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Unread 16-01-2007, 12:08   #90
Vbold
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They are, however, very concerned about the methods to be
used. Current RPA proposals involve going deep underground only from
Stephen's Green to Griffith Ave. After that, they propose a combination
of methods: cut and cover, open trench, surface and elevated. All of
these alternatives to undergound would wreak havoc with this area.

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I am a resident of the area and do have concerns over the planned route and in particular the elevated section. Firstly to those who claim that the elevated section will look ascetically pleasing, it won't. Many here have held up the bridge in Dundrum as a model of how well "over ground" structures can look however it is a bridge not 2km of 6-meter high track.

I was at the meeting in October and was told that the only reason for having an elevated structure was COST. This was the only reason cited and the RPA were basically trying to cut costs by lessening the amount of tunnelling - which is all fine unless you live there and have to put up with this cost cutting. Roisin Shorthall may be electioneering and probably doesn't really care if it is elevated or not but the local residents Ballymun do care and don't want the RPA cutting costs at their expense.

What I was told at the time was that the tunnel would come up in Hamsted Park. This is to be done by having the entrance coming up through the 6 football pitches and creating a station there. This turns the local park into an over ground metro station, cutting it's size in half and considering the construction and volume of soil removal there will destroy that park. Then the soil will have to travel the 2 km from Albert college up the ballymun road through ballymun and out onto the M 50. If you've seen whitehall in the last 5 years you'd understand why everyone along this route is opposed to that idea.

I cannot see why (except for cost obviously) that the tunnel cannot be extended to the green field site to the east of the m50 ballymun road interchange (either santry demise or on the far side of the M 50). This site would allow much greater access for TBM, soil removal and construction vehicles. There would have to be major planning involved to insure that traffic on the M50 itself is not interrupted however that is better than having one of the main arteries into the city pretty much closed for 3 years.

Do not get me wrong, the metro will be a fantastic facility and will benifit the noth and west side of dublin greatly but it must be done correctly and you cannot just steam roll a community on costs considering how much is being put into the area for regenaration purposes.
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