By Fiona Frawley
The scheme will provide extra seating, new lights and granite pavements alongside the historic cobblestones.
Works have gotten underway to improve one of the busiest tourist destinations and the home of 2,000 residents in
Dublin -
Temple Bar. According to Dublin City Council, the creation of a more useable space for people of all abilities is a central feature of the project.
If you've noticed an influx of fencing, construction workers and diggers in Temple Bar Square and have been wondering what they are up to, here is the scoop.
The project involves the conversion of Temple Bar Square (including parts of Crown Alley and Fownes Street Lower) to a single surface between the buildings on each side, including the removal of the steps on the central portion of the square and the height difference between kerbs and carriageway.
Approximately, the size of the existing raised section of Temple Bar Square is 485m². By removing the steps and kerbing in this area, the Square will be extended to nearly 1000m², doubling the space for pedestrians.
Once completed, the square will be paved in granite, with carriageway areas delineated by drainage channels and a slight difference in paving size and colour. At the entrances to the Square, blister paving will provide a warning that users are entering an area with a level surface.
Artist's impression of Temple Bar once the works are completed / images via DCC
On Crown Alley and Temple Bar Street, the roads will be reconstructed with granite footpaths alongside the traditional cobbled carriageways.
Meanwhile, on Temple Bar itself, the northern footpath will be widened to make it more accessible for all users.
Footpath widths on Crown Alley are more generous and will remain largely the same, according to the DCC.
The existing trees in the area will be replaced by a large tree at the northeast corner of the Square and a stand of three smaller trees at the western side of the Square along the eastern side of Fownes St Lower.
Public seating will be provided on three sides of the Square. A mix of sunny and shaded seating, with and without backrests, will be provided.
A new lighting system is also in the works, which DCC say will greatly improve the quality of lighting on Temple Bar Square.
Work on Temple Bar Square got underway last month and is expected to be completed before the end of 2023. Following this, work will commence on the surrounding streets of Crown Alley and Temple Bar, which should be completed at the end of 2024.
This article originally appeared on LovinDublin
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