The BusConnects corridor will link Tallaght and Clondalkin to the city centre. Pic: Getty
The BusConnects corridor connecting Tallaght and Clondalkin to Dublin city centre has finally been approved, almost a year after the application was initially expected to be processed.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) submitted the original proposal to An Bord Pleanála in April last year.
Spanning 15.5km, the corridor will run from The Square Shopping Centre in Tallaght and Nangor Road in Clondalkin to Nicholas Street near St Patrick’s Cathedral, and will feature 12 dedicated bus lanes along its route.
The new corridor will pass through key areas, including Ballymount, Walkinstown, Drimnagh, Crumlin and Dolphin’s Barn, and is expected to remove more than 100,000 car trips from the roads each day.
The BusConnects initiative aims to redesign Dublin’s bus network and establish dedicated bus corridors to facilitate faster and more efficient public transport.
The construction of these corridors will require road widening and the development of separate bus and cycle lanes.
An Bord Pleanála received 55 submissions from local residents regarding the latest corridor, expressing concerns over loss of privacy, reduction of green space, and the safety implications of road widening.
Some submissions highlighted inadequate provisions for cyclists, noting that in certain areas, bicycles would need to share space with buses and cars.
There were also 19 objections related to compulsory purchase orders for land acquisition, predominantly from commercial property owners worried about the impact on parking and deliveries.
In its recommendation to grant permission, An Bord Pleanála acknowledged the potential positive impact of the scheme on carbon emissions and traffic congestion.
The Tallaght and Clondalkin corridor is the ninth BusConnects scheme to be approved, joining other routes serving areas like Liffey Valley, Ballymun and Lucan.
Further routes are currently under review, with decisions pending on corridors from Templeogue, Kimmage and Bray.
