Metro works may endanger jobs

paulm17781 · 03-12-2007 5:32pm #1

rte.ie/news wrote:

Dublin business leaders are warning that construction works for the Metro North could put up to 5,000 jobs at risk.

But the Rail Procurement Agency says it will be drawing up a management plan to minimise disruption before the issue goes before An Bord Pleanála next year.

The Dublin City Centre Business Association claims people do not realise the extent of the disruption due from Metro North.
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It cites the fact that O'Connell Street will be dug up for 18 months and up to 200 trucks a day will be taking soil from the tunnel.

DCBA wants the RPA to stick to tunnelling instead of cut and cover and to consider a stop on Marlborough Street instead of two subway stations in the O'Connell Street area.

The RPA says it will consider tunnelling as much as it can but says the present route is the best available.

The RPA points out that An Bord Pleanála is due to consider the issue next March.

Yay!!!!!!!!!!!! It's Harcourt St. all over again. Not a lesson learned.

trellheim · 03-12-2007 5:38pm

And ignores the extra commotion
due to
Lucan Luas
BX
Interconnector
+
whatever you're having yourself

Meanwhile our chums in the west of the city can look forward to Metro West digging it all up over there as well, so they'll be happy they're not going to be left out.

Remember folks there is NO combined plan to build all these to minimize disruption , either with each other or with other modes of transport [ except for a kick-to-touch transport modelling of BX to DCC ]

For example Lucan Luas [ if to Dame St ] , BX and Metro North will all result in Westmoreland/College Green being dug up 3 separate times , not once to build them all.

Chris_533976 · 03-12-2007 5:50pm

Tell Dublin Business leaders to sod off and let them build the thing. Its no wonder nothing gets done here with people complaining all the time.

Victor · 03-12-2007 6:07pm

Chris_533976 wrote: »

Tell Dublin Business leaders to sod off and let them build the thing. Its no wonder nothing gets done here with people complaining all the time.

In fairness, the DCCBA are pro-public transport and anti-car. They realise that people can't buy things while sitting in a car.

trellheim · 03-12-2007 6:34pm

if you ran a shop how would you like the street outside dug up for 18 months [ and 18 is a very very very conservative estimate ]

or would you like a trench outside your house for 18 months

Fratton Fred · 03-12-2007 6:44pm

Chris_533976 wrote: »

Tell Dublin Business leaders to sod off and let them build the thing. Its no wonder nothing gets done here with people complaining all the time.

If we left it to business leaders to build and run the metro system it would be in place, delivered to budget and running at a profit. Now that would be no good would it.:D

astrofool · 03-12-2007 7:06pm

O'Connell Street ain't exactly a shopping nirvana however, Clery's is about the only reputable place on it.

But, ffs, they just re-did the entire street top to bottom, forward planning for the win.

steve-o · 03-12-2007 7:25pm

rte wrote:

DCBA wants the RPA to stick to tunnelling instead of cut and cover

Think of the disruption when they drain the Liffey for this cut and cover job

DublinWriter · 03-12-2007 7:51pm

paulm17781 wrote: »

Yay!!!!!!!!!!!! It's Harcourt St. all over again. Not a lesson learned.

I worked in the Harcourt St. area when all that was going on.

They were just laying down two sets of lines and the place looked like the Somme for the best part of two years (yes, I know they had to dig up and reinforce cellars).

The Metro will be much more complex to install and I shudder to think what's going to happen.

ad hoc · 03-12-2007 7:56pm

The RPA have never suggested using the 'cut and cover' tunnel construction technique in the city centre. But they have agreed to use that technique in Ballymun in preference to open cuttings.

This is just DCBA posturing. No pain, no gain. Simple as.

North Dublin commuters put up with Port Tunnel 'cut and cover' works for over 2 years which led to serious congestion on many routes in the area - and it was well worth it.

murphaph · 03-12-2007 8:39pm

trellheim wrote: »

if you ran a shop how would you like the street outside dug up for 18 months [ and 18 is a very very very conservative estimate ]

or would you like a trench outside your house for 18 months

I would if it was going to result in a connection to the metro system.

dazberry · 03-12-2007 8:55pm

DublinWriter wrote: »

I worked in the Harcourt St. area when all that was going on.

I worked in Abbey St when the initial works were done on the Red Line. Constant noise and banging etc. The final straw was when the water was cut off and it was a nightmare trying to get it reconnected. Company moved out soon after.

D.

OTK · 04-12-2007 10:41am

trellheim wrote: »

if you ran a shop how would you like the street outside dug up for 18 months

How would you like your footfall increased by 20-30% as happened when the first luas went in?

...or would you like a trench outside your house for 18 months

I'd love it seeing as my house would massively increase in value.

This press release reminds us that one of the real winners from transport 21 will be city centre property owners. If all is built according to plan, there will be 2 cross city dart lines, a metro and 3 luas lines delivering customers to these businesses and guaranteeing the relative importance of the city centre for the coming decades. There is a scheme to levy new developments in the catchment area of the metro, the 'supplementary development contribution scheme', but really we should be thinking how we can recoup some of these project costs from existing property owners such as by means of a special rate rise.

trellheim · 04-12-2007 11:45am

Got the numbers or a link to that footfall increase data anywhere ?

Also although OTK I know you probably don't have the data the cost comparison between cut and cover and TBM would be interesting if anyone does, probably an RPA report somewhere.

bk · 04-12-2007 12:06pm

trellheim wrote: »

Got the numbers or a link to that footfall increase data anywhere ?

A quick google found this:
http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2004/10/03/story14695836.asp

It is also plainly obvious to anyone to see, areas which were completely run down in the past along Abbey St are being completely redeveloped with many new stores, pubs and night clubs.

Arnotts are going to build a massive new shopping area along the entire block between Henry St and Abbey St. It is going to be one of the largest shopping developments in Europe and it will generate thousands of jobs.

This is being developed in no small part due to the Luas on Abbey St and the upcoming Metro.

trellheim · 04-12-2007 12:10pm

thats urban regeneration and not all the LUAS by that comparison Benburb st should be hopping.

Slice · 04-12-2007 1:12pm

no pain; no gain

OTK · 04-12-2007 1:24pm

Before the Luas was built, Benburb street was one of the worst streets in Dublin, a backalley full of child prostitutes and associated violent criminals. By comparison it is now relatively clean and safe for pedestrians. The southside of the street consists of the rear sides of apartment blocks on the quays but the north side even has an art gallery.

Cut and cover is not being considered for the metro and it makes the DCBA look a little stupid to have raised it. Cut and cover was abandoned for metro construction in London in the 19th century due to the massive disruption to the city. Cut and cover costs depend on the depth of the track below street level. Below a certain level, a tunnel is cheaper. More interesting is which dublin metro stations will be mined and which excavated.

ilovegermany · 10-12-2007 3:20pm

The scary thing is that about 30% of Stephens Green will be turned into a building site for Metro works - yet it will have to be dug up all over again in a few years to facilitiate the upgrade of the Sandyford Luas to metro standard

This country is a joke:mad:

markpb · 10-12-2007 3:40pm

You're safe enough there because there's not a hope in hell of the Green line being upgraded to metro in the next decade and AFAIK there aren't even any plans to consider doing it.

ilovegermany · 10-12-2007 3:47pm

This country is a disaster:mad:

Surely when they extend the Sandyford Luas to Cherrywood it will nearly be full by the time it reaches Sandyford. They will have to upgrade it eventually no?

trellheim · 10-12-2007 4:06pm

after Cherrywood extension.

:):)

markpb · 10-12-2007 4:17pm

To be fair, thats what the Red line is like already :P

There's talk of running shorts between Stepehens Green and Sandyford as well as full length routes all the way to Rosslare... sorry Bray. That's what sensible cities do but that's never stopped us before.

Metro works may endanger jobs

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