Dublin - BusConnects

And astoundingly we still DO NOT KNOW which version of the scheme is being built after 6 years of planning and one month to go till construction. Mind boggling.

There's an information day on the scheme today in the ballyfermot civic centre today. I doubt that it'll be new information but if it is I would hope they'll update the website.

Things we dont know yet include, what version of the scheme is to be built and a construction programme with associated diversions.

The reason for the disfigurement is anyone's guess at this stage of the game but crucially they have also eliminated a significant section of buslane from the scheme and will therefore not reach the time savings described in their business case which undermines the entrie project.

Site investigation works to start next month to inform detailed design. Main works seemed to be Dec/Jan starting at two locations along the corridor, Liffey valley SC and a roughly half way point.

Drawings on display had the revised set up for ballyfermot so assume they're going for that. There was a label on it saying interim scheme.

Above is what a colleague told me who went. he was on his way home so didn't hang around; there were no snacks.

Nothing done, loads to do…..

Is it even possible to apply for a JR here considering they're seemingly just ignoring the planning process entirely? Would it not be an example of unauthorised development and therefore council responsibility to enforce?

No idea tbh

Lots of sections of Cork BusConnects are just "disappeared" now. They whittled down most of the corridors to almost nothing at all. BUT, they are pushing ahead with many of the core elements of what was "Bus Connects" and are well in the ground too, though it's carefully not being advertised as such. They're instead bringing them through local authority processes as creeping incremental "improvements" rather than big flashy "BUSCONNECTS" schemes.

On route A for instance in "busconnects" it's whittled down to almost nothing at all but a new bus terminus is almost done, a new routing is apparently open and almost ready for use. I think it's a smart move tbh.

Edit: just to add that even what's left of Corridor A is now out of date - another new local authority scheme has just gone through to cover more than half of the tiny piece that remained. So Cork Bus Connects really is happening, albeit by taking each of the little bits of bus connects out of bus connects and pushing them through the local part8/section38/etc processes.

I think it's just worded poorly. "To inform detailed design" makes it sound as though the detailed design is incomplete.

yep it's a design and build contract based off a specimen design (preliminary).

Some elements will be really straight forward to bring to detailed design. Others like utilities diversions or traffic signal junctions layouts will take more time as the contractor proofs (site investigation works like slit trenches) what's in the ground first to inform their final design for construction. It adds a few months now, but can help avoid alot of delays/disruption on site during Main works.