COMHAIRLE CHONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, October 09, 2006
QUESTION No. 5
QUESTION: Cllr. Derek Keating
To ask the Manager to provide up-to-date and detailed reports on meetings and consultations that have taken place in recent times with the relevant authorities, including the Gardaí, Dublin Bus, the Toll Bridge Operators, Dublin Transportation Office etc., including details of what innovative ideas and fresh thinking is being considered by these authorities in association with South Dublin County Council in the interest of maintaining the quality of life of the local residential community in helping to resolve the most severe, unprecedented and unacceptable levels of traffic gridlock on our roads?
REPLY
The current level of congestion in the Lucan area is due to a number of factors additional to that associated with the general increase in traffic volumes noted countywide, i.e.
- Changes to the toll plaza introduced by NTR in April 2006
- M50 Upgrade construction and associated traffic management measures
- Opening of Laraghcon access at Lucan Bridge by Fingal Co.Co.
- Other road construction projects in the area, e.g. Adamstown link road, ORR (Ballyowen link)
- Ongoing residential and other development works with associated off-site traffic
In addition, it should be noted that traffic congestion traditionally increases in the month of September at the end of the holiday period and when schools re-open, and the situation was further exacerbated this year by the Ryder Cup arrangements (now finished), including traffic accessing & exiting the north park & ride site at Weston Aerodrome.
While major road & rail construction projects (mainly Transport 21-related) are scheduled to continue in the area in the short to medium term, relief will be provided ultimately as these projects are completed and come on line, e.g.
- Completion of Outer Ring Road and Adamstown link roads
- Upgrading of Kildare Rail Line
- Metro West
- Lucan-City Centre LUAS line
- Additional QBC measures in conjunction with the QBN Office.
In the interim, the Roads & Traffic Department will continue to monitor and review progress, and meet with all of the Agencies listed above question, jointly or severally as required, with a view to minimising disruption and preventing further congestion. Realistically, however, it must be acknowledged that the level of construction coupled with the volume of traffic means little real improvement can be achieved in the short-term.