Stillorgan bus lane delayed by roadworks

A decision on a start date for a Quality Bus Corridor in Stillorgan, will not be made before Wednesday next, Dublin Corporation's director of traffic, Mr Owen Keegan, has told The Irish Times.

The new QBC, the city's third, is scheduled to come into operation "some weeks" before the first week in September, when schools return, to allow motorists to get used to it. However, a number of roadworks and junction realignments have not been completed.

The route from White's Cross and the junction of the N11 and Newtownpark Avenue travels along the N11 to Stillorgan where the buses will travel through the village, rejoining the N11 at Oatlands College.

It continues along the N11, serving Belfield, through the Montrose junction and on to Donnybrook Church. For much of the journey it will use one lane of a three-lane road, but from Donnybrook to St Stephen's Green it will use one lane of a two-lane system.

The proposed QBC has already been criticised by Mr Conor Faughnan, spokesman for the AA, who said in the absence of park-and-ride facilities, accurate bus-time information and integrated ticketing there would be severe delays. He warned that "many "motorists will not be able to use it but will be forced to suffer the reduction in traffic from Donnybrook to St Stephen's Green caused by the loss of one lane".

Yesterday Mr Keegan said he rejected Mr Faughnan's claims, arguing that increasing the numbers of cars would not solve the city's traffic problem. Mr Keegan said Dublin Bus did not want to start the service until the roadworks were completed.