Dublin's Capel Street is to become traffic free from Friday, May 20th, Dublin City Council confirmed on Thursday.
The move, which had been expected in the coming weeks, now has an official date and signals a major shift for life on the famous northside road which is lined with shops, restaurants and bars.
While a number of businesses opposed the initiative, the local authority said it had otherwise received “overwhelming” support.
In a social media post on Thursday afternoon, it said: “We are delighted to announce that the traffic-free proposals for Capel Street will be implemented from Friday 20th May.”
Because of the length of the road affected – a distance of 400m – the move will make Capel Street the longest traffic-free thoroughfare in the city, ahead of the well-known Grafton Street and Henry Street.
It will not be entirely without the presence of wheels, however. A cycle-only zone will also stretch from Parnell Street and Ryder's Row at the northern end, to Strand Street in the south.
Delivery vehicles will be permitted daily from 6am to 11am daily, after which bollards will prevent entry. Car parking will also be ended. Some traffic will be allowed to cross the road where there is an existing Luas line.
Local city councillors met late last month to approve the plans. Last year, the no traffic zone was given a trial run and a subsequent public consultation drew over 7,000 submissions, with almost 80 per cent in favour of a permanent arrangement.
Another consultation on the final plans drew a further 1,776 submissions, again largely backing the move. The council noted that 53 identical submissions were received from businesses, mainly in the nearby Jervis Shopping Centre, objecting on the basis it would have a “detrimental effect on our business”.
