Royal Canal Greenway faces closure: The cycling route could be closed for up to six years to facilitate construction of the MetroLink.
A section of the Royal Canal Greenway could be closed for up to six years while the MetroLink is being built, with a prominent cycling group objecting to the proposal.
Dublin Cycling Campaign said the proposal to close the section would rob cyclists of a traffic-free route that cuts through a part of the city congested with traffic.
Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII)
and the National Transport Authority have proposed to close the greenway from
Broombridge railway station to Cross Guns Bridge in Phibsborough.
“The Royal Canal Greenway is one of the
few safe and traffic free cycle routes in the city,” said Dublin Cycling
Campaign chairperson, Paul Corcoran.
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“It is a vital corridor for commuter
cyclists in the north and west of the city, as well as a family-friendly
amenity.
“Options exist that would maintain the
walking and cycle route during construction.”
Rather than close the stretch of the
greenway, it may be possible to effectively switch the cycling route to the
south bank of the canal.
Colm Ryder, chairperson of Cyclist.ie,
said nobody wanted to see the MetroLink having the same impact, in terms of its
works, as the Luas Cross City did.
“Luas Cross City made cycling more
dangerous in the city centre, despite numerous promises from transport
authorities that it would improve cycle infrastructure,” he said.
Dublin Cycling Campaign wants
pedestrians and cyclists to be allowed cross the MetroLink line north of Swords
and for the metro bridge over the M50 to include a pedestrian and cycle path.
And in a submission about the MetroLink, the campaign group is also calling for secure bike parking, which would be covered and have a very large number of spaces, to be included in all stations.
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