Mixed reaction to Phoenix Park road works

NEWS that work
on upgrading the main route through Phoenix Park is to begin next week has met
with a mixed reaction from public representatives in Dublin 15.

Work on a new
road surface for large sections of Chesterfield Avenue that runs through the
centre of the park and connects Castleknock to the city centre is due to begin
on October 3.

A traffic
management plan will be in place but there will still be disruption during the
works with the Ashtown Gate operating as

‘in only’ and Cabra Gate

‘out only’.

Only the most
severely damaged parts of the road are to be repaired and it’s hoped remaining
sections will be upgraded as funding becomes available in the future.

Minister for
Transport and Dublin West TD, Leo Varadkar, welcomed the upgrading describing
it as

“welcome news

?.

“The recent run
of very severe winters has left Chesterfield Avenue in a very poor condition,
causing problems for all road users,

? he said.

“Needless to
say, there will be disruption while the job is done and I would hope that it
can be kept to a minimum.

“Nevertheless,
it’s very important to have a strengthened road in place in case there is
another cold winter.

?

However, Dublin
West Fianna Fail by-election candidate, Cllr David McGuinness, said he was

“very annoyed

? at the OPW’s decision.

“The decision to
undertake road works will cause significant traffic delays,

? he said.

“While everyone
in the locality recognises the road through the Phoenix Park is substandard and
in need of repair, it is quite unbelievable that a local TD, who just so
happens to be the Minister for Transport, could disregard the significant
impact that this is going to have on local commuters and businesses between now
and Christmas.

“The harsh
reality is that while these works are necessary, it should have been avoided
that this work takes place during the busiest months of the year in terms of
traffic.

“The undoubted
traffic problems that this decision is going to cause could have been minimised
if carried during the summer period.

?

Cllr McGuinness
also criticised Minister Varadkar for making the decision without any
consultation with local TDs or councillors.

“The question I
would now ask Minister Varadkar now is whether he was actually consulted on
this decision,

? he said.

“If so, why has
he let it proceed at a time of year which he himself recognises as the busiest?
If he was not consulted, why not, and will he be voicing his annoyance to his
Fine Gael colleague Minister Brian Hayes on behalf of the people of Castleknock
and Dublin 15?

?