The trial pedestrianisation period for streets around Grafton Street will start tomorrow.
Parts of South Anne Street, South William Street, Duke Street, Drury Street and Dame Court are included.
While access to car parks in those areas will be maintained.
The trials will take place on Saturdays and Sundays, starting tomorrow.
Traffic will be barred from 11am to 7pm.
Dublin City Council's Head of Technical Services is Brendan O'Brien.
He says local businesses are involved in the plan too:
"On a number of these streets, tables and chairs will be set outside some restaurants and cafes."
"So generally it'll provide a nicer ambiance to the city centre and an opportunity for people to be in the city centre."
"That will provide far more space for social distancing and for some businesses in these areas to place tables and chairs outside."
With pedestrianisation trials commencing this weekend, we're delighted @DubCityCouncil have just provisionally approved r plans 2 use the former parking spaces at the end South Anne St 4 outdoor seating 👏 Footpaths will remain clear 4 those with mobility issues. Now 🤞🏻 for sun! pic.twitter.com/TwTkyIMHwt
— Karl Purdy (@KarlPurdy) July 21, 2020
Coffee Shop Owner "Emphatically" For Extending Trials
Coffee shop owner Karl Purdy says he's delighted at the move:
"It's brilliant!"
"So it's a long overdue initiative, we're certainly delighted with it."
"Anyone that I have spoken to who owns a business on the street is 100% behind this."
He added that he'd absolutely support extending the trial period from weekends to include weekdays:
"Things like deliveries and waste collection, those are all easily resolved."
"I think there's a genuine will to make whatever changes are necessary."
"So I'd emphatically support making this into a 7 days a week initiative."
The pilot will run for four weeks.
