Transport Overhaul Will 'Lead To Gridlock'

The € multi-billion transport plan for Dublin is to be rethought amid fears Dublin city centre could grind to a halt in a major gridlock.

Ministers working to overhaul Dublin’s transport system have put several solutions forward, but each project would entail massive disruption to city traffic, according to Irish Transport Minister, Noel Dempsey.

To alleviate potential chaos, a comprehensive new plan - which will involve large-scale redirecting of traffic and postponing the joining of the Luas lines - is to be implemented.

The largest project to be affected is the plan to link-up the two Luas tram lines, which would involve building a new light rail line through part of O’Connell Street. The Luas plan has now been postponed and a rethink on the timing and planning of major transport and building projects is in full swing.

Minister Dempsey said: ‘‘There is the potential for massive traffic gridlock. I don’t think many people realise how big this is going to be.”

Huge excavations will be required if the present plans go ahead, with works at St Stephen’s Green and O’Connell street likely to cause the most disruption.

The rethink means that nearly all the public transport projects scheduled to be completed between 2006 and 2009 have seen their completion dates put back, possibly to as late as 2010 to 2011.

(DW)