Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Pascal Donohoe TD, visited primary schools Christ the King Boys National School and Gaelscoil Bharrain Cabra recently to educate children on site safety as construction on the Cross City Light Rail Scheme, linking the Red and Green Luas lines, gets underway.
John Sisk and Son Limited and Portuguese based construction company, Steconfer, have been awarded the main design and construction contract for Luas Cross City. Running from St. Stephen’s Green to Broombridge through the city centre, Phibsborough and Cabra, the new line will link the Luas Red and Green Lines and will also serve the planned new DIT Campus facility at Grangegorman.
The Luas Green Line commenced operations in June 2004 and the Luas Red Line opened in September 2004. Since the initial opening of the two lines, they have both been extended. Luas currently has 54 stations and 36.5 kilometres of service track and is operated by Transdev (Ireland), under tender from the Railway Procurement Agency.
As construction progresses the safety of those working on or living near the site is paramount. For this reason representatives of the construction team and the Garda are visiting local schools to educate them on the importance of respecting warning signs at or near the construction sites, and being mindful of road safety.
Minister Donohoe said: ‘Luas Cross City Light Rail is the biggest transport project for the city at present and will significantly improve the lives of people in Dublin city centre and beyond giving them faster, more accessible transport options. The project is essential for our long term plan to continue to grow the economy, and create jobs’.
The line, over 5km in length, will offer superior transport services to areas in Dublin City Centre and North Dublin serving 13 stops as well as providing interchange with suburban railway services at Broombridge and city bus services throughout the city centre. A new transport bridge (the Rosie Hackett Bridge) over the River Liffey at Marlborough Street has been built to accommodate the cross-city scheme.
Pat Lucey, Director at Sisk commented: “Sisk Steconfer JV is delighted to be involved in the delivery of this high profile project for the Railway Procurement Agency. It is our aim to deliver the project with minimal impact on the people of Dublin and those visiting the city. The project will have its challenges but we are confident that our team, in collaboration with the RPA, will overcome any difficulties that may arise.”