The pedestrianisation of Capel Street was officially announced today by the Lord Mayor of Dublin Alison Gilliland, making the street the longest vehicle free road in the city.
The move has been planned for some time, with the famous north inner city street undergoing a trial period of car free weekends between June and October 2021.
A consultation after the pedestrianised weekends concluded received over 7,000 submissions.
Read More: Dublin commuters warned of key route changes as Capel Street becomes 'traffic-free' from Friday
Around 89% of respondents said they would like to see traffic free measures implemented on the street on a permanent basis, according to Dublin City Council.
The street will still be accessible for emergency vehicles at all times. Delivery drivers will also be allowed to park on the street between the hours of 6 and 11am.
Dublin City Council’s Head of Technical Services, Brendan O’Brien, has said that measures will be put in place to help road users adjust to the changes.
“We’ll have dedicated traffic management people throughout the area from 6 in the morning till 12 for about two weeks to ensure people understand the new routes,” O’Brien told FM104 earlier today.
The bustling street is home to four pubs, including the well-known LGBTQ+ drinking spot Pantibar.
The bar’s owner Rory O’Neill was supportive of the venture on Twitter, saying that the initiative is great for all businesses that operate there.
While the online reaction to the move was generally positive, a few users complained that the change was causing traffic to pile up in the north inner city.
One Twitter user uploaded footage of slow traffic on the nearby Chancery Street in Dublin 7 and accused the sealing off of Capel Street as being responsible.
Seating areas and greenery are expected to be added to the street in the near future.
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