Councillors reject motion on closing Marino to diverted traffic

Gary Ibbotson 02 Jun 2021

Dublin City Councillors have rejected a motion that proposed the closure of Marino to traffic being diverted by the construction of the Clontarf to City Centre Cycleway (CCCC).

The motion, tabled by Independent councillor Damian O’Farrell at a recent North Central Area Committee, sought to stop traffic using Marino roads during the construction of the Fairview phase of the project.

The motion read: “That this Area Committee agrees that all entry and exit roads to the Marino Scheme are entirely unsuitable for any kind of traffic diversions necessary during the estimated 18/24-month construction phase through Fairview (R105) of the Clontarf to City Centre Cycleway.

“The Marino Scheme built in the 1920s includes a very narrow series of roadways totally unsuitable/unsafe for through traffic and a demographic of young children and older persons.

“There are major traffic safety concerns in the Marino area due to the impending construction of the CCCC and subsequent road closures and traffic diversions.

“Furthermore, at the advance traffic planning stage and throughout the construction phase of the above project DCC will in the interests of safety and by whatever means necessary proactively ensure the Marino Scheme is not used for any traffic diversions nor will it be possible for drivers to rat run.”

The roads that O’Farrell included in the motion were St Aidan’s Park Road, Marino Mart, Fairview Avenue Lower, Windsor Avenue, Brian Road, Croydon Terrace, Turlough Parade, and St Declan’s Terrace.

In response, the council said that it currently had no plans “to use the road network in Marino for traffic diversions during the construction stage of the Clontarf to City Centre Project.

“The Environment and Transport Department would also agree that through traffic should be minimised on these roads as far as possible.”

Fine Gael councillor Naoise Ó Muirí objected to the motion saying that the project should be completed quickly with as few of obstacles as possible.

“I’m not on board with this motion.

“We are about to undertake a big project, putting in a fabulous facility, from Fairview to the City Centre.

“I’m just not sure that landing down the contractor and telling them they can’t put traffic through Marino of any shape or form is the way to go.

“I’m just not sure that we should be doing that.

“I think we should be trying to get the project done as soon as we can, be clear of the project as soon as we can and let’s get it done the right way.

“I am unconvinced putting a blanket ban on diversions through Marino,” he said.

O’Farrell says he was disappointed that the motion was defeated as Marino struggles to cope with the level of traffic that currently runs through the area.

“Marino was built essentially not fit for traffic,” says O’Farrell.

“I thought their [DCC] response of “should be minimised as far as possible,” was not adequate.

“Unfortunately, the motion was defeated,” he said.

Dublin City Council is currently in the process of procuring a works contractor for the cycleway project.

“The contractor is required to prepare a works programme, which will include detailed temporary traffic management plans for all phases of the works,” said the council.

“When the successful contractor is selected, Dublin City Council will have more detailed information on how the works will be phased and details of the traffic diversions proposed for each phase.”

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