Latest section of Dodder Greenway opens to the public today
Published on 8th February 2024
Dublin City Council is excited to announce the opening of the Herbert Park to Donnybrook Road section of the Dodder Greenway. It is one of several projects that Dublin City and the neighbouring local authorities are delivering along the Dodder.
This section is 480 metres long and provides high quality walk, wheel and cycling amenities along the banks of the River Dodder, it completes the pedestrian and cycling link between the Ballsbridge and Donnybrook communities.
It was officially opened this morning by Councillor Dermot Lacey, representing the Lord Mayor of Dublin, along with the Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan.
“I am delighted to be opening this section of the Dodder Greenway,” said Cllr Lacey. “In addition to contributing to our Climate Action goals, this car-free pathway opens up a beautiful section of Riverside. It will be an incredible amenity feature for the Donnybrook area, and indeed the city. We will be able to enjoy the river more, experience safer walking and cycling facilities and make new connections with each other. It is the first phase to be implemented on the Dodder Greenway, which will run from the Liffey to the Mountains in Bohernabreena, increasing accessibility for the public, cyclists and those that like to be outdoors, demonstrating Dublin City Council’s commitment to roll out a state of the art active travel network.”
The greenway runs along the northern bank of river Dodder, adjacent to Energia Park (Donnybrook Stadium) and Bective Lawn Tennis Club. It includes a flood defence wall and river bank erosion protection measures, an improved signalised crossing point for pedestrians and cyclists at Donnybrook Road and significant landscaping that includes a community plaza. The public realm improvements have resulted in a significant visual uplift of the area.
Minister for Environment and Transport Eamon Ryan said, “I am delighted to launch this stretch of the Dodder Greenway project today, from Herbert Park to Donnybrook Road. Just last week I attended the opening of the section at Dodder Road Lower, so stretch by stretch we are completing this wonderful project which will connect people from the centre of the city to the foothills of the Dublin Mountains. The Dodder River is such a valuable amenity to Dublin City and this Greenway opens it up as a linear nature and biodiversity park along its banks. It means that people along its route can make a safer and attractive choice now to walk, cycle or wheel instead of taking the car. The Greenway project exemplifies the Government ‘s prioritisation of active travel as a key part of our overall transport strategy and is fundamental to making our capital city a better place to live, work and visit. I would like to thank Dublin City Council and the National Transport Authority for their dedication to seeing this project delivered.”
The Dodder Greenway is a primary route in the National Transport Authority’s (NTA) Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network Plan and is part of the Dublin City Council’s core Active Travel Network, which is funded by the NTA.
The CEO of the NTA Anne Graham said, “This latest phase of the Dodder Greenway, delivered by Dublin City Council with funding from the National Transport Authority (NTA) and the Office of Public Works (OPW) will help to deliver much needed connectivity for the local communities it serves through the provision of high quality walking and cycling facilities along the banks of the River Dodder. This section of the Greenway provides a vital link from Donnybrook to Herbert Park and connects to other sections of the Dodder Greenway that have already been constructed, or are in planning stage. It is also a primary route in the NTA Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network. We commend all the partners involved in the successful delivery of this scheme.”
Construction on this project began on the 26th September 2022. The route has officially opened to the public today at an overall project construction cost of €5.6million.
The Dodder Greenway links the River Liffey to the Mountains at Bohernabreena, approximately 4.2km of which lies in Dublin City.
Today’s announcement is one of many initiatives being implemented as part of the Dublin City Active Travel Network. Over the lifetime of the programme, the Active Travel Network will grow from its existing 10km to a connected network of 310km (including CycleConnects and BusConnects) across the city.
Dublin City Council hopes that projects like this one announced today will encourage more people to walk or cycle as part of their daily commute.
ENDS
Notes to the Editor:
For more information on this project, visit:
Dodder Greenway and Flood Defence Project - Herbert Park to Donnybrook Road | Dublin City Council
The Dodder Greenway Project (Herbert Park to Donnybrook Road) is funded by the National Transport Authority’s Active Travel Programme with a contribution to the Flood Defence element from the Office of Public Works.
Clonmel Enterprises Limited were the contractors and Arup and Partners the Designers of this project.