The Barrow Street Public Realm Improvement Scheme, delivered for Dublin City Council by Actavo Civils, transformed a 420m strategic corridor into a high-quality, safe and accessible streetscape, enhancing connectivity between Ringsend Road and Grand Canal Street Upper.
Scope of works
Project works were varied and included:
- The excavation, milling and full reconstruction of the asphalt carriageway
- Replacement of all existing footpath surfaces with new high-specification granite paving, laid on high-strength bedding mortar
- Improved pedestrian crossing facilities and traffic calming measures
- Upgraded landscape features and street furniture
- Modernising and upgrading underground utilities and surface infrastructure
- Installing a new ‘Dublin Bikes’ station on the street to encourage active travel
- Delivering a new public lighting system
Key successes
- The project had an architectural requirement that the new granite footpath paving be set at an angle to the kerb line. The team employed specialised cutting methodologies to achieve crisp edges and maintain the design rhythm.
- Solutions chosen for Barrow Street were thoughtful and future focused. Landscaping features included the installation of new trees in engineered tree pits, developed to prevent root-related pavement damage.
Solutions to challenges
- There is a bridge on Barrow Street which provided a challenge to the team regarding drainage. Working closely with Dublin City Council, the Actavo Civils team developed a tailored solution, fully resolving the ponding while avoiding structural alterations.
- Maintaining two-way traffic, preserving access for major employers and residents, and coordinating with Grand Canal Dart Station created ongoing operational challenges. Pedestrian, cyclist flows and delivery schedules were managed daily, to cause minimal disruption to all street users.
Benefits to client
- A key sustainability and efficiency measure on the project was the use of a mortar silo system, which delivered significant environmental, logistical and operational benefits.
- A central environmental benefit of the project was the strategic reuse of existing materials, reducing both waste and the carbon footprint associated with new manufacturing.
- The realm supports Dublin City Council’s long-term strategic, environmental and social objectives embodying excellence in urban placemaking and construction delivery.
