Underpasses in Ireland

murphaph

Following a thread on SABRE, I'm wondering can you help me compile a list of pedestrian underpasses (called subways in Britain) around Ireland. I don't believe we have many. There's one in Blackrock, Co Dublin but after that I'm all out. Any takers?

mike65

Rare as hens teeth here. Kilkenny has one -its part of the shopping complex off the high street. Commerical deliveries can be walked through to the main area under a street.

Mike.

tampopo

Wasn't there one in Ballymun, at least before the regeneration???

Under the Dart at Lansdowne Rd Station. Under the railway at Killiney, and at Greystones...clutching at straws there...

murphaph

No railway ones allowed! There appears to be an underpass under Wyckham Way at Ballaly Luas stop? can anyone confirm? There is another pair that come to mind which gets you through the M50 junctions at the N81 and N3.

They are all over Europe, I suppose we never had the money to build them and they're out of fashion nowadays with many in the UK being filled in due to anti-social behaviour.

FunkyDa

tampopo wrote:

Wasn't there one in Ballymun, at least before the regeneration???

Under the Dart at Lansdowne Rd Station. Under the railway at Killiney, and at Greystones...clutching at straws there...

IIRC, there was one at the school, on the right, on the way up into Ballymun. The big roundabout(now filled in), in the centre of Ballymun, also had pedestrian underpasses. There is one at Northside shopping centre, under the Oscar Traynor Road(this is due to be filled in as part of the Northside Town Centre development plan - a massive redevelopment).

Irjudge1

There was one on the Tolka Valley Road in Finglas West. This was filled in about five years ago by the City Council because of druggie problems.

There's one in Belfast at the Northern end of Ann Street to cross Musgrave Street.

Mushy

One in Stillorgan aswell. Across the junction from Bondi, the underpass goes towards Blackrock. In that direction. Description isnt very good.

fricatus

There's one in Blanchardstown that runs from the Snugborough Road, under the roundabout just north of the N3 bridge, then underneath the N3 itself and emerges in Blanch village. From the map it looks like it's what remains of the Old Corduff Road, from before the N3 dual carriageway was built back whenever (late '80s?).

murphaph

fricatus wrote:

There's one in Blanchardstown that runs from the Snugborough Road, under the roundabout just north of the N3 bridge, then underneath the N3 itself and emerges in Blanch village. From the map it looks like it's what remains of the Old Corduff Road, from before the N3 dual carriageway was built back whenever (late '80s?).

I know that one well but I'm not counting it as an underpass as the N3 is up on an embankment at that point and so it's more a bridge over the footpath (it is the former road btw) than an underpass. For the purposes of this exercise, let's say that the underpass must have steps/ramp down to it.

gurramok

There is/was a small one under M1( i think) between the Oak estate in Santry and Clonshaugh Ind Estate(near old Gateway factory), years since i was up that way though to see if it still exists now.

The_Bullman

Do private underpasses count?

If so there's an underpass under the N1 between the two sides of the Carrickdale Hotel

dead air

There's a pedestrian underpass at Seapoint, Balbriggan under the railway line about 250 metres south of Balbriggan train station.

ardmacha

There aren't half enough in Ireland. A classic example is Frascati road in Blackrock in Dublin. Here you have two shopping centres both with basement levels. Yet to between them you have to walk across a car park and use a pedestrian traffic light. There absolutely should have been an underpass here, even if it was only open when the shopping centres are open, that is when it is needed. The shopping centres could have maintained it.

Another example is the Belgard rd in Tallaght near the Square. Here there is traffic calming on what should be an important local distributer road as people are crossing, they should have built a piazza above the road and grade separated the pedestrian and traffic.

Prof_V

I believe there was one on Kilbarrack Road towards the fire station end - I've no idea if it's still there, though it doesn't seem to appear on maps any more.

Isn't the M1 underpass actually a bridge over the Santry River, which has a footpath along the bank? (This situation occurs in lots of other places, e.g. most of the more modern bridges on the Dodder, to say nothing of canal towpaths).

Regarding Ballymun, there seem to have been at least eight (counting the roundabout as just one), which must account for a fair chunk of the national total.

OTK

World's most unsuccessful urban design element. Watch a film called Irréversible to learn everything you need to know about underpasses.

westtip

We don't even do footpaths for pedestrians in this country why would we bother with the expense of well lit, cctv covered underpasses which people can walk, cycle and push a buggy under - I will give you an example of where one is needed at the Western end of the Athlone bypass - traffic hurtles off the by-pass when the road comes back down to single lane - there is a turn to the right into a townland called Drum - but more importantly there are two schools just off this junction a national school and secondary girls school, if there was an underpass here children could safely walk (or even cycle) or be walked to school from the houses on the other side of the main N4 (ie on the left as travelling from Athlone towards Ballinasloe/Galway), a footbridge would have been handy but not easy for buggies or bikes, a cut and cover underpass could have been put in when they built the Athlone bypass as this whole section of road was dug up to merge the new dc with the old road, but oh no - this is Ireland we just don't consider pedestrians and cyclists and then we sit back and blame them (pedestrians anc cyclists) when they get hit by cars hurtling along our shiny new roads.

Many of the new built up towns in the south of England have used underpasses for pedestrian and cycling access - vist Basingtoke and Milton Keynes for example, and yes they sometimes attract undesirable anti-social behaviour but in the main this can be dealt with by CCTV and good policing.

Victor

* Wilton Roundabout / Shopping Centre in Cork, but I think it is closed / demolished. Marked on this map http://www.corkcity.ie/maps/maps/41.html
* The Glen in Cork - near the church(?). http://www.corkcity.ie/maps/maps/12.html Not marked.
* The was four on the main roundabout in Ballymun.
* Dodder bridge at Milltown - doubles as an overflow for the river.
* Guiness Brewery under Thomas Street.

Much more interesting are 19th century fly-overs, e.g. where Carrigaline road cross over Church Road in Douglas. http://www.corkcity.ie/maps/maps/58.html

And another at Glounthaune.

mike65

I've a vague suspicion there may be one in Midleton, could well be wrong.

Mike.

mikemac

There is one under the roundabout at Ballybrit, Galway. Very close to the race track.

It's excellent too-with a seperate cycle lane

tampopo

OTK wrote:

World's most unsuccessful urban design element. Watch a film called Irréversible to learn everything you need to know about underpasses.

Yeah, I thought of that film when I saw this thread. Yer man with the FULL boner, trust the French to show something like that!!! lol.

On the N11 bypassing Kisquade, just at the Delgany exit, isn't there an overpass there? I remember it opening in the late 70's/early 80's and when it was new you could see the grilles/air shafts. Used to go down to WX most weekends to de caravan!!! Haven't been on the road much or in a while recently...

embraer170

* Wilton Roundabout / Shopping Centre in Cork, but I think it is closed / demolished. Marked on this map http://www.corkcity.ie/maps/maps/41.html

Gone indeed.

Victor

mike65 wrote:

I've a vague suspicion there may be one in Midleton, could well be wrong.

I think its a proper underbridge. Between the river and the roundabout.

Is it Mother Hubbards in Mullingar? They have a service area on the bypass, with petrol stations both sides, but the restaurant on one side.

Also, for cattle underpasses, there be hundreds of 'em.

dcr22B

Victor wrote:

I think its a proper underbridge. Between the river and the roundabout.

Is it Mother Hubbards in Mullingar? They have a service area on the bypass, with petrol stations both sides, but the restaurant on one side.

Also, for cattle underpasses, there be hundreds of 'em.

No. it's Hammill's Esso in Mullingar.

Garret

underpasses, sketch city if ya ask me, overpasses>underpasses

SeaSide

by northside shopping centre near clonshaugh where gateway was

also on the way to Cork under the N7 they are putting in at least one

Victor

tampopo wrote:

Under the railway at Killiney

Actually, this one does count as it is under both the railway and the road - for access to the beach. It is however vehicle accessible, making it another 19th century road over road.

John R

Ballybrack, beside Tesco.

John R

Victor wrote:

Actually, this one does count as it is under both the railway and the road - for access to the beach. It is however vehicle accessible, making it another 19th century road over road.

There are 2 of them close together there and a third one along the line towards Shankill.

JupiterKid

Pedestrian underpasses were all the rage here in Ireland in the 1970s (when limited finances permitted) along with other urban design failures like neighbourhood units and large, unsupervised peripheral open spaces on the edge of large housing estates. The ides of these underpasses dates back to the Radburn urban design movement of the 1920s and perhaps further still to the 1850s planning of New York's Central Park.

To my knowledge, Ballymun had a few (now gone), there were a couple along the Oscar Traynor Road and its extension, Tonlagee Road, on the Northside. There is also a pedestrian underpass under the Stillorgan Dual carriageway. Many of these have been removed because of the anti-social behaviour problems and the perceived danger of vulnerable persons being trapped in them by gangs.

Finally, there are also pedestrian underpasses of more recent vintage at the M50/N81 and M50/N3 roundabout junctions as Spawell and Blanchardstown respectively.

Victor

Under the M1, halfway between the Boyne Bridge and the N51 interchange.

popebenny16

There were eight in Ballymun I think. The longest was under the DC at Santry (scary) but there were others under Balcurris Road and Sillogue Road. Then there were four at the Roundabout as well. All long filled in. They were pedestrian (used to be nice white granite bollards to stop traffic using them).

johnbk

On the N25 outside Wexford beside Mother Hubbards

GerardKeating

Prof_V wrote: »

I believe there was one on Kilbarrack Road towards the fire station end - I've no idea if it's still there, though it doesn't seem to appear on maps any more.

I think that one is long long gone.

strassenwolf

Victor wrote: »

Much more interesting are 19th century fly-overs, e.g. where Carrigaline road cross over Church Road in Douglas. http://www.corkcity.ie/maps/maps/58.html

And another at Glounthaune.

And another, not sure if it dates from the 19th century though, beside Jack Mead's pub just outside Waterford City.

gabigeist

The new Dun laoghaire golf club have one linking the middle nine with the back nine. Under the Ballyman road I think. It might cater for the odd golf buggy though so don;t know if it counts as pedestrian.

Also I spotted a girl having a pee in the one behind Bank of ireland Dundrum, going under the luas track. Part of the old harcourt line. The reason there are so few is prob cos we are fond of pissing in them.

MrPudding

OTK wrote: »

World's most unsuccessful urban design element. Watch a film called Irréversible to learn everything you need to know about underpasses.

Wow. I thought that movie was a work of fiction rather than a documentary to tell me everything I need to know about underpasses. I guess I will have to watch it again.

murphaph wrote: »

They are all over Europe, I suppose we never had the money to build them and they're out of fashion nowadays with many in the UK being filled in due to anti-social behaviour.

There are dozens of them in Milton Keynes, possibly hundreds. Every road in the grid has under or over passes or indeed both. Great system. It is possible to get from anywhere in the city to anywhere else on foot, on a bike or on a horse without having to cross a road. Still very much in fashion here.

MrP

paulm17781

MrPudding wrote: »

There are dozens of them in Milton Keynes, possibly hundreds. Every road in the grid has under or over passes or indeed both. Great system. It is possible to get from anywhere in the city to anywhere else on foot, on a bike or on a horse without having to cross a road. Still very much in fashion here.

That's the thing. Where they work they're excellent. Sadly they are most people's last choice.

Montreal city centre is entirely connected underground via malls and underpasses. Everything has a shop and a purpose. If we could make more pedestrian thoroughfares underground like that here, they could be a great Example. If I may take my crayons out for a moment. Fleet st - Westmorlan st - D'Olier st. - O'connell st. Busy road junction slow to cross, if there were a large amount under that, it could be very handy. Maybe metro will help but I hate trying to cross that road in morning or evening rush hours. I missed many buses as I couldn't cross the road.

Pgibson

OTK wrote: »

World's most unsuccessful urban design element. Watch a film called Irréversible to learn everything you need to know about underpasses.

When I was in London I never felt comfortable walking through them.
Especially in the evening.
Menace in the air.
(I used to think it was all in my head.)


.

Victor

paulm17781 wrote: »

If I may take my crayons out for a moment. Fleet st - Westmorlan st - D'Olier st. - O'connell st. Busy road junction slow to cross, if there were a large amount under that, it could be very handy. Maybe metro will help but I hate trying to cross that road in morning or evening rush hours. I missed many buses as I couldn't cross the road.

**cough** Liffey **cough**

Makes it difficult, although not necessarily impossible.

serfboard

paulm17781 wrote: »

Montreal city centre is entirely connected underground via malls and underpasses. Everything has a shop and a purpose. If we could make more pedestrian thoroughfares underground like that here, they could be a great

Toronto has them as well, and they're great. But, they're such a completely different concept, they're hardly like underpasses - more like an underground street.

I think what people have in mind here are things like underpasses at dual carriageways where you wouldn't have the volumes for that kind of system.

paulm17781

serfboard wrote: »

I think what people have in mind here are things like underpasses at dual carriageways where you wouldn't have the volumes for that kind of system.

I'm living in fantasy land at the minute but if they could be made safe they are so much better than lights. I think it is terrible the amount of traffic that gets disrupted by people at corssings, the N7 just past the Red cow had traffic lights right by the bridge, this continues through out the N11 too.

Underpasses would get rid of the need for traffic lights but I don't even like them much as a precaution, I can't see most people wanting to use them.

Victor

I mentioned this above, but I'm surprised that (a) this one was built (b) it hasn't been closed.

I can't imagine any self-respecting gurrier hanging out around it when people can easily bypass it.

http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCP&cp=snjqkbg8v9vj&style=o&lvl=2&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=27175144&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&encType=1

tubedude

MrPudding wrote: »

Wow. I thought that movie was a work of fiction rather than a documentary to tell me everything I need to know about underpasses. I guess I will have to watch it again.

MrP

Yeah, because everyone knows there's no such thing as rape in real life.
Underpasses are for cockroaches.

It's different though when it's part of some kind of monitored complex.
All the public ones I've known, after a certain time you'd be mad to go through them on your own.

Wild Bill

This thread started with a mention of the underpass in Blackrock. There are actually two, built with the original Blackrock "half-bypass" in the late 1960s or early 1970s. One is at the bottom of Mount Merrion Avenue and the other at Carysfort Avenue, about 300m respectively north and south of the place where two shopping centres are separate by a major road, the N31, which connects Dun Laoghaire Port to the M50!

I think they are sealed off now - not sure. But from the start they had surface level signalised pedestrian crossing right above them, were prone to flooding and nobody bar the odd hooligan used them.

They could, like that blue overbridge on the Portlaoise inner-bypass, be classified as the very definition of "white elephants" !

L1011

ah, I remember those underpasses now come to think of it.

Google Maps makes it look like the Carysfort one may be open but I can't see the eastern portal to the Mount Merrion one now; area is a bit of a building site when the Google imagery was taken.

L1011

dcr22B wrote: »

No. it's Hammill's Esso in Mullingar.

This is blocked off. It was also wide enough for a car when it was open.


Is this: http://maps.google.co.uk/?ie=UTF8&ll=53.395292,-6.21408&spn=0.000494,0.001725&t=h&z=19 a pedestrian underpass in to the Northside Shopping Centre?

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=patrician+villas+stillorgan&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=7.347033,28.256836&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Patrician+Villas,+Stillorgan,+County+Dun+Laoghaire-Rathdown,+Ireland&ll=53.290221,-6.196563&spn=0.000454,0.001725&t=h&z=19 one under the N11 there, just found it while googling to see if those Blackrock ones were open.

rainbowdash

Theres one, possibly Irelands newest at the hurlers cross under the Limerick - Ennis dualcarraigeway. It was put in as an afterthought during the recent upgrade AFAIK and I doubt it gets many people under it (nobody lives nearby)

It probably cost a fortune, a complete white elephant.

It comes out near the dairygold COOP if anybody knows it.

larryone

Topsoil is owned by the state if it's a public road. I believe there is a specified depth in the regs. If you have road frontage, you own the subsoil to the halfway point of the road. If you own property either side, then you are free to tunnel under the road, as the subsoil is all yours. These regulations have allowed some of these underpasses to be installed.

DundalkDuffman

larryone wrote: »

If you own property either side, then you are free to tunnel under the road, as the subsoil is all yours. These regulations have allowed some of these underpasses to be installed.

Which sounds like the Carrickdale Hotel in Ravensdale Louth managed to do. They have had an underpass under the old Dundalk/Newry N1 main road for years now. It links their leisure centre and car park with the hotel on the opposite side of the road

encryptix

one in leixlip/lucan beside the dam / weston. Goes under the m4.

Victor

Wild Bill wrote: »

This thread started with a mention of the underpass in Blackrock. There are actually two, built with the original Blackrock "half-bypass" in the late 1960s or early 1970s. One is at the bottom of Mount Merrion Avenue and the other at Carysfort Avenue, about 300m respectively north and south of the place where two shopping centres are separate by a major road, the N31, which connects Dun Laoghaire Port to the M50!

I think they are sealed off now - not sure. But from the start they had surface level signalised pedestrian crossing right above them, were prone to flooding and nobody bar the odd hooligan used them.

They could, like that blue overbridge on the Portlaoise inner-bypass, be classified as the very definition of "white elephants" !

Either side of the truck here: http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=swhcd5ggj8m4&scene=29510204&lvl=2&sty=o

From houses to office block: http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=swh1x6ggjj7k&scene=29511310&lvl=2&sty=o