Traffic restrictions to start today

Traffic restrictions which come into force in Dublin this morning are expected to impact heavily on vehicles approaching the city centre from the north of the city.

The restrictions are part of the city council's "radical new traffic management plan for Dublin City" announced last week. The major elements of this morning's changes are a reversal of the one-way traffic on North Frederick Street and a ban on access to O'Connell Street from Parnell Square East.

Traffic approaching the city centre along Blessington Street will be diverted at the junction with Dorset Street Upper. As the traffic flow on North Frederick Street will be reversed there will be no access from Dorset Street. Buses are to be exempt from the one-way reversal and will operate in a contra-flow lane.

The effect of the changes will be to block access to the southbound side of O'Connell Street. Deliveries and access to car parks in the area may be made via Cathal Brugha Street.

Access to North Frederick Street will be by way of a new right turn from Gardiner Row/Denmark Street and a new left turn from Parnell Square North.

Combined with the North King Street restrictions which came into place last Wednesday, the changes are designed to divert traffic onto the two recently identified "orbital routes" which will be colour coded on new sign posts.

The outer orbital route is to be coded purple, while the inner route is to be coded yellow.

The city council has produced an information leaflet containing route maps to illustrate the new routes.

These detail the new suggested route between Parnell Street and Donnybrook as being via junctions 33 to 17 on the inner orbital, along the N81 to junction seven of the outer orbital and along it to junction four, and then along the N11 to Donnybrook.

For those who are not familiar with the new numbering system the above route translates as: Parnell Street to King's Inns Street to North King Street.

From there it is via Church Street to Inns Quay and across the Liffey to Merchants Quay, High Street and Patrick Street to Harold's Cross, and along the canal to Leeson Street bridge and via Morehampton Road to Donnybrook.

Earlier restrictions which include those at the junctions of Dame/South Gt Georges streets and Dawson/Nassau streets introduced earlier this year, are gradually creating a number of "cells" in the city centre which make it possible to drive into the centre of the city, but not through it.

Further cells are planned. The next to come into effect is to be in the Pearse Street/College Green area on September 30th next.