Traffic in Dublin could be impacted for the next five years by works to upgrade the capital's electricity infrastructure.
EirGrid - the power grid operator - says it needs to replace 50km of cables, some of which are up to 50 years old, to ensure the consistent and reliable supply of power in the future.
It says the programme will strengthen important electricity infrastructure in Dublin and the surrounding areas, enabling the city to bring on board more electricity generated from renewable sources.
EirGrid has proposed 12 options for the works, five of which will be chosen.
The company is asking the public for help in choosing the best possible routes.
The work will take place between four areas of Dublin and Eirgrid has outlined three potential routes for each.
North Wall to Finglas
The first is a series of routes running between North Wall and Finglas substations.
One of them would take in Alfie Byrne Road, Clontarf Road, Malahide Road, Collins Avenue, Ballymun Road and St Margaret's Road.
Another would run from Whitworth Road directly up Finglas Road.
The third would travel from Whitworth Road towards Broombridge Road in Cabra and return to Finglas via Patrickswell Place and Casement Road.
Poolbeg to North Wall
The second set of routes run between Poolbeg and North Wall.
As all three of them run within Dublin Port lands, they are likely to cause the least disruption.
Poolbeg to Carrickmines
There are three routes proposed between Poolbeg and Carrickmines.
One of them runs under the sea to Monkstown and continuing to Carrickmines.
The other two routes both begin by travelling down Beach Road, Strand Road and Rock Road before one branches out to Frascati Road, Newtown Park Avenue, Leopardstown Road and Ballyogan Road.
The other route runs through Stillorgan Road, Fosters Avenue, Mount Anville Road, Lower Kilmacud Road, Blackthorn Avenue and Ballyogan Road.
Poolbeg and Inchicore
The final three options run between Poolbeg and Inchicore.
One would go from Sean Moore Road, past the Aviva Stadium and Fitzwilliam Square, down the South Circular Road to Emmett Road and Tyrconnell Road.
The second option would run past Sandymount and Herbert Park, Ranelagh and Rathmines and on to Sundrive Road, Crumlin Road and Tyrconnell Road.
The third option is down Beach Road and Strand Road in Sandymount, on to Ailesbury Road, Eglington Road and Dartry Road, and on to Kimmage Road West, Walkinstown Avenue and Kylemore Road.
Two lines run between Poolbeg and Inchicore so this will be the only area where two out of the proposed three routes will be chosen.
EirGrid says it will finalise the routes by the end of this year.
Work will begin next year and run until 2029.
The company is a series of public information events, webinars and drop-in clincis around the city.
Sinéad Dooley, Head of Public Engagement with EirGrid, said: "We want to work with the public and listen to local voices who know their areas best, so that we can collaborate as much as possible and minimise the disruption caused to them".
People are being asked to submit their opinions on the plans by 23 May.
People can email their submissions to dublin@eirgrid.ie or via the online consultation portal at consult.eirgrid.ie.
Our public consultation portal for the Powering Up Dublin programme that will see upgrades of electricity cables around the city is now live.
— EirGrid Plc (@EirGrid) March 28, 2023
Visit https://t.co/kVnWPCR1Wg to have your say 📢 #PoweringUpDublin pic.twitter.com/wc3jCNqdYM
Chief Infrastructure Officer Michael Mahon said the works are needed to ensure Eirgrid can keep up with future demands such as housing and he said work in any area will be incremental.
Mr Mahon said: "Future-proofing is really central to this, we need this to meet our future demand. So if we can't meet the future demands, we can't actually service all of the premises that we have in Dublin.
"In particular, what's really going to be affected is that we can't support the housing boom, that's happening in Dublin and it will actually stifle growth to businesses in the area so it's really essential from that point of view.
"We're going to do this in increments. It's going to be done bit by bit, in consultation with the public so that we can really find out what's the best way to actually roll out this infrastructure that's going to minimize the amount of disruption.
He added: Then we need to open up roads in particular area to install the infrastructure.It'll be section by section so we're not going to be closing something for months.
"We're trying to take advantage of other projects that are ongoing, we're doubling up in terms of getting our infrastructure in to minimize the amount of disruption."
Sandymount in south Dublin has seen its share of infrastructural projects in recent times.
With more due, its residents say while they understand the importance of these projects, they would like to see a more joined up approach.
Carl Anderson of the Sandymount Merrion Residents Association also said its the locals preference that the line to Carrickmines runs under the sea.
Mr Anderson said: "The waterworks are being upgraded at the moment, there's talk about the Eirgrid electrical cable being installed, we've got major flood defences to be take place at the sea front, there is sewage upgrade to be done, there's the cycle path that people are talking and we've got 3,500 apartments being built.
"So we really think it's important that a task force is established to co-ordinate this work, to avoid duplication and to avoid continuously digging up the road and digging up the path. We think that there can be efficiencies of that approach is adopted, but it has to have authority."
