Re: Re: A Screw Luas? Dunville Crossing Nominated For Design Award

There were four reasons why the bridge was not re-instated and a level crossing put in:

1. The station had an underpass and not a bridge before so by widening the span the major existing section of the station would have needed to be replaced anyway,

2. Security, this station had a major blind spot on the Dunville side of the station, which according to the local rags had quite a track record in providing cover for bandits to attack women at night.

3. It allowed the track to drop a few metres and therebye reduced the disturbance to the dwellings on Upper Beechwood Ave as it made screening easier as it came from a lower height and would have blocked less sun.

4. Cost

I do agree with the option chosen but I don’t think that it was deserving of an award, in general the standard of Luas architecture is very high particularly the Kiosks at Smithfield & Beechwood and the Station at Charlemont. Between these stations there is Ranelagh where the shop design features an entrance that cannot be accessed from the station but only from a blindspot on the Ranelagh road side.

I am however looking forward to seeing the two lines linking up although which route it will take is far from decided it appears if anyone saw Frank McDonalds piece in the Times which is available on http://www.platform11.org ( In the Dublin Section)