Traffic to be reduced in Dublin's College Green

Experimental traffic reductions in front of Trinity College

A plan to reduce traffic to two lanes around Dublin's College Green will be introduced on a trial basis by Dublin City Council next year.

The council wants to restore College Green to a "pedestrian friendly civic space" however it can not pedestrianise the area fully because of the negative impat this would have on city centre traffic.

A so-called bus gate system already operates in the College Green area, which restricts traffic to public transport and bicycles during rush hour.

The council is now taking advantage of the Luas Cross City works to test the additional traffic restrictions before the new tram line opens in 2017.

The proposals will see all traffic blocked from in front of the old Irish parliament building – now the Bank of Ireland headquarters – with northbound traffic from Dame Street stopped from turning left onto Westmoreland Street.

In addition a new two-way traffic system in front of Trinity College would apply to buses and taxis as well as private vehicles. It is expected the trial measures will be tested on Sundays initially.