Work begins on €30m cycle path along Royal Canal

Work has begun on a €30 million cycle path running along the Royal Canal from the North Strand to Phibsborough in north Dublin.

The project was originally greenlit by councillors seven years ago and involves the upgrading of the existing path, the installation of access ramps from the canal to road crossings and a new pedestrian and cycle bridge.

The 2.1 kilometre trail is due to be completed in 2025.

The cycle path is the third section of a 277km greenway from Dublin to Galway to be progressed by the city council.

The first section of the route, a 500m stretch from Guild Street at the north quays to Sheriff Street, was completed more than a decade ago.

Although the large-scale project was approved in 2015, progress on the scheme was halted until February 2019 when work began on constructing a path at Newcomen Bridge on North Strand Road.

At the time, DCC said that tenders would be sought later that year for phase three of the plan.

However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, builders were only sought last year with beginning last week.

Phase three of the project will run from Newcomen Bridge to Cross Guns Bridge in Phibsborough, bringing the total length of greenway constructed by the council to 3.2 kilometres.

Speaking last week at a sod-turning event to mark the beginning of construction, National Transport Authority (NTA) chief executive Anne Graham said the path would help to reduce car dependency.

“The delivery of this section will provide safe segregated cycling along the Royal Canal, linking the docklands to many of the city’s radial transport corridors, and on to places like Clontarf, Swords and the airport, Ballymun and Finglas, and to the planned Glasnevin Metrolink station,” she said.

“We believe this will encourage more people to walk or cycle as part of their daily commute.

“This is good news for commuters and those interested in active travel, but it’s also good news when it comes to meeting our climate action targets.”

Graham defended the cost of the project, saying that the investment was necessary.

“It’s not just shared walking and cycling facilities, there are also bridges and in terms of upgrading this whole length of it, it does cost that kind of money and we are prepared to invest in it,” she said.

Graham said that a “significant bridge” was required near Croke Park and that the inflation “comes into play as well.”

Lord Mayor Caroline Conroy said that she was “delighted to have reached the point where work can begin on this immensely important project.

“It will be an incredible amenity for the area.”

The final section of the cycle way to be developed by Dublin City Council is a 4.3 kilometre stretch running from Phibsborough to Longford Bridge in Ashton.

That part of the route has been divided into several phases which are currently at the design stage.

A two-kilometre section from Ashtown to the 12th lock in Castleknock was completed by Fingal County Council in 2015.