LUAS in Harcourt Street (Update No.8)
- This topic has 180 replies, 23 voices, and was last updated 22 years, 5 months ago by
.
- Posts
In fairness its about time there was any kind of bias towards Tallaght. The northside already had a DART line, south west / west Dublin, with a huge population, had nothing.
Back to luas surfaces for a minute:
I see that a fine area of historic granite paving outside Wynn’s Hotel on Abbey Street is being maintained in situ at the moment while everything else around is being repaved and resurfaced.
This wouldn’t be an issue except that complete and intact historic pavements were removed from outside the Court House and Bridewell on Chancery Street a few years ago when luas work was beginning, and have not been reinstated.
I was annoyed about this and complained and got a long and slightly pompous letter back from the RPA explaining why this couldn’t be done because of “extensive platform construction below ground” – but it is being done now at Wynn’s!
And I doubt historic pavements on College Green would have been replaced had luas gone through there as originally planned (more nth./sth. bias).
Going back to JJ’s photo, below, its a shame they built the concrete wall on the left. Surely keeping this area open would have been better. Dublin has little open spaces as it is.
Photo here shows cobbles between the lines in Smithfield
Thanks goodness for that – I was getting worried about that particular issue. Mind you If you want to talk abou bias (a bias towards stupidity?) why not have started the Ballymun/airport line whilst Ballymun has the guts ripped out of it rather than waiting indefinitely
Blue,
My recollection of the inquiry was that the owners in Harbourmater place insisted on a wall and the judge put in a requirement for one in the light rail order. There’s also a significant difference in height between Harbourmaster Place and Amiens Street.There’s a decorative railing to be installed above the wall as well.
I’ve attached another view of the balcony area looking back towards the station entrance. The final scheme will have four stretched fabric canopies overhead. You can see the vertical wall for the lift on the right of the picture.
JJ
Looking at that picture – the Connolly building on the right is really horribly dated now, not that it was ever good architecture.
To give the RPA/CC some credit Devin – I’m sure the pavements on College Green would have been reinstated, hopefully even they are not that ignorant of their value.
Ah no wait – I see it now – I always thought it was only temporary hoarding!
God it’s repulsive, it’s going to be rendered etc of course but still, it’s a great pity how it breaks up the area as everyone says.JJ,
I thought it may be a retaining wall of some sort but the difference in levels could have been sorted out or use steps instead.
Any idea why the Harbour Master insisted on the wall? What’s it function?
The IFSC had security Gaurds on the front entrance until early 2000, robo-gaurd down there would question anyone he didn’t know?
The back gate only came down in early 2000 co-inciding with the opening of the second phase.
In one word Nerves
In fact it actually shows how late this project is!!!!!
Spot on Disapora,
There was an old stone wall some 8m high in this position protecting the inhabitants of the IFSC. It’s still a private road in fact. The wall and railing was to “mitigate” the impact of removing the old dock wall. Issues about security, noise and general nuisance were given as reasons.As for steps in this area, I think due to railway safety this would not have worked.
The wall is being faced on both sides with new stonework so it should look pretty good( see attached ). I think the section towards the station end is far too high however.
JJ
What I meant was that I doubt that the old pavements at college green would have been removed and replaced with something else (yet it is! happening to old pavements behind the four courts).
Overall I think the quality of surfacing on the luas corridor is fairly good. But, having a conservation background, I’d like to have seen more historic material maintained or re-integrated.
Is that wall (in the image) built of salvaged stone from the Amiens Street wall of the ramp, or is it new stone, or is it fake stone or what?
Originally posted by Diaspora
I think the bias reflects penny pinching from an Athlone based politician and nothing to do with the humour of the dubs.Not entirely so (no fan of the Athlone politician in question). The LUAS project office never prepared detailed plans for the Ballymun line to start with, it was their decision to screw the northside.
It’s a pity they didn’t.
When you think how simple the first DTO report was in 1992.
Build Three lines
I just feel that like the conference centre decision going to the RDS, the plans made by the previous govt should have been left as they were.
Reclaimed stone is being used on the staircase onto Amiens Street. The wall in Harbourmaster Place as seen in the picture is new limestone ( I hear that it is imported from Poland !!!! ). Apparently only some of the old stone could be salvaged as a large part of the ramp was constructed from random rubble.
JJSorry Devin – I should learn to read properly.
JJ there was a massive amount of limestone facing the Amiens St side of the ramp, mighty ‘ they don’t make them like that anymore’ blocks of the stuff – surely all of this has been salvaged.
Do you know where it is now?
The stone going up now is very nice.I was in the station today – you can get a good view of the works now through the doors. There’s a big platform outside the doors, it feels like the deck on the back of a ship, and overlooks the whole area (where the original pic was taken from)
As you mentioned the lift shaft links up to it, as does a substantial stairway, and double escalators.Why is it everytime I walk past Luas works they are going at a snail’s pace. Three/four contractors at most standing around and one working.
Completion by June, thoughts?
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
