Vol. 559 No. 1
436 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his views on the condition of the main thoroughfare through the Phoenix Park, Chesterfield Avenue; his plans to resurface and reinstate the road; and his further views on the refusal of Dúchas, the Heritage Service, to allow the provision of traffic lights at Ashtown Gate, the Phoenix Park, Dublin 15, against the advice of Fingal County Council and the Garda Síochána. [25940/02]
Chesterfield Avenue was not originally constructed to deal with such intense traffic volumes as exist at present and as a result it now needs both major repair works to the foundations and surface of the road itself and the introduction of design features with a view to increasing safety and reducing the speed of traffic.
A fully integrated plan for the renovation of Chesterfield Avenue has accordingly been prepared by my Department, and it is intended to submit the scheme for planning approval early in the new year. The safety of all park users has been paramount in the preparation of this plan, which has been developed in consultation with the Dublin Transportation Office, and will involve a variety of traffic calming measures, which are, at the same time, appropriate to the context of this national historic park.
It is intended to implement the project on a phased basis and to minimise disruption to park users. My Department's first priority would be the construction of a roundabout at Mountjoy Cross and the introduction of traffic calming in the vicinity of Dublin Zoo.
In relation to Ashtown Gate, my Department considers the provision of traffic lights is not an appropriate solution in the context of a national historic park and that either the provision of a roundabout or a one-way system would be better solutions. My Department is awaiting a final response to these recommendations from Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council.
