The changing traffic restrictions in Dublin as city looks to go more car-free

Parliament Street is now traffic-free, but what about College Green?

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Parliament Street, Dublin after pedestrianisation. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw/The Irish Times
Parliament Street, Dublin after pedestrianisation. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw/The Irish Times

Parliament Street, the short, wide road that has Dublin’s quays at one end and City Hall at the other was, up to last week, clogged with traffic.

Not any more.

In the latest phase of the Dublin City Centre Transport Plan it has now been closed off to motorised vehicles. It is not fully pedestrianised – cyclists can still use it.

That’s another car-free initiative ticked off the city council’s list, with the development of College Green Plaza next on the agenda. But that’s been in the works for years and it still seems a long way off.

And already the costs have spiralled from €10million to €80million – with no start date in sight.

So what’s happening? Irish Times Dublin editor Olivia Kelly explains.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.

Bernice Harrison

Bernice Harrison

Bernice Harrison is an Irish Times journalist and cohost of In the News podcast

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