St. Stephens Green East changes

markpb

DCC recently published the traffic management changes to facilitate the construction of Luas BXD. They're available here. Part 8 might be of interest to some people - it fixes two anomalies on SSG East by adding a second outbound bus lanes so buses going straight into Earlsfort tce aren't blocked by buses turning left onto Leeson st.

They're also adding an outbound cycle lane so cyclists aren't forced to break the law by cycling on a contra flow bus lane or cycle around the world. Some parking spaces are being removed and the northbound cycle lane continued around the corner, eliminating what is currently a hairy junction for cyclists.

Cookie_Monster

Signalled junction with Baggot street, that's going to be messy surely?

Blowfish

markpb wrote: »

They're also adding an outbound cycle lane so cyclists aren't forced to break the law by cycling on a contra flow bus lane or cycle around the world.

Cyclists have actually been able to legally cycle on contra flow bus lanes since October. I use it every day myself on my commute home.

LXFlyer

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

Signalled junction with Baggot street, that's going to be messy surely?

I think you mean Merrion Row. It's already a signalled junction as it is with two pedestrian crossings.

seamus

lxflyer wrote: »

I think you mean Merrion Row. It's already a signalled junction as it is with two pedestrian crossings.

I think he means the fact that you'll be able to turn right off the green onto Merrion Row. That will be exceptionally popular.

Cathmandooo

seamus wrote: »

I think he means the fact that you'll be able to turn right off the green onto Merrion Row. That will be exceptionally popular.

I often see vehicles doing an illegal U turn off Stephen's Green onto Merrion Row, that new junction looks like a good plan.

I see they're making Kildare Street a 2 way. Is this to take pressure off Dawson Street?

LXFlyer

seamus wrote: »

I think he means the fact that you'll be able to turn right off the green onto Merrion Row. That will be exceptionally popular.

It will as it will remove the need to do a loop of Dawson St, Molesworth St and Kildare St.

schemingbohemia

Cathmandooo wrote: »

I often see vehicles doing an illegal U turn off Stephen's Green onto Merrion Row, that new junction looks like a good plan.

I see they're making Kildare Street a 2 way. Is this to take pressure off Dawson Street?

Do they knock the bollards blocking the way whilst doing that? I can imagine cyclists and motorcyclists doing that but it's impossible for cars.

Cathmandooo

schemingbohemia wrote: »

Do they knock the bollards blocking the way whilst doing that? I can imagine cyclists and motorcyclists doing that but it's impossible for cars.

No there's a decent break in the bollards at the pedestrian crossing which cars can fit through.

LXFlyer

It's there so that the emergency services can use it.

schemingbohemia

Ok never seen anyone try that, very risky manouevre, would love to see someone get done for doing that.

Cool Mo D

If they want this to work, there'll have to be a severe crackdown on cars and taxis parked outside the Shelbourne and in the bus lane at the start of Merrion Row. It will have to be a 24 hour clearway, up to where Baggot street widens out past Pembroke street.

Cookie_Monster

seamus wrote: »

I think he means the fact that you'll be able to turn right off the green onto Merrion Row. That will be exceptionally popular.

exactly, the ped lights take an age to change and in general don't hold traffic up too badly. the buses onto the Green outbound will now be severely disrupted IMO.

ballooba

There is a new taxi rank outside Shelbourne in the maps. Would it make sense to make a roundabout around the block enclosed by Stephen's Green East, Baggot St, Merrion Row and Hume St. Call me crazy but that's what struck me when I saw it. It would mean buses routing via Hume St.

CIE

Everything except put the infernal thing underground where it belongs, eh.

LXFlyer

This work is now starting as part of the LUAS cross-city works.

http://dublinbus.ie/en/News-Centre/General-News/Luas-Cross-City-works-at-St-Stephens-Green-/

Luas Cross City works at St. Stephen's Green
Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Dublin Bus wishes to advsie customers that from Wednesday 18th September at 09:00hrs approx. the turn from St. Stephen’s Green North to the bus contra flow lane on St. Stephen’s Green East will close for a period of four to six weeks. This is to allow for the realignment of the junction to cater for a new inbound right turn from St. Stephen’s Green East onto Merrion Row in advance of future major Luas Cross City works on Dawson Street.

As a result routes 7b, 7d, 11, 14, 15, 15a, 15b, 32x, 37, 41x, 46a, 84x, 140, 142 & 145 will be to continue straight along Merrion Row, right at Ely Place, right to Hume Street and left back on to route at St. Stephen’s Green East. There are no bus stops missed on this diversion.

Customers can also get updates on Facebook, follow us on Twitter @dublinbusnews or call our customer service line on (01) 8734222, lines open from 08:30 - 18:00hrs (Monday to Saturday excluding bank holidays).

LXFlyer

Over a year later and the rest of St Stephen's Green East has been resurfaced and from the dotted lines marked out (the road markings are yet to be painted), the 2nd lane in the contra-flow bus lane approaching Leeson Street for buses continuing to Earlsfort Terrace looks like it is finally to be created. This will mean buses turning onto Leeson street will no longer be blocked at the lights.

smackyB

Any provision being made for cyclists during this expansion?

LXFlyer

smackyB wrote: »

Any provision being made for cyclists during this expansion?

No idea - I was more concerned about the main element of the scheme - getting buses moving, which has been discussed for several years yet is finally now taking place.

stop

As a cyclist, I hope other cyclists move to the Earlsfort Lane to wait for the light instead of simply standing at the corner blocking the Leeson Lane (this happens with existing layout also).

I think some dashed cycled lane markings should be included to guide the unaware to the Earlsfort Lane.

LXFlyer

The expanded contra-flow bus lane is now operational on St Stephen's Green East.

Also, Kildare Street is now two-way between St Stephen's Green North and Molesworth Street, to allow access to the car parks due to LUAS works.

In the New Year a contra-flow bus lane will also be installed northbound on Kildare Street from Molesworth Street to Nassau Street.

stop

Sad to discover that there is no induction loop sensor in the new cycle lane on ssg East, was sitting there for a few iterations of the lights before I cycled a few loops on the bus bay...

Also, from the new year won't this new lane only be used by the infrequent 44 & 61?

LXFlyer

stop wrote: »

Sad to discover that there is no induction loop sensor in the new cycle lane on ssg East, was sitting there for a few iterations of the lights before I cycled a few loops on the bus bay...

Also, from the new year won't this new lane only be used by the infrequent 44 & 61?

Yes - only the 44 and 61 will use it until the LUAS works are completed.

AlekSmart

stop wrote: »

Sad to discover that there is no induction loop sensor in the new cycle lane on ssg East, was sitting there for a few iterations of the lights before I cycled a few loops on the bus bay...

Also, from the new year won't this new lane only be used by the infrequent 44 & 61?

If this is the Leeson St/SSG East/Earlsfort Tce junction,then the 11,46A,145,84X's and the like will still be knocking around.

LXFlyer

AlekSmart wrote: »

If this is the Leeson St/SSG East/Earlsfort Tce junction,then the 11,46A,145,84X's and the like will still be knocking around.

I think he means the righthand bus lane of the two.

AlekSmart

lxflyer wrote: »

I think he means the righthand bus lane of the two.

When dealing with the Cyclist-Bus element it's best to view it as a single location....believe me !!!!