Capel Street will today become the longest pedestrianised road in Dublin.

Works on the pedestrianisation were completed last night, with the new rules to come into force at 11am.

The street will be entirely car-free, except for deliveries between 6am and 11am each morning.

It comes after 17 weeks of weekend trials last summer and a public consultation that saw more than 90% of people backing the move.

Dublin’s Deputy Lord Mayor Joe Costello told Newstalk pedestrianisation is the way forward for the area.

“I think it is great and I am delighted with the process we undertook because we ensured that everybody was consulted about it and that everybody had a say on it,” he said.

“It went through the local area committee; it went through the city council so it is the way forward and if we do that, I think we can improve the city enormously.”

The main changes for drivers are:

• Permanent closure at Parnell Street after Jervis Lane to remove through traffic on Capel Street.
• Delivery access will be facilitated between 6am and 11am. Car parking spaces will be removed and converted to loading bays to ensure there is sufficient space. There will be all day loading provided at a number of side streets.
• Mary’s Abbey traffic flow direction will be reversed and residents existing from Abbey Street will exit via Mary’s Abbey.
• Mary Street between Capel Street and Jervis Lane will be reversed.
• Strand Street Little and Strand Street Great will remain open to traffic all day.
• Initial street improvements including seating and greening are to be provided.

Dublin City Council's Head of Technical Services Brendan O'Brien told Newstalk staff will be on-hand to direct traffic over the next few weeks.

“For people who normally use Capel Street at the moment, there are a number of different routes,” he said.

“It depends on where they are coming from and where thy are going to but obviously, Bolton Street, Church Street, Queen Street – all of these provide alternative routes.

“The other thing is cycling is still allowed on Capel Street so the fact that this is quite a good connection between Grangegorman Campus and the city centre, that still will be in place.”