Luas Cross City: How the route looks now Part 1

Luas Cross City and it's affect on the streets of Dublin Part 1

The Luas cross city project (Line BXD) began construction in 2014, although work on the Rosie Hacket bridge was before this, a completion date is earmarked for 2017.

Currently enabling works and the moving, repair, and rationalisation of services under the streets it passes over are happening throughout the city. This has caused some traffic issues, and several bus re-routings. Dawson street and Suffolk street in particular are worst affected. 

Domnick street has been partially closed to traffic for several months, and Dominick Street Upper has received the longest closure and series of works.

This blog post aims to survey the path of the Luas and the current state of the surrounding areas. In particular this post will initially focus on Grangegorman/ Phibsborough and how it looks in Early Febuary 2015.

The investment of the Luas Cross City, particularly the D segment of this route, will have a profound affect on the surrounding areas. The investment of DIT to a new campus in Grangegorman is also a significant change to the area and will see students, staff, community and health facilities add to the old walled sites and surrounding streets.

Gap Tooth-ed space on O'Connel Street

The Site of the O'Connell Street Stop

(Currently a Taxi Rank)

 

Work on Dominick Street. (Notice the Flats on the left before retro-fit, Empty Site to the right is due to be social housing and a park. In 2013 it was briefly Granby Park)

The Broadstone. The Luas will cross the junction here, and go through the former site of the Maxol Garrage. (Where the timber posts are) Also notice the Desire line across the grass from the bus depot/Constitution hill, down to the road.

Parking, and a row of small buildings in The Broadstone due for Demolition. 

The Broadstone Railway station, currently Bus storage and maintenance.

A pub on the Phibsborough road, with empty shop, and derelict site beside it.

The Empty site is fenced off and full of weeds. It is not a beer garden or part of the pub.

Property changing hands at this time. Anecdotally the rental market is becoming unaffordable (link)

Maintenance of historic features is poor for some buildings. Sign few have the money to cover up-keep, or pay for professional repairs.

A tattoo shop, strong signage, and an empty property beside. (Also questionable parking of red van)

Vacant former Chinese Take-away with traditional Dublin Signage. 

Modern signage SHOUTING that "Easy money" can be made from possessions.

A row of low shops leading into Phibsborough. 3-4 are vacant.

Quirkys Fun-time Emporium. Basic gaming and gambling, as well as arcade games.

 Phibsborough Shopping centre. This brutal brutalist tower was optimistic for it's day, an eyesore now.

Low level shops and parking on main strip. Tanning, Nails, Fast food.

A 50s themed chain of Diners, also known as "Empty pockets" to many.

A car sales forecourt on the Cabra road just off the Railway alignment.

The cutting of the old railway looking South to Broadstone.

The cutting running north through Cabra East to Broombridge.

Another car sales yard on the Cabra Road.

Rathdown Road leading down to Grangegorman.

This house is under renovation.

This house is getting insulation and new windows. A substantial investment in good housing stock.

A view from Rathdown road of Grangegorman and the "Green Hub" under construction.

The Clocktower. A key building to be retained as part of the master plan.

The entrance to the old Church parts of campus. Here students in Social care and arts departments are already studying. There have been some issues with lack of facilities, mice, and isolation from city.

The campus is expanding down to more historic buildings. This is a new entrance opened up in the past few months.

There is a strip of former social housing on Grangegorman Lower before Smithfield.

The Boarded up windows and graffiti show the signs of waiting for investment/ regeneration.

I hope to provide more insights into the current state of areas around the Luas Line before completion. And over the years I will hopefully get a chance to record any change it brings to these areas.