Actavo Civils Division constructed pedestrian and cycle lanes on Stillorgan road.

The Stillorgan Road (UCD access) cycle improvement scheme was officially opened by Councillor Lettie McCarthy, cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Professor Mark Rogers, acting president of UCD, and Liam Ryan, head of network operations, Actavo, at Nova UCD Entrance, Stillorgan Road in early April 2022. Actavo Civils Division was the main contractor for the project that commenced in March 2020. 

Cllr Lettie McCarthy with Liam Ryan, head of network operations, Actavo. Photo Andres Poveda

New and improved signalised junctions

The project was headed up by Ollie Raftery, Mick Kennedy, senior site construction manager, and Gary Stanley, quantity surveyor. As part of the project, the team constructed cycle lanes from the junction with the Rise across Foster’s Avenue to a new cycle and pedestrian entrance to the UCD campus, including the installation of new and improved signalised junctions at both the Rise and Foster’s Avenue.

Works undertaken as part of this project included: realignment and upgrade of the junctions, installation of new street lighting columns and ducts, traffic ducting, relocation and construction of new bus stops and cold milling and reinstatement of sections of existing Asphalt carriageway, including the application of high friction surfacing and road markings.

The project was also delivered during the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic with new standard operating procedures developed, training undertaken and Covid PPE distributed, to ensure the works could proceed in a safe fashion, in accordance with government and HSA guidelines.

'Challenging project'

Ryan said: “This was a significant and challenging project undertaken by the Actavo Civils Division, due to the locus being a major arterial route into Dublin city centre.

"To successfully deliver this project, we engaged with key stakeholders, and developed and submitted traffic management plans including consultation with Dublin Bus and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.

"Health and safety was a key consideration, as the project was near transmission gas mains and high voltage electricity cables. Actavo set up on-site meeting with utilities personnel to monitor works and ensure the safe delivery of the project.”

The project was delivered with minimum impact to traffic and pedestrians and there was no impact to nearby existing high-pressure gas mains and high voltage underground ESB cables.