Operation Freeflow this Christmas will not mean even a temporary halt to traffic problems due to construction of the Dublin Port Tunnel and major roadworks on all main roads into Dublin.
Drivers travelling to the city for Christmas shopping will meet significant delays on all key approach roads, from the Wexford to the Belfast roads. In Dublin, the City Centre Business Association will launch a promotion to attract shoppers from Belfast by rail, partly it says, because of fears that chronic traffic congestion will send shoppers elsewhere.
Long delays on the N11 at the Glen of the Downs in Co Wicklow are expected to be exacerbated. Road works at the Wyattville interchange in south Co Dublin will also continue.
Roadworks on the N7 approach to Dublin - the route from Cork, Limerick and much of the midlands - in preparation for Luas has reduced traffic to one lane in each direction at the Red Cow roundabout. This work will not be covered by Operation Freeflow.
The familiar four- and five-mile tailbacks through Enfield, Co Meath, on the N4/N6 from the west, are set to continue, as is severe congestion around the M50/M6 junction.
On the M50 itself the current tailbacks southwards from the West Link toll-bridge to the Red Cow interchange, and northwards from the toll booths towards Castleknock will not be eased by Freeflow.
City-bound traffic will find the busy areas of Blanchardstown on the N3 very slow moving, particularly at its junction with the M50. Concerns have been expressed about construction traffic on the Ballymun regeneration scheme (on the N2 through Finglas and Ballymun) meeting traffic diverted from Whitehall as part of the Port Tunnel scheme.
The Whitehall diversions, which will be in place for two years, will not be suspended in Operation Freeflow. These have already led to congestion in north city suburbs.
Because of the congestion the AA has suggested that the barriers on the Westlink bridge be lifted at peak times to prevent tailbacks. AA spokesman Mr Conor Faughnan said traffic at the bridge had grown much more quickly than expected. The Government could pay "shadow tolls", reimbursing the toll operator for letting cars through free at peak times, and still meet its projected revenues from the bridge, he said.
Mr Faughnan said recent car restrictions in Dublin were badly thought out because public transport was not able to handle the numbers heading into the city.
The director of the Dublin Transport Office, Mr John Henry, told The Irish Times that some of the major infrastructural contracts, such as the Dublin Port Tunnel, would not allow for work to be suspended. "You can't tell a contractor who may have a time clause in his contract that he should stop work for a few weeks."
Mr Henry said the transport office would be concentrating on improved signs to public car-parks and on-street parking where it would be possible to pay for the following day's parking. It would also be advocating public transport.
Dublin Bus and Iarnr≤d ╔ireann will offer expanded services via their Nitelink and Dart services.
However, the Dublin City Centre Business Association is concerned about access to the city this year. It says Dublin Bus and DART serve people from the immediate suburbs only.
Mr Frank Coffey said the association was expecting fewer people to come in from the provinces and had launched a promotion in Northern Ireland to attract people to Dublin by rail, in an effort to increase business.