Substantial stretches of Dublin's quays are to be permanently reduced to a single lane for cars and lorries in just over a week's time in order make room for new bus lanes.
The new quality bus corridors (QBCs) on Ellis Quay, Aran Quay, Parkgate Street and St John's Road West at Heuston Station could shorten bus journeys into the city by as much as 20 minutes, but they are likely to make the quays very congested for cars at peak times.
Dublin City Council had planned to schedule the opening of the new bus lanes to coincide with the ban on five-axle lorries from the city centre earlier this year, but was delayed by difficulties with diverting electricity infrastructure and other utilities. The lanes are now due to open on July 9th.
The council had said that the reduction in the number of lorries using the quays would mitigate against severe traffic problems being caused by the closure of the lanes. However, AA Roadwatch has continued to report traffic congestion on the quays since the lorry ban came into effect on February 19th.
The changes will result in an almost continuous bus lane along the city quays, with the exception of the particularly narrow stretch along Aston Quay on the north quays and Wellington Quay on the south of the Liffey.
Dublin Bus has welcomed the introduction of the new bus lanes and said it will allow it to make significant improvement to its service, particularly for commuters in the west of Dublin who face long journeys to reach the city centre each day.
"Any enhancement of bus priority is welcome, but this will make a particular improvement to bus services to the west of Dublin where, hopefully, we will see a reduction in journey times of between 15 and 20 minutes each way." The additional bus lanes will also shorten journey times on the bus services running between Heuston station and Connolly station, she said.
"Around 28 bus routes should benefit from the change. Commuters as far out as Lucan, Leixlip, Celbridge, Clondalkin, Maynooth, Dunboyne and Rathcoole, should notice the difference, but suburbs closer to the city . . . should also benefit from shorter journey times."
The time savings provided by the new lanes are likely to lead to increased frequency on a number of routes. However, the spokeswoman said that it would allow a bedding in period before making a decision on increasing services.
