DUBLIN and Dun Laoghaire ports are both "saturated" with traffic due to economic growth and increased tourism, the Chartered Institute of Ireland (CITI) has said.
Current statistics indicate that the traffic in both cases has exceeded forecasts, the CITI says in a discussion paper published today. The Dublin Transportation Initiative's (DTI) projections for Dublin for the year 2011, calculated two years ago, were surpassed last year, it says.
The DTI had estimated that Dublin port's traffic would reach 9.5 tonnes in 2011. It reached 11.8 million tonnes in 1995, and is forecast to increase to 13.5 million tonnes in 1996.
In Dun Laoghaire, the transfer of much freight business by Stena Line to Dublin will not relieve congestion entirely. Some 100 freight vehicles will still use the company's High Speed Service when the ship is fully operational. By 2000, it is estimated that the 1994 figure of 1.5 million passengers and 251,000 cars through Dun Laoghaire will have increased to two million passengers and 325,000 cars.
The CITI paper recommends a series of measures, including widening Dublin port's East Wall road and design of a traffic plan to suit the port interests. It also recommends designation of a series of through routes for commercial traffic. In Dun Laoghaire, it recommends widening the Coal Quay bridge and establishing a clear way on Harbour Road.
The CITI states that it supports the proposed Northern Port Access Route, and the planned improvements to the national road network embodied in the Government's Operational Programme.