The latest update on the new Luas Cherrywood line has revealed most phases are nearing completion.

At the Sandyford works depot new tracks will be handed over to the operator, Veolia Transport Ireland and will be brought into use shortly for storage of the new tram fleet.

The reconstruction of Sandyford stop and extended platforms has now reached a stage where both the inbound and outbound sections of platform are open and the new shelter has been installed on the inbound platform, the Rail Procurement Agency said.

The works in the Sandyford Park and Ride car park are ongoing with the installation of ducting and drainage. Following this, the tracks will be installed linking the existing Green Line to the new extension.

The final layer of tarmac on the Blackthorne Avenue/Burton Hall Road Junction has now been installed and most of the road markings are in place.

The track works are now largely complete on Blackthorne Avenue and are awaiting the completion of the embedded track slab across the existing entrance to the Luas depot, said a spokesman for the RPA.

The track laying on Burton Hall Road junction is complete. The next phase of works in this area is to install the tram signals and the permanent traffic lights.

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Nearly all tracks are installed on the Brewery Road Bridge and installation of the Overhead Contact System has commenced. The site preparation near the Vodafone building is almost completed and the installation of the track will follow.

The installation of ducting is ongoing in the Central Park development. The track has been installed across the M50 Bridge at Junction 14 (Leopardstown Bridge).

The excavation for the Glencairn underground substation is nearing completion and rock breaking operations will cease shortly, said the RPA.

The works are proceeding to plan on the Ballyogan Road alignment within the fenced off areas for the installation of drainage from the Glencairn Crescent down to Ballyogan Avenue East.

Embedded track is being installed in the area between Ballyogan Avenue East and the new M50 Carrickmines Bridge. The entrance to Ballyogan Avenue East is currently temporarily closed off to facilitate the installation of embedded track across the road junction. These works are scheduled to continue for eight weeks.

A turning area for buses has been created at Ballyogan Avenue East to minimise any impact to normal bus services. During track construction across Ballyogan Avenue East, bus services will depart from the stop adjacent to the roundabout at the entrance to the Leopardstown Shopping Centre.

Another road closure is in place at the entrance to Glencairn Crescent to facilitate the laying of embedded track across this junction. Alternative exits are available in different areas of the estate.

The construction of the structure for the Laughanstown stop has been completed. Temporary localised traffic diversions will be installed shortly to facilitate the construction of the tracks across Laughanstown Lane.

"Good progress has been made on the installation of the track between Laughanstown and Cherrywood stops. The basic structure for the future stop platforms has also been completed and will be followed by paving works and the erection of stop furniture over the next few months," said the spokesman.

Trackwork in the area of Cherrywood/Brides Glen is substantially complete with only the tram stops and crossover areas remaining. The installation of the final concrete surfacing to the track area will commence shortly.

(PR/KMcA)