Words: Shamim de Brún
Dublin City Council has today agreed that plans to pedestrianise Capel Street would move ahead at the end of May.
According to the DCC website, this follows “further extensive consultation with residents, businesses and members of the public”. It will see the removal of traffic from Capel Street while still facilitating deliveries from 06:00 to 11:00.
This follows seventeen successful “Traffic Free” weekends from June 2021 to October 2021 and a report that stated eighty-nine per cent of Dubliners wanted to see Traffic Free measures on Capel Street. Ninety-six per cent reported that the pilot project “improved their experience” of the street.
DCC met today to discuss the plans after a Capel Street Consultation period held between 11 March and 4 April 2022. They confirmed that the plans would move ahead next month.
The section to be permanently pedestrianised stretches from Parnell St after Jervis Lane to remove through traffic on Capel Street. A permanent solution to the traffic on Mary Street is to be reversed, but Strand Street Little and Strand Street Great will remain open to traffic all day.
The move will make Capel Street the longest pedestrianised street in Dublin.
Cyclists will still have use of the street as it is viewed as an “important North-South cycle route”, allowing access from Bolton Street.
You can read more about the plans to pedestrianise the street on the Dublin City Council website.
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