Two alternative route options being examined

There are two locations along the route where an alternative option for MetroLink is under consideration. The first of these is between Fosterstown Station and Estuary Station and the second is between Northwood Station and Airport Station. As an alternative to the current route between Fosterstown and Estuary Stations, which runs on an elevated structure along the central median of the R132, further consideration is being given to running the majority of the route at surface level along the central median of the R132, with grade separation at Estuary, Seatown, Malahide and Pinnock Hill roundabouts.  As an alternative to the current route between Northwood and Airport Stations, which runs in tunnel beneath the M50, further consideration is being given to a route which emerges from tunnel at Northwood Station, passes over the M50 to the proposed future station at Dardistown and re-enters the tunnel immediately south of old airport road.

Read the full article @ Fingal Independent

Clarity on Metrolink route and timelines hailed by council chief

Fingal County Council will work with Transport Infrastructure Ireland over the coming months to ensure that the final design is the one best suited to Fingal and the Metro Economic Corridor.  Following the announcement of the preferred route for the long-awaited metro link, which will carry passengers from Swords to the city centre in just 25 minutes, Fingal County Council CEO Paul Reid said 'clarity' on the route and timelines was welcome. Furthermore, Mr Reid welcomed the commencement of the public consultation phase on the project, which he said had the 'potential to deliver on Project Ireland 2040's vision for future growth and development in Swords and the wider Fingal area'. He said: "Fingal County Council has long advocated the strategic need for a metro link from Dublin City Centre to the Airport, Swords and North County Dublin and today's announcement is welcome as it has brought some clarity in relation to the route and timelines.

Read the full article @ Fingal Independent

€3 billion metro line is finally moving forward

The €3 billion euro Metrolink project which will connect Swords to the city centre in just 25 minutes, is finally moving forward after years of delays. Details of the emerging preferred routes have been revealed and an extensive public consultation process will begin next week on the 'high capacity, high-frequency cross-city rail corridor'. The first takes place today (Tuesday) at Fingal County Council offices in Swords from 2pm to 8pm. On Thursday, March 29, there will be another one in the Crowne Plaza Hotel Northwood from 2pm to 8pm. Some 4,000 jobs are expected to be created during the construction phase. Formerly known as Metro North but now renamed Metrolink, the proposal will see a 26km rail line connect Swords to Sandyford, via Dublin Airport, with a total of 25 stops. Provision has been made for a future stop at Dardistown.

Read the full article @ Fingal Independent

Over 1,000 pyrite homes repaired under State scheme

The cost to the State of repairing 1,000 private homes damaged by the presence of pyrite in their foundations has risen to just under €70 million, with at least 600 more homes scheduled for work. The pyrite remediation scheme was set up in 2013 to address structural damage arising from “pyritic heave”, where the presence of the mineral in the foundations has caused subsidence and cracks in homes. More than 10,000 homes completed between January 1997 and December 2013 in Dublin, as well as in Meath, Kildare and Offaly have been affected by pyrite. New figures from the Pyrite Resolution Board show that at the end of March more than 2,000 applications had been received under the scheme and 1,600 dwellings have so far been approved for repairs. To date 1,003 homeowners have had the work completed and have moved back into their homes.

Read the full article @ The Irish Times

NTA reverses stance on College Green plaza plans

The National Transport Authority (NTA) is backing Dublin City Council in its standoff with Dublin Bus over the €10 million civic plaza plans for College Green. The NTA had previously said its support for the council’s traffic-free plaza proposal was “contingent” on Dublin Bus being permitted to run two-way services on Parliament Street. However, at the end of a three-week An Bord Pleanála hearing on the plaza, the NTA said it was now prepared to reverse this position and support the council’s plan which would push Dublin Bus out of the city centre zone. The council has applied to the board to build the pedestrian and cycle plaza and ban all traffic, including buses and taxis, from accessing Dame Street through College Green.

Read the full article @ The Irish Times

Dublin's old Carlton Cinema to be redeveloped

After sitting idle for decades, the site of the old Carlton Cinema on Dublin's O'Connell Street is finally going to be redeveloped. The company behind Dundrum Town Centre has named the architect it wants to develop a vision for that space that will be known as Dublin Central. Six acres - from Upper O'Connell Street to Parnell Street to Moore Street & Henry Street - are going to be turned into a high-end retail centre. ACME Architects have been told to protect the sites connections with the 1916 Rising, while promoting economic and employment opportunities.

Read the full article @ The Irish Examiner

Dublin hotel plan haunted by old graves

The developers of a planned 343 unit aparthotel on the site of a Keelings owned fresh fruit and veg distribution depot in Dublin are facing a couple of potential ‘banana skins’ over the plan. LMS Investments is intending that apart-hotel firm, Staycity operate the planned seven-story apart-hotel at Dublin’s Little Mary Street. The site is owned by fruit and veg distributors and producers, Keelings and director, William Keeling has provided his written consent for the plans to be lodged. A report lodged with the application states that the aparthotel will be operated by Staycity. The documentation states that Staycity was established in Dublin in 2004 and currently operates 2,000 rooms in Ireland, the UK and France with plans to increase the number to 5,000.

Read the full article @ The Irish Examiner