Freeflow system faces its toughest test so far

Operation Freeflow 2002, which gets under way in the first week of December, is set to be the most difficult to implement in the scheme's seven- year history.

This year the annual moratorium on digging up Dublin streets has a number of new factors to contend with, including restrictions imposed by Luas works, the Dublin Port Tunnel traffic restrictions and constantly increasing traffic through the city centre.

As evidenced by the unfortunate timing of a sudden downpour at the start of last year's Operation Freeflow, the traffic situation in Dublin city centre is now so congested that even the rain can bring traffic to a halt.

This year traffic authorities are hoping enforcement and the visual presence of gardaí will deter motorists from committing any of the minor violations which can cause tailbacks which quickly turn into major snarl-ups.

There will also be the usual bans on skips in bus lanes, unnecessary maintenance of water mains and underground telecoms lines, and park-and-ride sites may be set up again.

"The trouble with park-and-ride sites is that, while Conor Faughnan of the AA thinks they are a silver bullet, it is actually very hard to get agreement from local people to set them up," a Dublin Transportation Office spokesman said.

Luas works on laying track in the centre will be suspended, but certain others have already restricted traffic.

Whereas Operation Freeflow is centred on the city, there is continuing congestion on all approach roads to the city from the M1 to the N11, including the usual lengthy delays at the intersections of the West Link/N4 and the Red Cow junction.

While the Transportation Office says it will again "squeeze the network to get the last ounce of capacity from it" the advice is, as ever, to leave the car at home if at all possible.