GardaI closed off part of Pearse Street during rush hour yesterday evening after up to 100 people demonstrated against high volumes of traffic on the road. Local residents said the protest was organised following an accident last week in which a woman in her late 60s was badly injured. A local resident said residents wanted want a pedestrian crossing installed at the intersection to prevent other accidents. "People use this street because they don't want to pay for the toll bridge," Mrs Brigid Walsh said. "But all these cars are making the street unsafe."