the construction of tracks can work through the night.
“The problem is not directly with the construction, it is with the trucks parking which is in front of our balcony,” said Alba.
They are making noise either at 6am, 2am 12pm… something that makes impossible it to have rest!
Alba has posted a number of videos of the vehicles to Twitter.
Luas Cross City got in touch with him as result, but Alba said the late-night work still continued.
“A person from Luas Cross City has contacted me each time but never gave me a real solution,” he said.
In an email to Dublin City Council in April – seen by TheJounal.ie - Alba requested their intervention.
“Please, help me. I really don’t know what to do. I am desperate,” he said.
Response
Residents on the north side are not alone in being affected with the Luas works.
Last month, Trinity News reported that the provost of Trinity College Dublin Patrick Prendergast had moved out of his home on 1 Grafton Street as a result of the construction.
A spokesperson for the college told the Trinity News:
Due to noise levels caused by the Luas works the Provost on occasion stays in campus accommodation.
Students studying at Trinity had complained about the noise of the construction upsetting their studies. Those living in on-campus accommodation had been particularly affected.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie this week, president of the Trinity Student Union Kieran McNulty said that students living on campus had been disrupted by the Luas works, but that the situation had improved in recent times.
“Any disruption to exams was quelled mostly,” said McNulty.
In response to a query from TheJournal.ie, a spokesperson for Transport Infrastructure Ireland – which is overseeing the works – said that some complaints had been received as a result of the Luas construction.
“Luas Cross City has received a small number of complaints from night-time works,” the spokesperson said.
These complaints are dealt with by the contractor and the Luas Cross City Communications team as a matter of urgency.
According to the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) included in the planning for Luas Cross City, in general the working hours for the construction are 8am to 6pm Monday-Friday and 9am to 4pm Saturday.
However, it was anticipated within the EIS that some work would need to take place outside of these hours. Construction contractors have to apply for approval from DCC to carry out these type of works.
DCC Air Quality Monitoring and Noise Control Unit then review the application decide whether to accept the out of hours works, with or without conditions, or reject it.
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