Construction begins on Dublin’s first central-median cycle path

Dublin is beginning construction of Ireland’s first cycle path to run through the central median of a road, with traffic on both sides.

The protected two-way path will be built along Amiens Street, linking Dublin City Council’s Clontarf-to-city-centre cycle route with cycle paths along the River Liffey. It will run from Talbot Street, outside Connolly Station, to Custom House Quay and across the river to George’s Quay, a distance of just over half a kilometre.

The council has installed steel barriers to separate a traffic lane on Amiens Street for the new route. The existing segregated path from Clontarf and north Dublin Bay currently ends at Connolly Station, forcing cyclists to enter a bus lane. Cyclists continuing toward the city centre must cross several lanes of traffic after reaching the quays.

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innovative approach

Cyclists will enter the median path at signalised junctions on Talbot Street. It will continue east of the Custom House, where general traffic becomes one-way southbound, before moving to the western side of the road and crossing the river.

The council described the design as an innovative approach that has become more common in European cities but has not previously been used in Ireland. It said the section of Amiens Street was suitable because there are no right-hand turns on either side. The layout will leave bus stops unaffected and will not require separate traffic-light time for cyclists, since cars will not turn across their path.

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A new cycle lane layout will be installed which has not previously been implemented elsewhere in the country.