Motorists warned roads into Dublin likely to be congested

Motorists should avoid the peak-time return to Dublin on Monday after the bank holiday weekend, AA Roadwatch warned yesterday.

Those who do travel should allow more time to negotiate the main approach roads to the capital, which are expected to be heavily congested from early afternoon to late evening.

"The usual delays" are expected on the N11 at Kilmacanogue, Rathnew, Gorey and Enniscorthy. Delays are also expected on the N4 approaching Enfield and on the N7 from Rathcoole via Kildare and Monasterevin. Traffic has been restored to two lanes on the Dublin side of the Nenagh by-pass.

The new Navan inner-relief road has been opened and has two lanes flowing southbound only, while Flowerhill has two lanes northbound. Watergate is now one-way northbound.

The RUC and the Garda will be diverting cross-Border traffic between Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, and Keady, Co Armagh, on Saturday and Sunday. Traffic travelling north will be diverted to Creighanroe, McKelvies Grove and into Keady. Traffic travelling south will be diverted from Keady to Derrynoose, Clontibret and Castleblayney. The diversion is to allow for the Armagh Bowling Club's annual road bowling event.

Minor delays are occurring in Dublin city centre as road works at College Green reduced traffic filtering in from D'Olier and Pearse Streets to a single lane. In Cork, William Street and Drawbridge Street were closed for an hour last night, but no serious disruption was expected. Road works on the Galway to Tuam road may cause minor inconvenience.

The Garda has issued a reminder to motorists in the Louth-Meath area that this weekend speed cameras will operate on the N1, N2, N3, N4 and N6.

Iarnrod Eireann reported no problems with its plans to carry about 300,000 passengers on its intercity services and will be running its Early Bird services on Tuesday next instead of Monday.

There are no DART services between Dun Laoghaire and Bray this weekend due to engineering works. A limited bus service will be available, although passengers are advised to make alternative arrangements. A Sunday service will run on the DART and Dublin to Drogheda lines on Monday.

There will, however, be no outer-suburban services. Bus Eireann has announced that a Sunday service will operate on Monday, although extra buses will be deployed on most routes into Dublin.

Ferries on the Irish Sea were running normally yesterday with the exception of the Stena Sea Lynx service from Rosslare to Pembroke. The Sea Lynx was taken off due to bad weather and was not expected to return to service today. Stena Line is offering to transfer passengers to its conventional ferry service and passengers are advised to contact (01) 204-7777 for further information.