Parliament Street in Dublin will today become “permanently traffic free” in parts, with vehicle access cut and two-way cycling routes introduced under a major new city centre revamp.
The changes were announced this morning by Dublin City Council as part of the “next measure” in the Dublin City Transport Plan 2023.
“The street is currently dominated by pedestrians, with up to 23,000 people passing through the street a day,” the Council said.
“This space will provide an attractive north-south pedestrian and cycle route between City Hall and Bolton Street by linking with Capel Street as well as being a link between the east and west areas of Temple Bar.”
The section of Parliament Street between Essex Quay and Essex Gate will be permanently closed to all vehicles. This area will be raised to match kerb level and designated solely for pedestrians and cyclists.
Meanwhile, the area between Essex Gate and Lord Edward Street will also be traffic-free, except for delivery vehicles between 6 a.m. and 11 a.m. daily. Traffic between Essex Gate and Essex Street East will remain open to all vehicles at all times.
Two-way cycling will now be permitted on Parliament Street, and a series of new cycling infrastructure upgrades are also being introduced in the surrounding area.
“A new two-way cycling link will be created on the east side of Grattan Bridge,” the Council said.
“The traffic lanes will be reduced to one right turn lane only on the bridge.”
A similar two-way cycling corridor will be developed along the east side of Capel Street, between the quays and Strand Street Little. This, combined with northbound cycling now being permitted on Capel Street, will form a continuous route for cyclists between Dame Street and Bolton Street.
This is the third official measure introduced under the Dublin City Transport Plan 2023, following other pedestrianisation efforts and street modifications over the past year.
The plan is part of a broader strategy by the Council to reduce private vehicle traffic in the city centre, boost active travel, and increase public space allocation for walking, cycling, seating, and greening.
Under the same transport strategy, Capel Street became permanently traffic-free in 2022, followed by enhancements to pedestrian priority zones across the wider Temple Bar and College Green areas.
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