Remaking the Quay

fricatus

The obvious effect of the new bypass and bridge opening on Monday will be to take a large amount of traffic out of the city centre.

Rice Bridge currently carries 44,000 vehicles a day (compared to around 80,000 on the M50 between the Red Cow and Lucan, or 100,000 on the M1 between Dublin Airport and the M50), and the new bridge should reduce that amount substantially, despite the idiocy of putting a toll on a bypass that we're trying to encourage people to use :rolleyes:

The Quay as it stands is a total mess. The car parks are butt ugly, but at least they're useful. Unfortunately people using those car parks have to cross four lanes of fast-moving traffic to access the city centre. The left lane leading towards the bridge is always full of delivery vehicles, so it is essentially useless.

On the other side of the road, drivers come off relatively fast roads and seem reluctant to slow down. Have you ever driven at 50 km/h on the river side of the Quay? You're made to feel like a granny in a Micra.

There is no need any more for the Quay to resemble the Long Mile Road, so what would you do to improve it now?

mike65

Speed humps!

Wasn't there an outline plan about this (or maybe it was a thread here), suggesting cutting the lanes down to 3?.

Re car parks, the reduction in through traffic won't suppress the need for parking, indeed you could argue it will boost demand as the Quay area becomes less hectic and more shopping friendly. That said if you have seen the story on the News and Star the eastern end of the quays could be full of something again in a few years.

gscully

I'd like to see more footfall on The Quay. Get rid of the car-parks, move the markets down there, build a restaurant overlooking the river, maybe even a small funfair with holiday shops (similar to the proms in LA).

Or...a driving range. See if anyone can hit the girl on the old mill

JohnC.

Where do you propose the cars go when those spaces (thousands?) have gone in your plan? Parking is still needed. The bypass only takes away traffic that wouldn't be intending to stop there in the first place.

shapez

Cycle lanes? As opposed to a load of car parks with different looks, prices etc. Have a universal look and proper enterence/exit lanes. Knock or revamp the flower shop that looks like a petrol station. There is no need for more statues/sculptures on the Quay. The clock tower and the crane(s) are plenty. Maybe a cafe/coffee dock over looking the river. A nice walk way along the edge?

gscully

Kahless wrote: »

Where do you propose the cars go when those spaces (thousands?) have gone in your plan? Parking is still needed. The bypass only takes away traffic that wouldn't be intending to stop there in the first place.

I assume that's directed at me?

I'm just throwing out suggestions as to what would improve The Quay, as was asked. Surely you agree that ridding The Quay of the car-parks would be an improvement?

JohnC.

Yeah, but you can't just get rid of them without thought of where the cars will then park. You won't attract people to the quays or the city centre in general if most of the parking suddenly disappears.

mikeym

gscully wrote: »

I'd like to see more footfall on The Quay. Get rid of the car-parks, move the markets down there, build a restaurant overlooking the river, maybe even a small funfair with holiday shops (similar to the proms in LA).

Or...a driving range. See if anyone can hit the girl on the old mill

Theres 3 hotels on the quay so what happens when the car parks are got rid of?

The old mill needs to be demolished and the area around it needs to be modernised in time for the tall ships.

Bards

there was a plan at one stage to excavate the current car parks and make them all underground.

would have to fix the quays from flooding before this would be a runner though.

have one exit and entrance from the quay with roundabout

E.G entrace into car parks opposite City Square. place roundabout here so traffic emerging from car parks can go in either direction easily.

KingLoser

I'd like to see them knock the old mills and put all the car parking over there, and a pedestrian bridge to link the north quay carpark with the newly freed up south quays. Simple.

gscully

Kahless wrote: »

Yeah, but you can't just get rid of them without thought of where the cars will then park. You won't attract people to the quays or the city centre in general if most of the parking suddenly disappears.

Yeah, but the OP asked what could be done to improve The Quay, and getting rid of the car-parks would do just that! Of course an alternative would be required, but that's not what was asked...

JohnC.

gscully wrote: »

Yeah, but the OP asked what could be done to improve The Quay, and getting rid of the car-parks would do just that! Of course an alternative would be required, but that's not what was asked...

It's not an improvement to put markets on the quays if those markets have no customers.

jo06555

KingLoser wrote: »

I'd like to see them knock the old mills and put all the car parking over there, and a pedestrian bridge to link the north quay carpark with the newly freed up south quays. Simple.

not a bad idea that , and with current car parking spaces on quay , BUILD BUILD BUILD to try keep us from falling behind lots of other growing countys.

gscully

Kahless wrote: »

It's not an improvement to put markets on the quays if those markets have no customers.

Oh FFS! So parking near a market is a pre-requisite, is it? How do the shoppers at the markets on Broad St buy anything? They park in City Sq and walk, that's how! Similar distance to The Quay.

Since your only contribution to this thread thus far is to criticise ideas, how about you stay on topic and contribute your own thoughts as to what would improve The Quay, or start a new thread asking what wouldn't?

The fact is that the car-parks are an eyesore on The Quay and spoil the view of one of Ireland's widest rivers. Removing them would indeed cause other problems, but would improve The Quay.