COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM/TEMPLEOGUE-TERENURE AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, September 09, 2014

QUESTION NO. 20

QUESTION: Councillor Deirdre O'Donovan

"To ask the Chief Executive how much is the proposed cycleway from Bushy Park up through Church Lane in Rathfarnham village going to cost SDCC and would the cost be reduced considerably by shelving plans to build a further bridge as proposed by local residents, by redirecting the pathway through the Fairways Estate?"

REPLY:

A feasibility study, funded by the National Transport Authority (NTA), for a Greenway cycle route along the River Dodder from Dublin City Centre to Bohernabreena was completed in 2012. The Dodder Greenway has significant potential to accommodate commuters, recreational users and tourists and to support business in as well as to enliven Villages along its route. As part of the preliminary design of the Greenway, it is necessary to consider how access to the route can be improved for potential users and to ensure good connections to nearby attractions and services.

The existing bridge is not suitable for cyclists nor is it universally accessible, therefore while it is a well used and popular bridge for pedestrians, it would not provide adequate Quality of Service for a proposed Greenway Route. With regard to any proposed new bridge, this is currently at a very early preliminary stage design and there are a number of factors to be considered. 

These include the location of any new bridge in the context of objectives that include improving links to Rathfarnham Village and Bushy Park. There are also technical factors such as compatibility with the River Dodder Flood Risk Management Plan. Off-line route detail has also yet to be considered. When the design process for a bridge and access routes has progressed sufficiently, a proposal can then be made that can be subject to costing and the necessary public consultation.

It is noted that the Council is likely to be dependent on the National Transport Authority and/or the Department of Transport and Tourism to secure funding to progress the Dodder Greenway.