COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING

Thursday, February 12, 2015

MOTION NO. 214

MOTION: Councillor E. Higgins

That this Council directs the CEO to make provision for a footpath from Newcastle to the canal at the 12th Lock and that the Green Route be extended to this bridge.

REPORT:

South Dublin County Council worked in close consultation with the National Transport Authority (NTA) to develop a County wide cycling network. The county wide network was integrated with those of adjoining Counties and incorporated into the NTAs Greater Dublin Area Strategic Cycle Network. This document identifies a hierarchy of primary, secondary, feeder routes and Greenways for the GDA. The Grand Canal Green Route currently extents to the 12th Lock where it terminates with Newcastle Road. Under the Greater Dublin Area Strategic Cycle Network it is proposed to extend this route further west as part of the Grand Canal Greenway to Hazelhatch (and onto Sallins). A Secondary Cycle route to the south of the Greenway is also proposed along the R120 to its junction with the Nangor Raod. From there it forms part of an Inter-Urban route that extends to Newcastle further linking with a further network of Inter-Urban routes.

Plans to upgrade the R120 from the area to the north of the 12th Lock to the south were publically exhibited in August 2012. The current Development Plan contains a long term objective to further upgrade the route to the south to its junction with the Nagor Road as part of the County’s strategic road network. This corridor should be retained in the draft County Development Plan 2016-2020 due to its strategic importance in proving access to/from the Grangecastle and Baldonnall employment areas and diverting traffic (and in particular Heavy Goods Vehicles) away from more populated areas.

 

Recommendation

It is recommended that this motion is adopted.