The Bus Corridors project involves the development of on-going bus priority infrastructure, as well as improved pedestrian and cycling facilities on key corridors across the Dublin region. Its objective is to increase the capacity of the public bus system by improving the speeds, reliability and punctuality of buses by providing bus lanes and other measures to prioritise the movement of buses over general traffic movements and to increase cycling capacity through the provision of safe cycle infrastructure, where feasible separated from general traffic.
The project includes the provision of approximately 230km of designated bus lanes and 200km of cycle tracks in 12 separate schemes across five local authority areas, as shown in the map below.
Progress Update
At present, planning consent applications for all 12 CBC schemes, together with associated compulsory purchase orders, have been submitted to An Bord Pleanála. Planning consents been granted for the seven schemes listed below, marking a significant milestone in the BusConnects Dublin Programme:
- Clongriffin to City Centre
- Swords to City Centre
- Ballymun/Finglas to City Centre
- Blanchardstown to City Centre
- Liffey Valley to City Centre
- Belfield/Blackrock to City Centre
- Ringsend to City Centre
- Lucan to City Centre
Following receipt of planning consents for the initial schemes, the focus of activity has now moved to the construction stage for the first two schemes (noting that some schemes are subject to Judicial Review). The NTA are currently establishing a panel of contractors to build the schemes, with procurement of the first two schemes to commence this year. It is expected that the first two scheme construction contracts will be awarded in the first half of next year, followed subsequently by the award of an additional two schemes for construction. Given the traffic management requirements during construction, it is considered that a maximum of four schemes can be built concurrently.
The Environmental Impact Assessment Report for each Scheme, Chapter 5; Construction, Section 5.3 provides an overview of construction timelines once the construction commences. This can be accessed on the website for each individual scheme, the links to the 12 schemes websites are on each of the scheme pages which can be accessed by clicking on the down arrow beside the tab “12 Core Corridor Bus Scheme” above. As an example the Environmental Impact Assessment Report, Chapter 5 Construction for the Belfield/Blackrock to City Centre scheme, Section 5.3, which provides an overview of construction timelines once the construction commences can be found at the following link https://belfieldblackrockscheme.ie/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2022/05/Chapter-5-Construction.pdf
Liffey Valley Bus Plaza
As part of BusConnects Dublin’s infrastructural works, Liffey Valley Bus Plaza opened in February 2023, providing high quality facilities to support bus services leading from the Liffey Valley Shopping Centre and serving the surrounding areas and city centre. Click on the following link for more information on the Bus Plaza – A new €20m Bus Plaza opens at Liffey Valley Shopping Centre
