Sandymount residents are "spitting thumb tacks" in rage over traffic diversions caused by water works on a major road.
The works on Strand Road, which are being carried out by Irish Water and Dublin City Council, have resulted in the south bound lane being closed from Sean Moore Road to the Merrion Gates. Three kilometres of 100-year-old arterial water mains will be replaced due to the age and fragility of the pipes.
The works are expected to be completed in summer 2023. It is estimated 80,000 people rely on these mains for water in the eastern area of Dublin.
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Southbound traffic, which includes trucks coming from Dublin Port, has been diverted down Tritonville Road and on through Serpentine Avenue before turning left onto Merrion Road. The Strand Road was also the subject of a High Court case which resulted in a two-lane cycle lane being overturned.
Enraged residents have emailed local representatives to complain about the "traffic chaos" they say is endangering their children's lives. One mother was nearly brought to tears after the ordeal of bringing her children to school through the "sea of car fumes" caused by the extra traffic.
She wrote: "I have just returned from dropping my three small boys to school and I am close to tears... Since the waterworks began on Strand Road, the school drop off has become akin to a highly dangerous sport.
"We live on Tritonville Road, and the boys attend St Matthew's National School on Cranfield Place. We walk out the door in the morning to be met by a sea of car fumes as the traffic sits stationary in both directions outside the house.
She added: "We walk up to cross Sandymount Road at the top of Tritonville Road, a dangerous corner at the best of times. There is no pedestrian crossing, and I literally take my children's lives in my hands as I try and negotiate my way through the two lanes of extremely heavy traffic. Motorbikes, buses, cars, bikes, vans.
"We hold our breath and make it across and then walk down to Cranfield Place. Thankfully there is a lollipop lady there, but once again we are met with a sea of fumes as the traffic pours down from Sean Moore Road, even though Cranfield Place should be for school or local access only."
The mother of three went on to say Tritonville Road and Sandymount is the "new M50". She said: "It is complete chaos. And extraordinarily dangerous.
"Our school principal is forced to stand outside the school every morning in a high vis jacket, begging cars not to speed around the corner onto Oswald Place. I'm sure her time would be better spent running the school but she has no choice."
The mother added that she has had no contact from DCC or local representatives on the changes to the traffic system and compared the current strategy to "Just throw up a few 'Diverted Traffic' signs and hope for the best!"
Another resident of Tritonville Road said her and "most" of her neighbours are "spitting thumb tacks with anger" at the diverted traffic "chaos" she said was "inflicted" on a "narrow residential street". She raised a number of issues which are as follows:
- The diverted traffic has made it impossible to enter or exit the road without endless queues in both direction.
- The street in general is tatty, dirty, pocked with endless pot holes, broken pavements & damaged ramps & tarmac.
- A very high Property Tax take on this street is NOT reflected in it’s visual upkeep.
She concluded by thanking the local reps with the "backbone" to fight for residents in advance. DCC directed all queries to Irish Water.
A spokeswoman for Irish Water said: "We are acutely aware that these critical upgrades may be disruptive to the local community and road users and we regret any inconvenience caused.
"To keep disruptions to a minimum, crews are using modern engineering techniques which will not only reduce the duration of the project but will also significantly reduce the amount of construction vehicle movement, noise, dust and vibrations."
She added: "Works are also being delivered on a phased basis with areas of work limited to short sections to further minimise disruptions."
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