The first major roadworks to facilitate the construction of the new cross-city Luas line in Dublin will begin this week.

The move is due to cause some disruption to traffic and taxi services in the city centre.

Work will begin at six sites from St. Stephen's Green to Parnell Street in the coming days for the next phase of works to link up the two Luas lines.

Traffic will be restricted, footpaths will be closed and taxi ranks will be moved to allow gas, electricity and water pipes to be taken out of the way.

At five of the work sites - St. Stephens Green North, Grafton Street Lower, Westmoreland Street, Hawkins Street and Parnell Street - the number of traffic lanes will be reduced but there will be no road closures.

Where footpaths are closed alternative pedestrian access will be provided. Access to businesses near the works will be maintained at all times.

At the 6th site around The Spire at O'Connell Street, the road will be closed but only at night over weekends. While some taxi ranks will be moved on a phased basis as the work requires.

The government secured funding from the European Investment Bank (EIB) for project in November. The estimated loan of €163 million from the EIB is just under half of the cost of the development.

800 jobs are set to be created in the construction phase of the project, while 60 permanent positions will be created on completion.

The 'BXD' line will run from the city centre to the Irish Rail stop at Broombridge on the north-side of Dublin and will also link the existing Red and Green lines. Funding for the project has been included in the capital allocations under the Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2012-2016 plan of government.

It is set to be completed sometime in late 2017.