IF BANK Holiday travellers manage to dodge their way around the fallen trees and do not get swallowed up by the biblical floods predicted by Met Eireann for the weekend, the roads over the next few days seem relatively free of obstacles.
However, motorists can expect some "moderate" delays tomorrow on routes out of the main cities. The Naas dual carflageway between Newlands Cross and Rathcoole, where road improvements are continuing, will have a 40 m.p.h. speed restriction in place and tail backs may occur. North of Dublin, the Flemington/ Toberstown Road is closed cause of construction work. The slip road on the inbound side of the N11 joining Cherrywood Road is also closed.
On Monday, the Dublin City Marathon will cause traffic restrictions. Those travelling to port from the southside of the city are advised to use the Eastlink or alternatively Butt Bridge.
It is expected there will be heavy congestion today and tomorrow on the incoming roads to Cork because of the jazz festival. Traffic flow in the city is not helped by major roadworks on the Modelfarm Road and the closure of Castle Street and North Main Street.
The conferring of degrees and diplomas on nearly 1,500 students at University College, Galway today is expected to cause delays on College Road and severe congestion on Newcastle Road and Distillery Road.
Bus Eireann expects to carry more than 100,000 passengers on Expressway and provincial bus services over the weekend. Today and tomorrow normal weekday services will operate, with passengers who can travel early able to avail of the many midday and mid afternoon services on all major routes.
On Sunday evening Bus Eireann does not expect the normal demand from passengers looking to return to the main urban centres, so these services have been cancelled. A spokesman said the company hopes to put on buses if there is an unexpected "extra demand".
On Monday services will operate as on normal Sundays, with a number of extra evening services.
There are some extra services early on Tuesday morning. Bus Eireann has set up a hotline on 01 8366111 for Bank Holiday queries.
Iarnrod Eireann is putting on 30 extra trains in addition to its scheduled timetable starting today. DART and suburban services will be disrupted during the weekend due to essential engineering works.
DART services will be cancelled on Sunday from Howth Junction to Connolly Station, with a supplementary bus service replacing trains. From tomorrow there will also be interruptions to the Dublin to Sligo and Sligo to Dublin service, with a bus bringing commuters to Maynooth where the rail service will start to Sligo.