AA News Update

TODAY: Scattered outbreaks of rain today will be heavy and persistent at times. The rain will clear from Connacht and Ulster during the afternoon and it will become sunny here and this clearance will spread to all parts this evening. Highest temperatures 7 to 10 degrees. Moderate to fresh southerly winds will veer west to northwest with the clearance and ease. TONIGHT: Generally dry tonight with clear spells. Rather cold with minimum temperatures -1 to +3 degrees with frost and icy patches forming in places. Temperatures will stay up to between 4 and 6 degrees in the southwest and west with cloud and some patchy rain pushing back in from the Atlantic.

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.

A number of projects are underway to provide new Luas and Metro Services for Dublin. Currently, over 90,000 passenger trips are made every day on Luas.

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.

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 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.

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.

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):

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

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

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.

• 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.