Dublin getting new cycle track on the banks of a beautiful canal

The city of Dublin, Ireland is getting a new cycleway on the banks of the Royal Canal stretching through the north city from Phibsborough to the River Liffey.

Dublin City Councill announced the move last week on the third phase of the Royal Canal Greenway.

The new route is set to provide 2.1-km of pedestrian trail and cycle track from Newcomen Bridge, North Strand to Cross Guns Bridge, Phibsborough.

The project includes accessability ramps from the pathway to all road crossings, as well as a new pedestrian and cycle bridge across the canal and a new community plaza, as well as tree planting and the delivery of soft landscaping.

“I am delighted to have reached the point where we can begin work on this immensely important project, it will be an incredible amenity for the area and the city” said the Lord Mayor of Dublin Caroline Conroy. “We will be able to enjoy the canal more, experience safer walking and cycling facilities and connect with each other more, particularly for those living or working in the northern part of the city. This project will also play an important part in our common objective of reducing our carbon footprint. It is the third phase to be implemented on the Royal Canal, demonstrating Dublin City Council’s commitment to roll out a state of the art active travel network.”

The project is a result of a collaborative effort between Dublin City Council, Waterways Ireland and Irish Rail. In addition to cycling and walking network upgrades the project, in partnership with ESB Networks, will facilitate future electricity network upgrades.

According to a press release, the  project is part of an Active Travel Network expansion plan that will grow from the current uninspiring 10km to 310 km over the next eight years.

“The best thing about this phase of the Royal Canal Greenway is that it means that there will be a safe and peaceful walking and cycling path stretching from Phibsborough to North Strand, parallel to the busy North Circular Road,” said Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan TD. “It will link communities, friends, schools, sporting facilities along the way. People often think about Greenways as facilities for tourists or visitors first but that’s not their primary purpose. Greenways are for locals, to help ensure that people living in an area – in this case an historic and relatively densely populated part of the city – can get to where they want to go to or can just enjoy the route without having to negotiate traffic clogged roads.”

The project comes with an estimated cost of €30.85m, and is part of primary orbital route NO1 and greenway route No. 2 in the National Transport Authority’s Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network Plan.