[26-2-2008] Potential problems Tara Street - Pearse

[Mark Gleeson]

A piece of roof has come off the new Science Gallery building in TCD, thats the big copper lump before Pearse

Pearse Street is closed as a result from Westland Row/Lombard Street until beyond the railway bridge on Pearse Street and there is some debris on the rail line, looks like some insulation

There is a risk that services may be suspended until the roof is secured

Edit 1: reports indicate a car has been badly damaged by debris
Edit 2: DART has just done a line inspection stopping alongside

[CSL]

On the ground reports indicates traffic in the entire area messed up.

Also traffic lights at newlands X gone , so happy days

[ThomasJ]

http://www.aaroadwatch.ie/dublin/traffic.asp?id=92924



14:51 - Major delays in the south city centre - Pearse St is closed from Westland Row to Tara St
Emergency services are dealing with an unsafe building. Lombard St is also closed. Traffic coming from Grand Canal Street is being diverted along the Canal towards Leeson Street. Traffic coming into the city along Pearse Street is being diverted via Macken Street, the Canal and Leeson Street. However, you're advised to avoid the area if possible.



Are DARTs/Commuters still running? Can passengers access the station at the moment?

[Mark Gleeson]

Trains are running, a DART did crawl past and stop for about 30 seconds as if to inspect the line

No access to Pearse Street from the junction of Westland Row and Lombard Street, rear gate of TCD also locked, exit only via Lincoln Place gate.

Traffic is totally pants

Edit: IE trackworker has just removed the piece of debris from the tracks

[ThomasJ]

From Breaking News

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/mhojauqlauau/



High winds cause damage and traffic problems in Dublin
26/02/2008 - 15:41:15

A section of Pearse Street in Dublin was closed this afternoon after strong winds caused part of a building to fall away.

The high winds resulted in debris from the building landing on the street between Westland Row and Tara Street.

GardaÃ* said that the road would remain closed for the next few hours, as initial efforts to make the building safe were hampered by the weather.

Diversions have been set up to direct traffic along the canal towards Leeson Street, and via Macken Street.



Is it safe to keep the railway open from risk of more debris falling seen as though the roads around the building are been kept closed for hours.

[Colm Moore]

Is it safe to keep the railway open from risk of more debris falling seen as though the roads around the building are been kept closed for hours.That depends. If insulation ended up on the railway line, then potentially other stuff could aswell.

However, if after time they were happy that only a falling risk and not a wind-blown risk remained, it might be possible to reopen the railway. Given the one-way system on Pearse Street, it would be harder to reopen.