Construction for the first of 12 dedicated bus corridors for the BusConnects project in Dublin is set to commence in September and will cover a distance of 9.2 km from Liffey Valley to the city centre.
The project is estimated to cost between €198m and €247m, with the GMC Group awarded the main contract, aiming to enhance bus transit within the city.
Passenger numbers on services using this corridor are expected to rise by 58pc, with a 45pc increase anticipated for walkers and cyclists benefiting from new infrastructure.
Dublin’s bus corridors will prioritise bus traffic, providing exclusive lanes at junctions and traffic lights, while accommodating 230 km of dedicated routes and 200 km of improved cycle lanes.
Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien expressed optimism over MetroLink and stated that he expects ongoing projects to adhere to timelines, despite challenges posed by ongoing court cases regarding some corridors.
Darragh O’Brien shared, “Today marks a major turning point for BusConnects and for public transport in Dublin. I emphasised two things – on time and on budget. I’m not sure if Michael has looked at the business case for Metro – that for every euro invested there will be a return of €4 to the economy and the exchequer. The extension of free travel for children up to eight would go ahead in September or October.”
