AA Traffic News

OVERNIGHT: Further outbreaks of rain overnight in the north and west; elsewhere mostly dry. Staying cloudy and misty with fog in parts of the midlands. Lowest temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees.

A Park & Ride Service is being piloted in Galway until November 2013 at which time it will be reviewed. This service operates from Galway Airport to the Galway Coach Station at the Fairgreen.

From 1st April 2013, owners/operators of six-axle articulated vehicles will have the option of operating at 46 tonnes, instead of 44 tonnes which represents a 2 tonne over the current national weight limit.

The 'Driver Check App' is available to download. The App allows a passenger to check the licence details of both the vehicle and the taxi driver, and to see an ID photo of the authorised driver. The passenger is then able to simply forward these details (minus the photo) to a friend, all of which will reassure passengers that they are travelling safely, and that there is a record of their trip. All details can be checked by a customer before they get in the vehicle.

Approval has been granted to proceed with the building of the Killaloe Bypass, Shannon Bridge Crossing and R494 Improvement Scheme.

The National Programme Office for Traffic Medicine, which was established by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI), was launched on Fri 22nd Feb 2013, Medical Fitness to Drive Guidelines is a new set of structured guidelines that will provide a national framework on standards in traffic medicine in Ireland. This relates to car and motorcycle drivers (known as Group 1 licence holders) and will give clear guidance to medical professionals in implementing medical fitness to drive policies in Ireland. The updated guidelines reflect recent developments in medicine, such as improvements in diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions.

The M3 Clonee - Kells (Clonee - Dunshaughlin). The M3 Clonee - Kells route is located in the North East of Ireland providing a strategic link between Dublin and the Northwest, with connections to Clonee, Dunboyne, Dunshaughlin, Navan and Kells.

The toll is located in the West of Ireland in Cappataggle on the M6 Galway/Dublin Rd between J15 Ballinasloe West and J16 Loughrea, approximately 13.5km West of Ballinasloe and 42km east of Galway. See charges below:

The Rathcormac/Fermoy Bypass is located in the Southwest of Ireland in County Cork. The toll road is approximately 15km north of Dunkettle on the N8 Cork/Dublin route. See charges below:

The M1 (Gormanstown to Monasterboice motorway) is located in the east of Ireland and passes through County Meath and County Louth. The toll road is approximately 30 km north of Dublin airport on the Dublin to Belfast route.

The M7/M8 Portlaoise to Cullahill/Castletown Motorway is located in the midlands of Ireland in County Laois.

The M4 (Kilcock-Enfield-Kinnegad) motorway is located in the mid-east of Ireland and passes through Counties Meath, Westmeath and Kildare. The toll road is approximately 35km west of Dublin on the Dublin to Sligo, Dublin to Galway route. See charges below:

The Limerick Tunnel opened to traffic in July 2010. • The Tunnel runs under the River Shannon for a distance of (approx) 900m and links Coonagh on the northern bank with Bunlicky on the southern bank of the river.

M50 Barrier Free Toll Charges remain the same until further notice. • The M50 motorway is a radial route around Dublin and is intersected by the principal radial routes, i.e. M1, M2, N3, N4 (also serving N6), N7 (also serving N8 & N9) and N11. • The Barrier-Free Toll is located between Junction 6 (N3 Blanchardstown) and Junction 7 (N4 Lucan). • Charges vary depending on payment method, please see charges below.

The N25 Waterford City Bypass is 24km in length and stretches from Kilmeaden, Co.Waterford to Slieverue, Co. Kilkenny.

The Eastlink Toll Bridge is located in Dublin City. The Toll bridge spans the River Liffey and is the last crossing point before Dublin Harbour, connecting the northside of the city (Dublin Port, The O2) to the southside (Sean Moore Rd (Ringsend). See charges below:

The Dublin Port Tunnel links Dublin Port to the M1 and M50 at Swords (north Dublin). • Goods Vehicles with a design gross weight exceeding 3,500 kilograms are exempt from tolls. • Remove sunglasses and turn on headlights (dipped) before entering the Tunnel. Also check that you have sufficient fuel for the 5.6 km journey and tune into FM radio to hear any instructions the Operator may issue while you are within the Tunnel.

The Bandon/Sarsfield Interchange Scheme remains on target for completion by the due date of July 2013. As part of the overall completion process a number of significant work items will be progressed before the end of this year: • Construction of the concrete median barrier between Sarsfield Road Roundabout and the Pouladuff Overbridge is now underway. Construction of this section of the median barrier should be completed before the end of September 2012. • The new road pavement in this area will then be constructed during October 2012. This new surfacing will extend east of the Pouladuff Overbridge to the termination point of the Kinsale Road Interchange Scheme which was completed in 2007. • The concrete deck of the bridge at the eastern side of the Bandon Road Roundabout will be cast on Thursday 20th September 2012.

Traffic can free flow on the motorway using any of the four lanes in each direction, travelling under the barrier free toll gantries without disruption. The maximum speed limit is 100km/ph. • There are 3 ways that you can pay (note: the tolls listed below are for cars, other vehicle prices vary):

Specially adapted vehicles driven by disabled persons are exempt from tolls on each toll road in the state. Toll road operators currently issue special passes to facilitate such exempt passage. Passes issued by any one operator will be accepted by all other toll road operators.

• JUNCTION 1 CITY CENTRE: The M50 starts at the Dublin Port Tunnel. Non tunnel traffic heads into the city centre via East Wall Rd. • JUNCTION 2 COOLOCK: This gives access to Coolock lane. It’s also known as the Santry exit. • JUNCTION 3 THE M1: Junction 3 is the M1/M50 Roundabout & is the start of the M50 southbound. Northbound it is the start of the main Airport Rd and the M1 Motorway to Belfast. • JUNCTION 4 BALLYMUN: This exit leads to Ballymun, Mobhi Road, Botanic Road and Phibsborough and Constitution Hill. • JUNCTION 5 FINGLAS: This is the exit for the N2/North Rd. Citybound - the North Rd will take you via Finglas, Glasnevin and Phibsborough.

The College Green Bus Corridor came into effect on Monday 27th July 2009 and operates weekdays only 7am to 10am and from 4pm to 7pm. • During these periods, only public transport vehicles and bicycles have access to the College Green location.

Dublin City Council have created a new city development plan that will shape how Dublin grows for years to come. Members of the public can view the Draft Development Plan. • The current Economic Climate means that there is time and the opportunity to reflect on what we want for the future of the city. Rapid development in recent years has resulted in fragmentation and some communities feeling left behind. The plan hopes to rectify this. • An important aspect of the plan, is that it goes beyond 2017 looking forward to 2030. • Key Words for this plan are Positive Change and Competitiveness.