Motion passed to prevent Marino being used for traffic diversions

Dublin City Councillors passed a motion last week which prevents traffic from being diverted into Marino during the construction of the Clontarf to City Centre cycleway.

Construction on the cycleway is due to begin at the end of March with some councillors raising concerns about the impact diverted traffic will have on surrounding areas.

Independent councillor for Clontarf Damian O’Farrell tabled a motion at a North Central Area Committee meeting which called for Marino not to be used for traffic diversions.

He said that the Marino road scheme, which was built in the 1920s, is “entirely unsuitable for any kind of traffic diversions.”

The neighbourhood “includes a very narrow series of roadways totally unsafe for through traffic and a demographic of young children and older persons,” he says.

“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.”

O’Farrell also said in his motion that during the “advance traffic planning stage and throughout the construction phase of the 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.”

It is understood that construction on the project will last between 18 and 24 months.

During the debate council officials claimed that Marino would only be used for traffic diversions if there were gridlocks in “other arteries.”

However, councillors passed O’Farrell’s motion after a similar proposal was rejected only last year.

The roads that will not be included in traffic diversion schemes include St Aidan’s Park Road, Marino Mart, Fairview Avenue Lower, Windsor Ave, Brian Road (off Philipsburgh Avenue), Croydon Terrace, Turlough Parade, St Declan’s Terrace, and Brian Road (off Malahide Road).

In reply to O’Farrell’s motion, Dublin City Council said the hired contractor is preparing an “updated works programme, which will include detailed temporary traffic management plans for all phases of the works.

“When the programme is submitted, 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.

“More information can then be provided in relation to the proposed diversions,” it said.

Speaking to Northside People, O’Farrell said that the Clontarf to City Centre cycleway “will bring enormous benefits to the northside of the city including revitalising Fairview and I believe all councillors welcome it.

“However, traffic gridlock the likes of which have never been seen before in our city is expected during the 18 months to two-year construction phase,” he says.

“Local councillors were extremely disappointed to be informed that while the cycleway’s construction is due to begin at the end of March, councillors will only be informed of the traffic management plan in mid-March.

“This I believe will leave no time for councillor or local business input before the finalised traffic management plan has to be sent out to residents and businesses along the route.

“Additionally, for many citizens using the Fairview to Amiens Street route to access the city a motor vehicle is necessary either for carrying work tools, supporting a disability including transporting a wheel-chair or for accessing certain parts of the city not supported by public transport.

“These motorists will have to find alternate routes or arrangements and they need information as a matter of urgency.

“The motion passed at DCC’s area committee will now prevent traffic from being diverted through the Marino housing scheme during the nearly two-year construction phase of the cycleway.

“Marino is totally unsuitable for heavy volumes of traffic and rat running due to the narrow streets and it’s demographic of both young children and elderly.”