A trial pedestrianisation of Dublin's Capel Street is to be carried out next month after a public consultation revealed support for traffic reduction.
Dublin City Council is going ahead with proposed changes to the historic north city thoroughfare, including the full pedestrianisation of a section to the northern end.
There will also be the removal of on-street parking spaces to the southern end near the quays to allow 'buildouts' to the pavement.
A two-week consultation generated 4,500 submissions, mostly from members of the public, who were 85% in favour.
Local businesses and residents made over 500 submissions with smaller majorities - 59% and 74% - in favour.
The council said it will going ahead with the proposed changes including the full pedestrianisation of the area between Ryders Row and Parnell Street.
The council will also be increasing the buildouts on the western section between Abbey Street and the quays to take up a full traffic lane.
However, the city council said in a statement that many people had wanted to see more ambitious plans and it will be starting pedestrianisation trials over six weeks in June.
Local Green Party Councillor Janet Horner welcomed the trials saying "this is a huge opportunity to reimagine the street and to better envisage its full potential as an eclectic, vibrant northside hub, free from congestion and danger of traffic".
Capel Street was laid out in the 17th Century and became a popular residential street at a time when Dublin Port's original Customs House was located on the other side of Essex Bridge - now Grattan Bridge.
The streets will be traffic free or partly traffic free from 11am every day.
They are:
- Anne Street South from the junction of Dawson Street
- South William Street from Exchequer Street to the Brown Thomas carpark exit
- Drury Street from just after its junction with Fade Street to the Drury Street underground carpark
- Dame Court From Exchequer Street
The city council said the initiative is part of a programme being led by the Office of City Recovery.
It follows trials last year and a public consultation that found 97% of respondents in favour.
A total of 34 on-street parking spaces will be removed while five disabled parking bays will be relocated.
