Route changes set to keep city centre drivers out

Dublin drivers are set to experience an overdose of the Monday morning blues as they attempt to drive into the city at the start of next week.

For at most of their familiar routes into the heart of the capital, the motorists will run up against a new set of rules - expressly designed to keep them out.

The aim of what has been branded as the most radical plan in Dublin’s driving history is to force cars using the centre as an access to the other side of the city to turn into alternative roads.

Or, as succinctly spelled out by the Office of the Director of Traffic in Dublin, the intention will be to discourage unnecessary vehicles “70% of which have no business there”.

The hope is that the measures will more than halve the amount of traffic on O’Connell Street during morning and evening rush-hours, sometimes close to gridlock under present conditions.

Through traffic will in future be shouldered aside to more orbital roads, with preference going instead in the central area to buses, cyclists - and pedestrians.

A new series of detailed colour-coded signs will appear on the streets in the morning to show non-centre-bound the vehicles the way to go from tomorrow.

Director of Traffic Owen Keegan insists the signs are easy to follow, but concedes that motorists may take some time to get used to them.

For a time at any rate, police will be position at key points on routes into the city to explain the new system to any drivers confused by the profusion of signs and newly-blocked roads.

The Automobile Association has backed the Dublin City Council initiative as a “positive development,” but also conceded that there could be a measure of short-term inconvenience.

A spokesman said: “We back this as part of a programme to improve the transport infrastructure and city centre environment.”

Dublin Chamber of Commerce Director of Policy Declan Martin declared: “These changes will be a positive move for Dublin. They will mean a more environmentally friendly city and an improved shopping experience for Dubliners.

“Shoppers will still be able to access all the main shopping areas but will be encouraged under these changes to use more public transport, cycles and taxis.”

Mr Martin said the new routes would take a while to get used to but that overall every Dubliner would eventually benefit from “the decreased congestion and improved environment.”