1. Derek Higgins
Engineer, Operations

2. Overview of presentation
 Brief Background to Waterways Ireland
 Why did this project arise?
 How was it implemented?
 What did it achieve?

3. Brief Background
 Waterways Ireland manages the Grand Canal
 Part of Ireland’s Inland Waterway Network
 Management, maintenance, restoration and
development principally for recreation purposes

5. Multi-Agency Project

6. Main Drivers
Pop.
50k
City
Centre
Bus.
Park
16k
Prop.
SDZ
Bus.
Park
Pop.
45k

7. Main Drivers
 110kV Infrastructural power supply to Grange Castle,
Park West and Clonburris
 Twin Circuit to allow for future network development
 Development of canal as amenity and leisure area
 Development of cycle network

8. Why use the canal for services?
 Less existing utility services to divert/interact with
 Less disruption to traffic
 Safer working area
 Cost savings

10. Implementation
 Steering Group Formed
 SDCC, ESB, DCC, WI (Funding Split)
 Clifton Scannell Emerson Associates appointed as
design and project management consultancy
 Kilwex Civil Engineering successful tenderer for main
construction contract

11. To build….
 8.5 kilometres of cycle path

12. To build….
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8.5 kilometres of cycle path
4 Canal Crossings
Access ramps from bridges
Toucan Crossings at roadways
Access gates and barriers
Over 300 lamp standards
66 CCTV Cameras
19 Joint Chambers for installation of ESB Services
3 Jetties with canoe steps
Over 200 Signs
2,600m of Fencing & Berms
Planting of over 1000 trees, 4400 shrubs
Burying 12 otter holts and hanging 16 bat boxes
Fishing Stands
And more...

13. Surface improved for
 Recreational Users (Cyclists & Pedestrians)

14. Surface improved for
 Commuting cyclists

15. Canal Crossings

16. Canal Crossings
 4 Crossings altogether
 From Inchicore 220kV Substation
 To Park West
 To Clonburris
 To Lucan/Adamstown

17. CCTV
 66 cameras - 24hr monitored
 Speakers for communication from security
 Reduction in vandalism & dumping
 Increased personal safety (perceived or real)
 Increased willingness for boats to travel through area

18. Improved Access Links
 8 Access ramps from high level roads to canal

19. Access Ramps
 1:20 ramps with rest areas

20. Toucan Crossings

21. Public Lighting
 Encourage use of the cycle path in winter mornings/evenings
 Bat surveys carried out
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Following species identified:
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Common Pipistrelle
Soprano Pipistrelle
Nathusius’s Pipistrelle
Brown Long-eared
Leisler’s
Daubenton’s
Recommendations:
 Limited Height & Strength (Low lux)
 Targeted downwards
 Not illuminating water surface (Daubenton’s Bat)

24. Navigation Improvements
 Jetties with canoe step
 Quay style walls under bridges

25. Winter Maintenance Access

26. Habitat Improvement
 As part of environmental mitigation
 Otter holts
 Bat boxes

27. Bins & Benches

28. Information Signage

29. Access Barriers

30. How is it working?

31. No more dumped cars and couches!

32. How is it working?
 No more dumped cars and couches
 Overall success – complete transformation of the area
 Bins & Benches– ongoing maintenance issues
 Path Surface
 Barriers
 Occasional vandalism
 Would like to leave open but...