Work has begun - after a planning period of almost 40 years - on the Dundrum bypass in South County Dublin.

The bypass, which was first suggested at Dublin County Council in the early 1960s, is the lynchpin for a number of significant developments including the major new commercial, leisure and retail scheme planned at Dundrum Castle, as well as the redevelopment of the existing shopping centre and even the Luas line.

The route of the bypass, travelling south to north is from the Wyckham bypass across the lands of Dundrum Castle, via the Pye Lands, crossing the Ballinteer Road on a new bridge over the river Slang, passing to the rear of the Roman Catholic church and the shopping centre to a new junction at Taney Road.

The Taney Road junction, which will have four lanes in each direction, is to be rebuilt with an overhead bridge to accommodate the Luas line. This Luas bridge cannot be put in place until the road works have been completed.

Work on the bypass got underway this month, although a section of it is still dependent on the construction by Alice Developments of the new centre at Dundrum Castle. This application was granted planning permission on January 16th last, and is currently under appeal to An Bord Pleanala. A decision is due in May.

Because of the importance of the bypass, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council has prepared an "Urban Structure Plan" for Dundrum. According to the council, the most notable features of the new town of Dundrum will be the Luas line with its adjacent cycle track, the Wyckham by-pass on the southern side, the Dundrum by-pass itself, and the redeveloped main-street shopping centre with its pedestrian links to the proposed Alice Developments centre.

The Urban Structure Plan also envisages the redevelopment of vacant land in the town centre to incorporate shopping, offices, residential, cinemas, bars, supermarkets and "cultural" buildings, including a library, creche, medical clinic, leisure and meeting rooms. The Mill pond and the Mill House are to be the focus of the main public spaces with new buildings set around it. The county council has encouraged plans to use the Mill House as a heritage centre/museum.

Once the bypass is in situ, planned for mid-2002, traffic calming measures to encourage pedestrian use of the main street are to be installed. Particular care is to be taken with street furniture, paving materials and public lighting to ensure a desirable pedestrian environment.

New pedestrian routes will connect the two Luas stations at the former Dundrum Railway Station and at Balally. The Luas station is expected to be operational at the end of next year.

The Balally station will incorporate a park-and-ride facility and will be the focus of the new road links. It is expected that the area in the vicinity of the Luas station will come under extreme pressure for development in the coming years.

An Taisce has already considered the Urban Structure Plan and has come out broadly in favour of its measures. Mr David Rowe, spokesman for the South County Dublin association of An Taisce commented that "in general we are in agreement with the principles outlined".

The organisation has made a number of detailed submissions in relation to the plan, including facilities for adult education connected with the library.

An Taisce also suggested additional terraces for conservation such as Maher's Terrace, Eagle Terrace and Ashgrove Terrace.

The start of work on the bypass has been welcomed by local TD Ms Olivia Mitchell, who is the Fine Gael spokeswoman on local government. "It is good news, which will allow the town to develop in a planned, structured way - it's late, too late, but it is good all the same," she commented.