Disruption expected during €4m Grafton St upgrade

Dublin’s Grafton St is to undergo a €4m facelift.

Over the next 18 months, broken red bricks on the capital’s premier shopping street will be replaced by natural granite, some from the Dublin and Wicklow mountains.

The work will begin in early June and be carried out in five stages to finish in time for Christmas shopping in 2014.

Dublin City Council warned there will be some disruption, as the upgrade will happen at the same time as the new Luas line connecting the north and south of the city is carried out.

Lord Mayor Naoise Ó Muirí said: “Grafton St is the premier street south of the Liffey — when Grafton St looks well, the city does well. The repaving is great news for businesses, shoppers, and tourists.”

The granite — similar to the centre of O’Connell St — will replace the dated paving that has been on Grafton St since 1988.

Council chiefs said stores will stay open for business and the repaving will be suspended for eight weeks during Christmas and New Year.

New public lighting and street furniture, including sculptures, will also be part of the revamp, to be carried out by KN Networks. A competition will be held to choose the street furniture.

Richard Guiney of Dublin City Business Improvement District said the street has an annual footfall of more than 30m people and attracts shoppers and visitors to the city centre.

“The planned repaving will ensure the physical environment matches the quality retail and leisure offering and will accelerate the continued growth,” said Mr Guiney.