Council to begin €4m scheme to support safer cycling and pedestrian movements

Fingal County Council is to commence the roll out of a €3.9m programme aimed at developing safer infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians in towns and villages across the County.

The funding was part of a €55m allocation by the National Transport Authority under the Government’s July Jobs Stimulus Plan to support local authorities’ response to Covid-19 challenges and assist with their work to equip local communities and businesses with improved walking and cycling infrastructure.

The first scheme to commence will be in Dublin 15 with the creation of a 5km segregated cycle track, 2.5km in in each direction, along Hartstown/Hunstown Road which will provide safer cycling route for local people to access schools, recreational areas and local businesses.

The scheme is expected to commence in October and will involve the installation of a concrete kerb and delineators for the cycle lanes along with improvements to existing junctions and cycle lanes.

To minimise disruption to local traffic the works will be undertaken overnight, with a stop/go traffic management in place. Residents and businesses owner living in the area will be informed in advance.

Other projects to have received funding are:

• R108 Sillogue – Road Network upgrade including advisory cycle lanes
• R132 Lissenhall, Minister’s Road to Blake’s Cross and Kilhedge Lane – Improve cycle connection from Lusk to Blake’s Cross via Corduff NS. Traffic calming to reduce speeds and redesign of former national road for reduce volumes of traffic and increase cycling and pedestrian activity
• R108 Naul GAA Club – junction improvement required for all road users including cyclists
• Malahide Estuary Cycle connections Seatown Road and Estuary Road – improve cycle connection from Swords to Malahide
• Rathingle Road/River Valley Road, Swords – light segregation of existing cycle lane
• Grange Road, Baldoyle - light segregation of existing cycle lane
• Howth Road - light segregation of existing cycle lane from Sutton to Howth villages
• Skerries Road - light segregation of existing cycle lane
• Skerries Coast – new cycleway beside existing walkway

Mayor of Fingal Cllr David Healy said: “I welcome the allocation of this significant funding from the NTA towards the development of walking and cycling infrastructure across the County. With the pandemic we are seeing much higher numbers of people walking in our communities. There has also been a resurgence of cycling during the Covid-19 period. With public transport capacity massively reduced, it is crucial that we develop quality routes for walking and cycling routes to allow movement within our communities.

“As we continue to work to protect ourselves and each other from the Covid-19 pandemic, the availability of safe space for people to walk both for transport and for exercise is more important than ever. 

“It is a key action in our Climate Change Action Plan to build out Fingal's cycle network offering direct routes to local destinations, and this funding will very much allow this to happen. It will have the additional benefit of reducing car use and lowering carbon emissions and reducing congestion."

Chief Executive AnnMarie Farrelly said: “We want to promote the development of cycling in the County with an emphasis on promoting direct, comfortable, convenient and safe routes. Encouraging people to walk or cycle will also help Fingal County Council to respond to Climate Change, while the promotion of active travel will also improve the health of citizens.

“With the impact of Covid-19 on the use of public transport, it is important that people who would otherwise use public transport are encouraged and facilitated in choosing a sustainable form of transport such as walking and cycling.”

Director of Operations David Storey said: “Fingal County Council is actively working to improve pedestrian and cycling infrastructure and is prioritising the safety of cyclists through the development of segregated cycle paths where possible. Segregated cycle lanes are known to encourage a wider demographic across the community to cycle/scoot, rather than drive short distances to amenities and schools.  

“Providing safe and sustainable infrastructure will undoubtedly assist the growing numbers of cyclists who are now using our roads in towns and villages across Fingal. The segregated cycle routes will encourage all age groups to take a bike to travel short and medium distances, which will help to removed unnecessary vehicular journeys and as a consequence, reduce traffic volumes. “

Chairperson of the Transport and Infrastructure Management Strategic Policy Committee, Cllr Ted Leddy, said: “I am looking forward to seeing the first pilot project commence in Dublin 15 as it will have significant benefits for the residents of this expanding area as they access schools, sports and community facilities, as well as local shops and businesses. The funding will also allow for changes to traffic management arrangements to facilitate the reallocation of overall road space to improve facilities and safety for pedestrians and cyclists.”