Despite long-standing concerns about infrastructure in the capital, the coming year is set to bring a wave of projects that could significantly change how people travel through and experience Dublin.
From expanded cycling routes and bus network upgrades to ambitious regeneration plans along the coast and in the suburbs, the next 12 months promise visible progress across the city and county.
A central focus of Dublin City Council’s upcoming transport initiatives is active travel. The next phase of its city-centre transport programme will roll out gradually this year, with cycling infrastructure taking priority. By year’s end, construction is expected to begin on 13 new walking and cycling schemes. Among the most notable is the final stretch of the Dodder Greenway, linking Milltown Road to Dundrum Road, with works due to start in summer. Another key project, the North Circular Road scheme between Dorset Street Lower and Amiens Street, is scheduled to commence in the first quarter. Gardiner Street will also be reconfigured to include two-way cycle lanes, reducing space for private vehicles along the busy route.
Public transport in the city centre will also see a major shift. By summer, all bus routes currently passing through College Green will be diverted elsewhere. High-frequency services such as the 13, 16 and 27 will be affected, clearing the way for a long-planned pedestrian plaza. Dublin City Council is expected to unveil the plaza’s final design shortly, with a planning application to follow later in the year. The pedestrianised space will extend from Trinity College through to George’s Street, reshaping one of the city’s most historic areas.
Beyond the city core, BusConnects will begin to move from planning to construction. The first corridor, running from the city centre to Liffey Valley, is set to start shortly. This will be followed by the Ballymun-Finglas corridor, which is expected to enter construction later this year after preliminary site investigations.
Along the coast, Dún Laoghaire Harbour is poised for transformation. Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council will publish its final harbour master plan, outlining a vision for a “living harbour” with improved public spaces, stronger transport links and new housing. A flagship project, the Metals Green, will convert underused land between the piers into a major public park.
In south Dublin, regeneration plans in Tallaght and Clondalkin will advance. Tallaght is set to become a high-density innovation hub, centred on the university hospital, alongside new homes, enhanced stadium facilities and improved cycling connections. Clondalkin village, meanwhile, will benefit from public-realm upgrades designed to prioritise pedestrians and revitalise the town centre.
