Lidl HQ opening no problem for progress of €2m cycle-path scheme
By Laura Lyne
THE projected completion of works on the €2 million Tallaght to Templeogue cycle-path scheme will not be effected by the opening of the new €34 million Lidl headquarters later this month, according to South Dublin County Council.
With the supermarket giant set to move its 320 Kildare head office workers nto its new Tallaght base this month, traffic is expected to increase on the stretch of road from the Tallaght bypass at Glenview Roundabout down to Main Road – where the majority of work on the cycle track is currently ongoing.
The project is expected to be completed by July 2016, with local residents continuing to raise concerns about the ongoing work which has seen completed works being dug up and re-done.
Local Labour councillor Mick Duff, who lives in St Aongus estate, told The Echo that residents continue to be annoyed by the works.
Cllr Duff said: “At the moment, there’s a lot of annoyance from residents that are seeing completed works being dug up again.
“The engineers are saying that they are “essential works”, but there is a huge amount of annoyance around this.
“Also aggravating people is the long delay at the lights near the Castletymon exit, and the completion of work being delayed from the end of April to July.
“One concerned resident that contacted me also highlighted the bus shelters – one cycle lane has a bus shelter in front of it and another behind it.
“They’re afraid that the cycle lane in front of the bus stop could cause problems, particularly for elderly people and can’t understand why a cycle lane would be put in front of a bus stop.
“Also, with the trouble of putting in bus shelters, there is no sign of real-time information signs being put at the stops. I’ve been in contact with Dublin Bus about it, it’s something that we’re bereft of in Tallaght.”
A council spokesperson told The Echo: “The expected substantial completion date for the scheme is July 2016. The scheme budget has been approved by the National Transport Authority and includes for contractual commitments and scope changes.
“We have received additional funding to provide new surfacing along the Tallaght Road and to rectify a section of defective drainage.
“There have not been many negative comments in recent weeks despite the necessary traffic management. There is a very positive view of the scheme at present.
“There will be no effect on progress from the opening of the Lidl Headquarters.”
