Tram tracks for the new Luas Cross City line will be put in place on Dublin’s O’Connell Street on Thursday.
Preparation works for the tracks, involving the installation of reinforced steel and concrete to support the line, started on the street during August last.
The tracks themselves will now be welded into place on the median of the street.
Works on O’Connell Street’s roadway will end by November 27th, ensuring the street is fully open to traffic for the Christmas period.
However, the track laying will continue on the median north of the Spire throughout Christmas.
Luas project spokeswoman Gráinne Mackin said this work will not affect the traditional Christmas celebrations on the street, as the Christmas tree will be installed to the south of the Spire.
The Christmas tree lights will be switched on on November 29th.
Luas works on the street will stop by the first week in March 2016 to allow preparations for St Patrick’s Day and the 1916 commemorations and will resume in April.
Southside work
On the southside, work will continue on the Trinity College side of Nassau Street and Grafton Street during the Christmas period, but the retail area of Grafton Street will not be affected.
The current Dawson Street construction work will come to an end before Christmas.
Other works planned to start on Dawson Street have been postponed until after Christmas, with the exception of one area at the junction with St Stephen’s Green North.
The works at the junction of Townsend Street and Hawkins Street will be removed for Christmas, but other works on Hawkins Street and Westmoreland Street will continue.
Works will also continue on the northside at Dominick Street Upper and Lower and Marlborough Street, but traffic lanes will remain open, and access to car parks maintained.
Work on Parnell Street will not go ahead until after Christmas.
The €368 million Luas Cross City line will connect the existing Green and Red Lines through the city centre before continuing north to the new DIT campus at Grangegorman, then on to Phibsborough and Cabra, where it will terminate at the Iarnród Éireann station at Broombridge.
Ms Mackin said that it is due for completion in September 2017 and is on schedule.
