Because the former Circle K site at 6 Fortfield Road sits right before the critical KCR junction, the National Transport Authority (NTA) could strategically acquire it to solve several deep-rooted transit bottlenecks in Terenure.
The site is small, but its location is highly valuable for re-engineering the local road network.
Why this site matters
Unlike most properties around the KCR, the former petrol station has an unusually wide frontage. That makes it one of the few locations where extra road space could be created without acquiring residential front gardens or significantly affecting nearby homes.
A relatively small land acquisition here could unlock improvements that would otherwise be impossible.
[ Toward Terenure Village ]
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[ Kimmage / Poddle ] ◄──( KCR )──► [ Terenure Road West ]
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│ (Bottleneck Area)
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[ 6 Fortfield Road ] ◄── (Former Circle K Site)
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│
[ Toward Terenure College ]1. KCR Junction Bus Priority Bypass
The intersection of Fortfield Road, Terenure Road West, and Kimmage Road West (the KCR junction) is a notorious traffic logjam. [1]
- The Problem: Northbound buses heading toward Dublin City Centre regularly get trapped in commuter gridlock on Fortfield Road waiting for the KCR lights.
- The Solution: The NTA could use the petrol station space to widen the northern mouth of Fortfield Road. This would allow for a dedicated, continuous Bus-Only Lane or an advance bus-pockets signal. Buses could completely bypass the queue of cars waiting at the KCR junction.
2. Segregated Active Travel Junction
Fortfield Road is heavily used by students cycling to Terenure College and Our Lady’s School.
- The Problem: The current road layout forces cyclists to share tight lanes with heavy traffic turning at the KCR.
- The Solution: By purchasing the corner site, the NTA could significantly increase the turning radius of the road footprint. This extra space could be used to install a fully segregated, Dutch-style protected cycling junction. It would physically separate cyclists from turning cars and buses, creating a safe corridor.
3. Future-proof the BusConnects corridor
The KCR marks the beginning of the BusConnects Kimmage corridor, making it one of the most important gateways into the city centre from the south-west.
The success of any bus priority measures further north depends on buses reaching the corridor efficiently. If vehicles continue to spend several minutes waiting to reach the junction itself, much of the benefit of downstream improvements is lost.
The former Circle K site offers a rare opportunity to remove one of the corridor’s biggest physical constraints.
- The Launching Point of the Kimmage CBC: The BusConnects Kimmage to City Centre Core Bus Corridor officially commences exactly at the KCR Crossroads junction (the intersection of Fortfield Road, Terenure Road West, and Kimmage Road West). [1]
- Fixing a Major Bottleneck: The NTA’s primary goal for this specific spot is to establish uninterrupted priority for buses and completely overhaul pedestrian and cycling safety at the mouth of the junction. Because the local road widths here are heavily constrained, acquiring a roadside commercial footprint like the former Circle K is the NTA’s standard playbook for expanding the road margin without destroying residential front gardens. [1, 2]
- Eliminating the Right-Turn Conflict: BusConnects infrastructure updates for the surrounding area focus heavily on managing general traffic lanes to keep buses moving. Widening this specific corner allows transit engineers to add a dedicated, physical left/straight bus pocket to prevent regular commuter traffic from blocking public transport. [1]
If you believe this opportunity should be explored, now is the time to speak up.
Residents can:
- Contact their local councillors and TDs to ask that the former Circle K site be considered for public transport and active travel improvements.
- Write to the National Transport Authority (NTA) and Dublin City Council requesting that the site’s potential be assessed before any redevelopment proceeds.
- Raise the issue with local residents’ associations and community groups to build support for a long-term solution to congestion at the KCR.
- Share this proposal with neighbours and on local community forums to encourage discussion.
