Radical changes in traffic arrangements on three of Dublin city centre's main thoroughfares were announced yesterday by Dublin City Council (DCC).
In addition, a new road signage system, designed to divert traffic away from the city centre and on to "inner and orbital routes" around the city is to be introduced within two weeks.
The restrictions are being put in place to reduce up to 70 per cent of unnecessary traffic in the city centre, which will now be diverted to alternate routes, according to Mr Brendan O'Brien of the DCC office of the director of traffic.
The plan includes traffic management changes in O'Connell Street, North King Street and Pearse Street. An information leaflet will be distributed through newspapers, Dublin Motor Tax Offices, libraries and the East and West Link toll bridges.
The changes in O'Connell Street will come into effect next Monday.
From yesterday a number of changes were introduced in the North King Street area. Southbound traffic on Stoneybatter is now required to turn left onto North King Street. Access to Blackhall Place will be via Queen Street and Blackhall Street and private cars will not be permitted to travel southbound on Blackhall Place. Also, new one-way sections are being introduced on North King Street, Brunswick Street North and Blackhall Street. With the Blackhall Place bridge due to be completed by the end of the year, these changes are designed to provide an alternative route for traffic away from the city centre.
From September 30th, all general traffic on Pearse Street will be required to turn right onto Tara Street. Only buses, taxis, motorcycles and cycles will be allowed to travel through Pearse Street to College Green.
The new directional sign posting system is intended to provide improved information for road users. The signage system is based on colour-coded inner and outer orbital routes. The outer route corresponds to the canal ring and signs on it will be coloured purple. The inner route, around the core of the city centre, will have orange signs. Each junction on the two routes will have a number. White signs will be seen when approaching one of the orbital routes.
A spokeswoman for the Automobile Association acknowledged that "while there will be some short-term inconvenience for motorists", the initiative will "improve the transport infrastructure and city centre environment".
The city council believes the new arrangements allow further development of a "public transport priority corridor" to run through the city, facilitate the linkage of north and south city bus services and encourage more people to use public transport.
A spokesman for Dublin Bus welcomed the new management measures and said they would reduce bus travel times. Ms Anne Graham, of the O'Connell Street Integraion Area Plan, also welcomed the new restrictions on South Frederick Street, which she said will create a better atmosphere and environment for pedestrians and allow regeneration.
The new restrictions on Pearse Street are hoped to give additional priority to pedestrians in the College Green area and allow the construction of the city centre cycle lane, which is currently underway.
It is hoped the measures will compliment changes introduced in April 2000 on South Great George's Street and Dawson Street, which have directed 50 per cent of northbound traffic away from O'Connell Street.
Mr Tim O'Sullivan, executive manager with the office of the director of traffic, said the scheme was "innovative and will make life easier for anyone driving in the city".
"People will have to familiarise themselves with the national route numbers," he said, however, as only numbers are displayed on the new signs.