At a glance: What are the traffic restrictions in Dublin?
by Siobhán Devoy, https://www.facebook.com/rtenews/ · RTE.ieA major policing and security operation is in place in Dublin city centre from today until Friday, as European leaders meet in the capital for an EU summit.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin will also host a dinner for visiting leaders in the National Gallery of Ireland on Thursday evening after the summit.
Anyone travelling to or around Dublin city centre is being warned to plan their journeys and expect major and prolonged traffic disruption.
But what exactly are the traffic restrictions and how will they affect the public?
Tuesday
A security cordon has been put in place around the Convention Centre in Dublin, including barriers and no-parking restrictions.
North Wall Quay between Guild Street and New Wapping Street was shut to traffic and pedestrians at 7am this morning and it will remain closed until Friday evening. East/west traffic is being diverted from approaching roads.
Wednesday
A security cordon will be established around the National Gallery of Ireland from 7am, including barriers and no-parking restrictions.
Traffic and parking restrictions might also be put in place around hotels associated with the EU meetings, from 7am until late on Friday morning, in parts of the city centre.
A wider security cordon and extended traffic management cordon will be established around the Convention Centre Dublin from 8pm until Friday evening.
Samuel Beckett Bridge will be closed to traffic from 8pm, with north/south traffic across Samuel Beckett Bridge being diverted from approach roads.
Traffic movements will be restricted around Amiens Street, Seville Place/Sheriff Street Upper, East Wall Road and North Wall Quay.
Access to residents and businesses will remain open, with security checks in place. Gardaí have informed residents and businesses affected by the cordon.
Thursday
A traffic management cordon will be put in place around the National Gallery from 7am until midnight.
Traffic will be restricted around Baggot Street, Fitzwilliam Street, Merrion Square North, Clare Street and Kildare Street.
Access to residents and businesses will remain open, with security checks. Gardaí have informed residents and businesses directly affected by the cordon.
Additional traffic and parking restrictions will be put in place around Merrion Square and the Docklands from 7am until late on Thursday evening. Gardaí are advising that there will be significant road closures in this area between 3pm-7pm.
Friday
The security cordon around the Convention Centre in Dublin, including barriers and no-parking restrictions, will remain in place until the evening.
Traffic and parking restrictions might be put in place around hotels associated with the EU meetings until late in the morning, in parts of the city centre.
Airports
Heads of state or government will arrive and depart from Dublin Airport tomorrow, Thursday and Friday.
The highest impact of these arrivals and departures will be:
- 1pm - 11pm on Wednesday
- 7am - 11am on Thursday
- 3pm - 8pm on Friday
Normal operations will continue at Dublin Airport. Departures and arrivals at T1 and T2 are unaffected. However, members of the public should allow additional time to arrive at the airport during the peak impact times highlighted.
Traffic restrictions will be in place at Dunbro between R108 and R122. Additional garda patrols will be in place along perimeter roads of Dublin Airport including the Naul Road, R108, R132 and Old Airport Road.
Access to the aircraft viewing stands on the R108 and Naul Road adjacent to Dublin Airport will be restricted.
Casement Aerodrome
Heads of state or government will arrive and depart from Casement Aerodrome during tomorrow, Thursday and Friday.
The highest impact of these arrivals/ departures will be:
- 1pm - 11pm on Wednesday
- 7am - 11am on Thursday
- 1pm - 8pm on Friday
Perimeter roads to Casement Aerodrome will be subject to additional garda patrols and traffic restrictions. Parking/stopping on perimeter roads will be restricted.
Motorcycle escorts
It can be expected that temporary traffic restrictions will be in place across Dublin to allow for security motorcycle escorts from Dublin Airport and Casement Aerodrome to, and within, Dublin city centre.
The highest impact of the restrictions will be:
- 1pm - 11pm Wednesday - airports to city centre
- 7am - 11am Thursday - airports to city centre/in city centre
- 3pm - 11pm Thursday - city centre
- 7am - 11am Friday - city centre
- 1pm - 8pm Friday - city centre to airports
LUAS
LUAS operations will continue as normal today.
A number of concerts are taking place at the 3Arena this week. While the 3Arena is outside the security cordon, there will be no LUAS services to the 3Arena on Thursday and Friday.
A restricted number of special LUAS services will be facilitated on Thursday and Friday.
There will be no pedestrian access along North Wall Quay on Thursday and Friday. Pedestrians going to the 3Arena should travel by the following streets: Amiens Street, Seville Place, Spencer Dock Bridge, Sherriff Street Upper and North Wall Avenue.
There will be no east/west traffic on North Wall Quay from today until Friday. Vehicles can access the 3Arena along Seville Place, Sherriff Street Upper, East Wall Road and across the Tom Clarke Toll Bridge at all times.
Buses and trains
There will be disruption to traffic management, traffic flows and public transport over the period.
Public transport providers will provide information on the impact of the policing and security operation on their services. Please refer to their social media and websites for relevant updates.
Dublin Bus said its services will experience road closures, diversions and delays. Some bus stops will be temporarily unavailable, with revised city centre termini put in place where necessary.
Go Ahead said some of its services may be subject to temporary diversions, delays and disruption.
Transport for Ireland is advising passengers to use the TFI journey planner and live app to plan journeys.
All Iarnród Éireann services will operate as usual this week.
Customers are advised to allow extra time for connecting travel to and from city centre stations, and be aware of road closures - including rolling road closures - which will affect some connecting bus/rail services.
The public car park at Connolly Station was shut at 5am this morning. It will remain closed until 6pm on Friday evening.
Access to and from Docklands Station will be via a secure route, with pedestrian access across the Liffey at Sean O'Casey Bridge at Custom House Quay.
What else do we need to know?
The M50 motorway and Dublin Port Tunnel are not expected to be directly affected by the policing and security operation.