Lord Mayor launches a €4m Grafton Street revamp

A HIGHLY anticipated e4 million upgrade of Dublin’s premier shopping street was launched by the Lord Mayor last week.

Dublin City Council’s Grafton Street Improvement Scheme will see the existing red brick surface replaced with high quality natural stone, new public lighting and street furniture.

The stone consists primarily of granite from the Dublin and Wicklow Mountains.

KN Networks won the competitive tender for the works that get underway early in June with a scheduled finish date in November 2014.

The council said the works would play a key part in improving Grafton Street as a retail environment and a destination.

“Grafton Street is the premier street south of the Liffey,

? Dublin’s Lord Mayor Naoise Ã? Muirí said at the launch at Bewley’s Café.

“When Grafton Street looks well, the city does well. The repaving is great news for businesses, shoppers and tourists.

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Dublin City Council said it had engaged extensively with businesses and stakeholders and arranged for the repaving to be carried out in five separate stages.

This means that the street will remain open to shoppers and pedestrians throughout the repaving.

“The business community is very supportive of Dublin City Council’s plans to repave the street,

? Richard Guiney, the CEO of the Dublin City Business Improvement District, said.

“With an annual footfall of more than 30 million, Grafton Street plays a key role in attracting shoppers and visitors to the city centre.

“We are regaining market share and Grafton Street is leading the way with significant increases in footfall over the last 16 months.

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He added:

“The planned repaving will ensure the physical environment matches the quality retail and leisure offering and will accelerate the continued growth.

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There will be eight-week period when the works will cease in order to facilitate shoppers over Christmas and the New Year sales.