Tailbacks and traffic chaos were brought to a major access route in Dublin today as traffic restrictions to facilitate the building of the Dublin Port Tunnel came into effect.
The restrictions reduced traffic in north Dublin between the Coolock Interchange and Whitehall on the N1/M1 to one lane in each direction. Restrictions are expected to be in place for the next two years.
Outbound traffic on the M1 was backed up for miles as work started this morning on the tunnel which is expected to cost more than £350 million.
It is hoped the project which will involve more than four kilometres (2.4 miles) of underground road, will eventually ease traffic congestion in the city.
From today, motorists on the route are likely to face delays of up to 15 minutes and Dublin Corporation is encouraging people to use buses and taxis, as priority will be given to public transport.
Commuters have also been advised to use the Malahide, Finglas and Swords routes bus corridors. Engineers have estimated that if between five and 10 per cent of motorists find an alternative route, disruption could be kept to a minimum.
It is estimated that 1,500 vehicles per hour use the road going south into the city in the mornings at peak times. At the same time around 1,000 vehicles use the route travelling north to the airport.
But AA roadwatch spokesperson, Ms Emma Caulfield, told ireland.comthat although delays were to be expected they could be avoided by motorists using alternative routes.
"The Dublin Port Tunnel is something Dublin desperately needs," she added.
However, the Irish Road Haulage Association has attacked Dublin Corporation for not inviting road users to have their say on the logistical plans.
"We are the people involved in moving goods around the country and particularly around Dublin city and we feel that we have a vital part to play in managing traffic around the city," a spokesman said.
"We are realists, we know that we have to incur disruption and inconvenience when these projects go ahead, but why not talk to the people on the ground who they affect directly and let them put their views forward?"
He added: "At certain peak times we think it is justified that we use the bus corridors to get in and out of the port in particular."
Additional reporting by PA