Select Image Below To Visit The Photo Gallery: The Royal Canal Way Phibsboro To Drumcondra

Photographed By William Murphy - Select Image To View Photographs

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I USED A ZEISS LOXIA 21MM LENS

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The Royal Canal Way, as it passes along Whitworth Road, represents one of the most significant transformations in Dublin’s recent urban history. This stretch, situated between Cross Guns Bridge (Phibsborough Road) to the west and Binns Bridge (Dorset Street) to the east, has evolved from a narrow, often muddy towpath into a flagship piece of the Royal Canal Greenway.

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The Route and Upgrades

For many years, the pathway along Whitworth Road was a functional but constrained corridor. Systematic upgrades to this specific section were carried out as part of Phase 3 of the Royal Canal Greenway project.

Construction Period: Major works began in February 2023.

Pathway Upgrades: The original gravel and grass surfaces were replaced with high-quality, segregated cycling and walking tracks. The section between Cross Guns Bridge and Binns Bridge partially opened in July 2024 and was fully completed with final surfacing and lighting by March 2025.

Infrastructure: The project involved significant engineering, including the repair of the 200-year-old canal quay walls and the installation of new public lighting and landscaping to turn the industrial corridor into a linear park.

The Pedestrian Bridge

A key feature of this stretch is the new pedestrian and cycle bridge located near Lock 3, roughly midway between the two main road bridges.

Installation: The bridge was craned into position in October 2023.

Purpose: It was designed to provide a safe crossing point away from the heavy traffic of Phibsborough and Drumcondra, allowing users to transition between the northern and southern banks without navigating the congested junctions at Cross Guns or Binns Bridge.

Opening: While the physical structure was in place by late 2023, it became fully accessible to the public as the surrounding pathway sections were commissioned throughout 2024 and 2025.

The entire 2.1km Phase 3 scheme, which connects Phibsborough to the North Strand, was officially launched in September 2025, creating a seamless off-road link from the Dublin Docklands to the western suburbs.

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The Lock 3 Bridge: Architectural Design

The bridge located just east of Lock 3 (near the back of Mountjoy Prison/Whitworth Road) was designed to be a "slender and sinuous" addition to the historic canal landscape.

Designers: The project was led by the Roughan & O'Donovan (ROD)-AECOM Alliance in collaboration with O'Connor Sutton Cronin, with architectural input to ensure the structure met the "simple, sculptural" aesthetic required for such a historic industrial setting.

Structure: It is a steel composite bridge. The design utilises tapering steel piers that "hold" the main girder, creating a light footprint.

Key Feature: A 5.2m wide deck (providing a 4m clear path for users) with concrete upstands. The deck cantilevers over the steel box girder underneath, creating a "drop shadow" effect that makes the bridge look remarkably thin from the side.

Durability: To minimise maintenance, the steel components are hermetically sealed, and the bridge is designed without intermediate bearings where possible to reduce wear and tear.

Phase 4: Phibsborough to Ashtown

This is the final 4.2km stretch of the greenway within the Dublin City Council boundary. As of early 2026, it is the focus of intense activity to close the "missing link" to the 130km-long national route.

Current Status and Timeline

Status (2026): After delays related to environmental screenings and a Natura Impact Statement required by An Bord Pleanála in 2024, Phase 4 is now in the final stages of the statutory process.

Construction Start: Advanced works (such as utility diversions and the Broombridge Road crossing) are complete. Main construction is slated to ramp up throughout 2026.

Route Highlights:

Coke Oven Cottages: A sensitive area where the canal bank is being realigned (narrowed by up to 2.4m) to allow for a wide greenway without demolishing historic walls or impacting residents' access.

Lock 7 to Ashtown: This section will feature a segregated 2.5m two-way cycle track and a 2m pedestrian footpath.

Environmental Features: Inclusion of "bat-sensitive" lighting and a "wildlife shelf" in the newly constructed canal embankments to support local biodiversity.

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