Dublin Bus unveils plans for city centre interchange on Abbey Street

DUBLIN BUS has unveiled plans for a 13,000sq m interchange to be built in the city centre.

It will be on Abbey Street near the Luas stop on Jervis Street.

The interchange will have eight bus bays, which will be designed so as to enable buses to find alternative slots when neighbouring bays are occupied.

Buses will turn into the site from Abbey Street Upper and exit only onto Great Strand Street.

The interchange will be part of a larger development of a 300 bedroom hotel and a large retail unit, which will include a designated bus ticket agent.

Dublin Bus has been involved with Liam and Des O’Dwyer’s Deepdrill Developments in putting forward the proposal.

Planning permission was granted late last year and construction will begin shortly. It should be in use by 2010.

It is likely to add significantly to the overall development of the area which also involves the ambitious €1.2 billion “Park in the Sky” proposals drawn up by a consortium led by developer Joe O’Reilly for O’Connell Street.

The interchange will have a planned capacity of 50 buses per hour during evening peak times.

It will mainly serve the west of Dublin and Co Meath.

Dublin Bus says the transfer of routes will free existing terminus points throughout the city for other services.

This, it says, should reduce congestion problems at other city centre locations like the South Quays and Parnell Square.