“Dread” - that was the word one local in North Strand, Dublin used to describe how he feels about looming road closures in the area as the city council prepares to start construction on a new cycle lane.
The €62m cycle lane will mean significant disruption for locals until 2024 and views on the closure were mixed to say the least:
“A bit of dread I’d say for everybody,” one man lamented to The Hard Shoulder.
“Look, everybody wants to see progression in the city but it’s going to be chaos by the sounds of things on Monday and a lot of people are going to have to think very hard about how they get into the city.”
Another woman said her employers were concerned about how customers would be able to get to the shop:
“We’re waiting on management to get back on to us to see what they’re going to do,” she said.
While others were far more upbeat:
“I haven’t heard anything negative,” one woman said.
“I think everyone is prepped for it. We’ve had notice and they’ve given us all maps. So I’m happy to go with it!”
“There is going to be a bit of disruption,” a man opined, “but thinking about the greater good that hopefully it’ll lift the area and make it easier to get around on your bike and safer for people to do their commute.”
Houses near the affected route. Photo: Sam Boal / RollingNews.iePredictably perhaps, one man on a bicycle was excited about the new infrastructure:
“I think it’s going to be a great addition being able to cycle all the way from the centre of the city to Sutton Cross,” one cyclist enthused.
“It’s a bit of disruption for the traffic but over the next year… it’s going to change people’s habits!”
Locals have been advised to “plan their journey in advance and consider alternative modes of transport including Dublin Bus, cycling, walking, DART and train services”.
Main image: Red and Yellow Road Signs Indicating a Road Closure and Diversion
