Finglas to North Wall
Having reviewed the three options, a number of points should be considered when deciding on a final route.
Option A:
The section of the route running along the Finglas Road would need to ensure free flow of priority transport options (bus, cycle) during the construction phase. However the road has sufficient width to allow this to happen.
The section from Prospect to North Strand will require digging up of a well-used walking and cycle way along the canal. This is not ideal but if necessary, should be done within the timelines of the current plan to upgrade this section to greenway. This is to ensure the greenway upgrade is not delayed any further by any requirements of this project, and vice versa.
If the section from North Strand to Sherriff Street requires digging up the recently completed and heavily used greenway, then this is not a good option.
Option B:
This option mostly utilises wide roads which, if they require excavation, can allow priority to be continued for sustainable transport during the road works. For the narrower sections particularly along St Margarets Road and Malahide Road from Griffith Ave to Clontarf, care should be given to ensure this does not prioritise car traffic over bus/cycle traffic, eg by use of bus gates. It is also important that existing sustainable transport infrastructure (eg cycleway along Alfie Byrne Road) is not used for the cut/cover sections, unless separate road space is given to replace this.
Option B is the best of the 3 options considered.
Option C:
This option requires extensive excavation in residential and amenity (park, Royal Canal greenway) areas, and is not a good option due to the disturbance it will cause to local residents and users of the amenity. It is also important to consider that this option may delay completion of important sustainable transport solutions (extensions to RC greenway) which is not ideal.