Arbour Hill Traffic Changes Proposals - Public Consultation

6 March 2007

by Cllr Joe Costello

Hill/Montpelier Hill In 2005 Dublin City Council introduced major traffic calming measures at Arbour Hill/Montpelier Hill without any consultation with local residents and as a result created traffic mayhem in the area. Following the public outcry over the changes the traffic restrictions were removed and Dublin City Council agreed to engage in a public consultation on any further traffic calming measures in the area.
The Traffic Department has now presented five options to resolve traffic issues at Arbour Hill/Montpelier Hill and will be putting this out to public consultation over the next few weeks.
The options and advantages and disadvantages of each option as outlined by the Traffic Department as presented as follows:

Option 1 Do-nothing
No change in traffic flows or traffic movements on Arbour Hill, Montpelier Hill or
Temple Street West.

Advantages
Less inconvenience for residents living on Arbour Hill, Montpelier Hill and Temple Street West in accessing their roads.

Disadvantages
No reduction in through traffic on Arbour Hill, Montpelier Hill and Temple Street West.
Little reduction in traffic speeds on the middle and west part of Arbour Hill.

Option 2 Traffic calming on Arbour Hill with no traffic restrictions
To reduce speeding on Arbour Hill, speed ramps (4.5m) are proposed near Lighting Standards at the following locations: near entrance to prison car park, in front of the prison, near entrance to the church, facing gable of No. 1 Ard Righ Road and two further optional ramps in front of No. 20 Arbour Hill and west of No. 10B Arbour Hill

Advantages
Reduction in traffic speeds on Arbour Hill.
Less inconvenience for residents than with traffic restrictions.

Disadvantages
Little effect or reduction in through traffic volumes.
Increased traffic noise in immediate vicinity of ramps near the residential end at No. 20 and at No. 10B Arbour Hill.
High cost for providing ramps.

Option 3 Morning peak restrictions.
Reduce the amount of traffic in the morning peak from Parkgate Street using Arbour Hill and Montpelier Hill as a through route to Brunswick Street North.

Advantages
Reduction in through traffic on Arbour Hill and Montpelier Hill from Infirmary Road and Wolfe Tone Quay.
More pleasant environment for residents.

Disadvantages
Will inconvenience local residents from 7am to 10am.
Difficult to enforce the ‘no right turn' and ‘no left turn' traffic restrictions in the morning peak, particularly the ‘no left turn' from the north quays.
May result in additional traffic being generated on Montpelier Gardens and Oxmantown Road.

Option 4 Traffic Signals with No left turn and a No right turn from Stoneybatter onto Arbour Hill.
The provision of traffic signals aims to improve traffic flow at the junction of Arbour Hill, North Brunswick Street and Stoneybatter, in particular for the Blanchardstown QBC and traffic from Arbour Hill. Access to Arbour Hill will be via Manor Place and Ard Righ Road.

Advantages
Improve traffic flow at the junction by reducing conflicts from the different traffic movements at the junction
Assists northbound traffic from Blackhall Place, which is often delayed by traffic turning left into Arbour Hill from Blackhall Place.

Disadvantages
Will inconvenience local residents traffic from Stoneybatter along Arbour Hill
Little effect on or reduction in morning peak through eastbound traffic volumes.
Difficult to enforce the ‘no right turn' and ‘no left turn' traffic restrictions.
May result in additional traffic using Manor Place and nearby roads.

Option 5 No entry on Temple Street West north of the junction with Montpelier Hill
All eastbound traffic from Montpelier Hill to be diverted right only onto Temple Street West to North Quays. Traffic from North Quays onto Temple Street West to be diverted left only onto Montpelier Hill.

Advantages
Reduction in through traffic on Arbour Hill from Infirmary Road, Montpelier Hill and Temple Street West.
Westbound and eastbound traffic flow maintained on Arbour Hill for residents.
More pleasant environment for residents.

Disadvantages
Will inconvenience residents and business on Montpelier Hill and Temple Street West.
May not reduce through traffic on Arbour Hill between the junctions with Ard Righ Road and Stoneybatter.
Difficult to enforce the ‘No Entry' traffic restriction.
May result in additional traffic being generated on Montpelier Gardens and Oxmantown Road.
High cost for providing traffic signals

Consultation
A public consultation on the traffic management options is currently being carried out. The full proposals are on public display in the Civic Offices and the Community Centre Prussia Street from 6th to 9th March. Submissions are invited from the public by 27th March 2007.

The outcome of the public consultation will be presented to the Area Committee before a final decision is made. I will keep you informed of developments.

I would welcome your feedback on these proposals.I can be contacted at or email us at joecostello@eircom.net or call me at (01) 8308182 / 086 3831805, or call to our advice centre at the Community Centre, Prussia Street, Mondays from 5.30 to 6.30 p.m.