€40m Grafton Street Contract Delayed

One of Dublin city centre's main shopping streets is to get a facelift with news that a construction project will soon revitalise Grafton Street's pedestrian area.

In a proposed fillip for the beleaguered construction sector, it is set for an overhaul with Dublin City Council to spend up to €40m on new paving and street furniture for the pedestrianised street and surrounding area.

However, while this was first mooted in September, the city council remains keen to stress that the project is in its early stages.

It is thought that a survey has been carried out on what works need to be done and even though the multi-million Euro figure has been used, no figure had been set yet for the revamp of the street.

Builders are unlikely to benefit before Christmas as it will not begin until next year - simply because the project will have to go through the planning process.

Once underway though, the pedestrian upgrade would reach from Dawson Street to South William Street and the works would fit in with the new city development plan, which is being drawn up at present.

Among the streets being considered for pedestrianisation are South Anne Street, Duke Street, Clarendon Street and South William Street.

(BMcC/GK)