Update on the Dublin Eastern Bypass (DEBP) Corridor Study

The DEBP reservation is a long‑standing land corridor originally safeguarded for a potential motorway link between the Dublin Port Tunnel/north Docklands and Sandyford. During the preparation of the Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy (GDATS), the project was reassessed by the National Transport Authority (NTA) and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), and the motorway proposal was not included. However, Measure ROAD 4 of the GDATS requires that the southern section of the corridor be retained, pending an assessment of its potential to accommodate a sustainable transport solution. dlr is now undertaking that assessment in conjunction with the NTA. 

In addition, GDATS Measure LRT7 – Post 2042 Luas Lines – identified that travel demand along the corridor between the City Centre and Bray via UCD and Sandyford would exceed that which could be accommodated by Bus and that a Luas line would be required at some point after 2042. 

The purpose of the current study therefore is to determine the optimal long‑term use of the corridor lands based on the provisions of the GDATS and to inform future planning policy.

Phase 1 of the study is evaluating whether the corridor could support a future sustainable transport link, such as high‑capacity public transport services and active travel facilities. Initial work has identified that this corridor could provide an option for a future Luas line between the city centre and Bray via UCD and Sandyford. This option performs strongly when assessed against journey times, mode share, integration with existing networks, and long‑term public transport demand.

This provides evidence to inform whether part of the road reservation should continue to be safeguarded so that future transport options remain possible.