One of the key elements of Dublin Corporation's traffic management plan for the city centre, a planned suspension bridge in the Docklands area, has been thrown into doubt by a City Council decision.
Last night the council voted narrowly (by 24 to 22) to reject an environmental impact statement (EIS) on the £15 million bridge, which was specially commissioned from Dr Santiago Calatrava, the world's leading bridge designer.
The Green Party, Sinn Fein, independents and most of the council's Labour Party group combined to reject the EIS, with the aid of three Fianna Fail councillors (Mr Royston Brady, Dr Dermot Fitzpatrick and Mr Garry Keegan) and Ms Frances Fitzgerald (FG).
Critics of the scheme said the EIS had paid more attention to its impact on flying swans than it did to the effects on local residents, particularly in the Macken Street and Guild Street areas, of a likely doubling of traffic volumes.
Representatives of affected residents were in the public gallery for the debate and around 100 people picketed City Hall to advance their opposition to the 120-metre bridge as well as other proposals before the council.
The City Manager, Mr John Fitzgerald, pointed out that he did not require the council's approval to forward the EIS to the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, as the principle of a bridge at the proposed location was already part of the city plan.
Last year, the Minister announced an allocation of u £30 million for the Macken Street bridge and for another Calatrava-designed bridge linking Blackhall Place with Usher's Island.
