Bank Holiday traffic for the St Patrick's festival is expected to heavier than usual this weekend. The AA has warned of delays entering and leaving Dublin, writes Tim O'Brien
The festival coincides with major redevelopment works which will close Heuston Station between 9 a.m. on Saturday morning and 1 p.m. on Monday. Iarnrod Éireann will have a bus service between Heuston and parts of Co Kildare. There will be no Arrow service between Friday night and Tuesday morning , so those travelling to the city will have to use the roads. This will lead to extra demand for parking and congestion on roads from the south and west.
The St Patrick's Festival Big Day Out in Merrion Square is likely to be a big attraction with surrounding roads closed and journeys in the city centre affected by detours and hold-ups. On Saturday night the Skyfest fireworks display will put the quays off limits for motorists.
On Sunday the parade itself will proceed through central Dublin - and the advice from the AA is not to make car journeys in the city.
• For those heading out of Dublin for the bank holiday the National Roads Authority says the usual headaches at Glen'O'the Downs and Gorey on the N11 through Wicklow and Wexford respectively will apply. Monasterevin and Kildare in Co Kildare will likely see tailbacks from lunchtime on Friday. For those heading west, the inner-relief road at Enfield, Co Meath, will not be open until the first week in April at least.
• Road restrictions in connection with the Dublin Port Tunnel remain in place over the weekend so journeys to the north along the M1 and the north-west through Finglas and Ashbourne on the N2 will face delays. Also on the M1 on-going work on the airport junction is expected to add to the disruption.
• On the N5 between Strokestown, Co Roscommon, and Longford at Scramogue on-going roadworks will delay traffic.
• Traffic is expected to be held up in Co Cork at Watergrasshill on the N8 approach to the city, and at Ballincollig where improvement works are under way.
• In the north-west works are continuing on the Carrick-on-Shannon to Boyle road.
• Problems at Shannon airport due to roadworks will also continue.
Websites worth checking:
www.aaroadwatch.ie
www.irishrail.ie
www.stpatricksfestival.ie