Limerick street could become one-way under bike lane plans

A SECTION of a Limerick city centre street could become closed to two-way traffic as part of a controversial bike lane scheme.

The council's active travel team has plans to introduce a segregated cycle lane between South Circular Road, Henry Street and the centre.

After businesses in Henry Street raised concerns over the impact of the loss of car parking spaces on passing trade, it's been proposed that the section of the thoroughfare between St Gerard Street to Mallow Street be made one way, should the overall bike lane scheme be passed by councillors next month.

According to Labour councillor Joe Leddin, who has secured a workshop on the €5m project this Tuesday, local authority engineers are in support of this.

Battle lines drawn over proposed cycle lane in Limerick city centre

"If it was one way, they could keep their parking as they'd not have two-directional traffic, and you could also have your cycle lane and footpath. It's been accepted by engineers. That will be an amendment if the plan is approved," he said.

This will mean the whole of Henry Street will become one-way, with contra-flow traffic already banned from its junction with Mallow Street and terminus adjoining Sarsfield Street.

On the plans overall, around 1,000 groups and individuals have written to the council, with three-quarters opposed to it.

This prompted Cllr Leddin to seek the workshop to try and find a compromise ahead of the vote.

"I hope we can proceed in some shape or form with some scheme, rather than spending the whole day at a council meeting and not getting agreement. If we can have a workshop, and there is some consensus to do X, Y and Z, that might help us in advance of the meeting. This has exorcised people on all sides of the argument," he said.

The workshop, which is being held behind closed doors takes place at 4pm this Tuesday.