Re: Re: well what about the developments popping up in the shannonside ?

City revamp on way

Marie Hobbins
FEARS that the pedestrianisation of Limerick city centre will cause traffic mayhem has forced City Hall into a new traffic plan.

It has now been suggested that the quaysides should also be pedestrianised which will further aggravate the city’s car parking problems. An inner city orbital route has been mooted by Arup, Consulting Engineers.

Currently between 1,200 and 1,400 vehicles travel through O’Connell Street daily and when completed, pedestrianisation is estimated to reduce that volume by 30 per cent in the city centre. To cater for the overflow to other city streets, Arup have submitted recommendations for an inner orbital route within the city to accommodate the displaced traffic.

According to the consultants, “the objective is to develop a deliverable traffic management solution which will best accommodate traffic drive in the city and simultaneously allow for a pedestrian-friendly city”.

A number of recommendations are listed in three options provided by Arup. Under one option provided, it is recommended that Henry Street, between Honan’s Quay and Shannon Street be converted from one-way northbound to two-way traffic: reversion of the direction of traffic flow on Henry Street between Lower Mallow Street and Shannon Street from one-way northbound to one-way southbound: provision of restricted turning movements at the junction of Henry Street/Lower Mallow Street and O’Connell Street/Mallow Street: conversion of O’Connell Street between Mallow Street and Cecil Street from one-way southbound to two-way traffic: construction of a new road link between Cathedral Place and Sexton Street: provision of new traffic signals at High Street/Wickham Street: conversion of Broad Street from two-way to one-way northbound.

While the recommendations have yet to be studied in detail by the councillors on the Transportation Strategic Policy Committee, and also by all of the councillors on Limerick City Council, before a period of consultation with the public is entered into, cllr Diarmuid Scully suggested that serious consideration be given to making the quays a pedestrianised area.

“I’m worried about putting thousands more cars on the quays. We’re dedicated to enhancing the riverscape with linear walks, boardwalks and further appropriate development but choking up the quays with traffic is not an attractive scenario,” he said.

Referring to the successful pedestrianisation of Birmingham city’s centre, which has been accepted as a model for other cities, the councillor said: “Birmingham, however, does not have a quayside stretch such as Limerick’s so close to its city centre streets.”

Cllr John Ryan and Cllr Kieran O’Hanlon also expressed reservations about a negative impact on the quays arising from changed traffic management.

“Pedestrianisation of the quays is worth investigating with an open mind,” said Cllr Ryan who adds: “our river is our biggest asset and we should be looking at extending areas of the quays out on to the river and imaginatively developing them,” he said.

Cllr O’Hanlon urged a rethink on the quays and the potential they present to develop the city’s riverscape into a “beautiful city landmark area.” He said it is his understanding that a new City Library to replace the existing building on Michael Street will be built on Poor Man’s Kilkee, but this could not be confirmed at time of gong to press as city librarian, Dolores Doyle, was not available for comment.

City Council’s director of services, Pat Dromey, told the councillors that the Council “will take another look at the quays” and that a full report will be provided in early spring.

The architect, Nicholas de Jong, who is overseeing the city centre renewal programme, was not available for comment