Royal Canal Greenway: Phibsborough to Ashtown
Section 4 of the Royal Canal Greenway Scheme will provide segregated walking and cycling facilities along a 4.2km route between Phibsborough and Ashtown. Different parts of this section are at various stages.
Section 4 will extend from Phibsborough to Ashtown along the northern bank of the Royal Canal. This is the final section of the Royal Canal Greenway scheme within the Dublin City Council area. Upon completion, there will be a high-quality and continuous route for walking, wheeling and cycling all the way from Ashtown to the Docklands.
Section 4 works will include:
- A segregated greenway for cyclists and pedestrians from the existing railway overpass west of Coke Oven Cottages to east of the Village Centre in Ashtown. A 2.5 metre wide two-way cycle route and 2 metre wide pedestrian footpath will be provided.
- Shared space from Phibsborough Road to beyond the Coke Oven Cottages to facilitate access and deliveries for residents and maintenance purposes.
- Shared space will be provided at the Coke Oven Cottages to facilitate resident’s deliveries.
- Bat sensitive lighting along the route.
- CCTV infrastructure along the route.
- The removal of contaminated material associated with former railway engineering works.
- The installation of ESB infrastructure along the route.
This section will be delivered in four distinct parts.
This section of works will see the installation of a toucan crossing and 'shuttle signals' on Broombridge Road. This aims to improve the safety for those crossing Broombridge Road and accommodate contra-flow access for buses and cyclists on the one-way portion of the street. This section is now complete.
Section 4B will increase the quality and capacity of the existing greenway between Phibsborough and Ashtown. This includes the delivery of segregated two-way cycling facilities and a separate pedestrian footpath.
Separated cycling and walking facilities will adjoin shared spaces of at least 4.5 metres width in certain areas. This is proposed to permit access for maintenance purposes and allow deliveries for residents along the route.
This section of works will also include improvements to public lighting, security - through CCTV installation - and greenway access.
Due to a referral made by a third party on 18 October 2023 regarding the Determination received on this section's Environment Impact Assessment Screening and the Appropriate Assessment Screening, the Draft Chief Executive’s report cannot be concluded within the expected timeframe. A decision from An Bord Pleanála on the Appropriate Assessment Screening was received on 1 May 2024, which recommended that a Natura Impact Statement is required. An Bord Pleanála's decision on the Environment Impact Assessment Screening is still pending.
Section 4C consists of an upgrade of the existing railway underpass adjacent to Liffey Junction and the 7th Lock, as well as upgrades to any greenway pinch points that could not be fully addressed in Section 4B.
Additional ground investigation works are required to guide the proposed upgrade of the existing railway underpass.
Section 4D consists of an Active Travel link between Tolka Valley Park and Phoenix Park at Ashtown Gate. This will enable safer access for cyclists and pedestrians between these two key recreation locations.
Section 4D does not form part of the wider Royal Canal Greenway and aims to improve the benefits of the primary greenway route to the local community.
This section is currently at the options development stage.
Section 4A: Broombridge Road Improvement Works
Section 4B: Phibsborough to Ashtown Greenway Development
Section 4C: Railway Underpass Upgrade
Section 4D: Tolka Valley Park to Phoenix Park
Learn More About This Section
The existing route along the canal towpath is generally too narrow, at 2 metres or less over extensive lengths. It is not fully fit-for-purpose. This gives rise to a low quality of service for users.
Suitable widening is required to cater for an expected increase in the numbers of pedestrians and cyclists that will use the route for amenity and commuting purposes as cycling increases in popularity and other sections of the Royal Canal Greenway open.
Part 8-Ref. 2870/15 was granted in 2015 for the Royal Canal Section 2, 3 and 4. An amending Part 8 for Section 4 was lodged in 2023.
As with any Part 8 process, the amending Part 8 will go through a statutory public consultation. The proposals will be on public display for four weeks and the public can make observations for up to six weeks. A report will be presented to Dublin City Councillors at the end of this process. At that point, Councillors will make a decision on whether the amendments should be implemented.
In section 4, it is proposed to segregate cyclists and pedestrians from the existing railway overpass west of Coke Oven Cottages to east of the village centre in Ashtown. Shared space will be required at pinch points along this section of the route, such as at the Dublin-Maynooth Railway underpass.
Shared space is also provided from Phibsborough Road to beyond the Coke Oven Cottages to facilitate access and deliveries for residents. Access is also required for maintenance purposes.
Overall, this section aims to minimise the impact on biodiversity.
An Ecological Impact Assessment has been carried out and mitigation measures recommended. This assessment is available on the Publications and Reports page.
Existing hedge and boundary planting are to be cut back, as required, to allow for fence installation. The remaining scrub and planting is to be enhanced with new native hedge line planting and enhancement mix.
The realignment of the canal is proposed as an alternative to the requirement for third party land acquisition, which significantly reduces the impact on hedgerows in the pinch point areas.
Impacts of realigning the canal have been addressed as part of an Ecological Impact Assessment. This was undertaken to assess potential impacts on key ecological receptors and to propose mitigation measures.
Surveys carried as part of this assessment include:
- Otter Surveys.
- Bat Activity Surveys.
- Badger Surveys.
- Habitat, Botanical and Invasive Species Surveys.
- Aquatic Plant Surveys.
- Invertebrate Surveys.
A Derogation Licence for Otters has been applied for from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). Additionally, in consultation with the NPWS, it has been agreed to commission a suite of annual surveys on otters, molluscan invertebrates and macrophytes until 2026 along the canal from Kilcock to the River Liffey.
This Ecological Impact Assessment is available on the Publications and Reports page as part of the Amending Part 8 package of documents.
An Ecological Impact Assessment Report outlines the impacts of the works during both construction and operation of the Greenway. The report outlines the proposed mitigation measures to be employed to avoid or minimise impacts during the construction and operation of the scheme.
A Bat Activity Survey was carried out in May 2021 and September 2022. Phase 4 will incorporate lighting sensitive to the needs of bats, with a lighting trial to establish lighting, design-timing, colour and lux levels.
In consultation with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, it has been agreed to commission a suite of annual surveys on otters, molluscan invertebrates and macrophytes until 2026 along the canal from Kilcock to the River Liffey.
The lands on which the scheme is being constructed is mainly in the ownership of Waterways Ireland, with smaller sections in the ownership of Irish Rail. As a result, Dublin City Council must acquire a licence from them to undertake works.
The design of the proposed works allows for two barges to pass at all points. The minimum width is over 10 metres everywhere, which allows two four metre wide barges to pass with some additional space.
The navigation window imposes restrictions on when in-stream works can be undertaken. In practice, this means that the watercourse will be unaffected over the late spring and summer months. In-stream works will only occur outside the navigation season.