Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe was on O’Connell Street to oversee the first welding of rail tracks for Luas Cross City project on the historic thoroughfare.

The excavation and preparation for rail tracks works started in the College Green area, Westmoreland Street and O’Connell Street during August 2015. Over the coming weeks rail tracks will be delivered, laid and welded in place on key streets. Additional streets along the 5.9km route will be excavated and prepared over the coming weeks and months.

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The project is due for completion at the end of 2017. It will see an additional 10 million passenger journeys with the extension of the Green Line from St. Stephen’s Green crossing to O’Connell Street and onwards to Broadstone and Cabra. There will be 13 new stops, 8 of which are in the city centre, creating an interchange with the Red Line on O’Connell St and increasing public transport options for people.

Speaking at O’Connell Street today, Minister Donohoe said: ‘A few months ago, I was here to see the first excavation works begin and today the welding of rail tracks on O’Connell Street is happening. It’s a really important step in the project. The last tram on O’Connell Street was the Number 8 for Dalkey, which left from Nelson’s Pillar on the evening of the 9th of July 1949. People can now physically see the new generation of tram rail tracks on O’Connell Street, which is an exciting step in the project’s development. Over the coming weeks and months more tracks will be completed and will become part of Dublin’s new street scape’.

“While there is inevitable and unavoidable disruption for people as the project continues, seeing the tracks appear on the streets clearly shows the progress of the project and that it’s becoming a reality. As we approach what we all hope will be a very successful and busy Christmas period for shops and businesses, I am confident that the collaboration between stakeholders will be maintained to keep the city functioning and open for business.”