The Taoiseach will open a new stretch of the Dublin-Belfast motorway today that is expected to ease congestion on one of the State's busiest routes.
The €230-million project has been completed three months ahead of schedule.
Motorists will save an estimated 30 minutes at peak times over the 16.3 kilometre and traffic volumes on the N1, from Balbriggan to the M1/M50 motorways and at Dublin Airport roundabout, are expected to fall to 60 per cent of current levels.
Long distance traffic to and from Dublin, Drogheda, Dundalk and Belfast will use the new motorway, according to Mr Michael Kennedy, Cathaoirleach, Fingal County Council.
Mr Kennedy said the motorway will remove 3,000 heavy goods vehicles and 30,000 other vehicles a day from the N1 and other local roads in Fingal.
"The many immediate benefits to the residents of Rush, Lusk, Skerries, Portrane, Donabate and the general Fingal coastal areas include safer roads for local drivers, pedestrians and cyclists, and a less polluted urban environment, particularly around Swords," he said.