Driving to Belfast from Dublin on a Friday?

py2006

Hi all,

I am hoping to drive to Belfast today leaving Dublin at about 2pm. I am hearing from colleagues that there can be enormous tailbacks around Newry. Apparently, people are an hour and a half stuck there?

I have to be at the airport not later than 6pm this evening to head to Edinburgh (Come on Leinster)

Should I avoid driving up or would it be ok at that time of day?

Thanks in advance

stealthyspeeder

Shouldnt be too bad at that time, the roadworks up north round Newry and round the new dual carrigeway building sites are what's causeing the delay) If you set off at 2 you will be at either Belfast airport before 6, regardless of whether or not you encounter one and a half hour delays!

R.O.R

py2006 wrote: »

Hi all,

I am hoping to drive to Belfast today leaving Dublin at about 2pm. I am hearing from colleagues that there can be enormous tailbacks around Newry. Apparently, people are an hour and a half stuck there?

I have to be at the airport not later than 6pm this evening to head to Edinburgh (Come on Leinster)

Should I avoid driving up or would it be ok at that time of day?

Thanks in advance

They are blasting today just south of Newry, for the new Road. The road gets closed for 40mins at a time while they are blasting.

If it were me, I'd avoid like the plague - I've been stuck there for an hour in traffic when the road isn't closed!

Take the Enterprise train instead.

***EDIT***
Stealthyspeeder probably knows better than me, he does the journey everyweek (or at least that what he tells the revenue )

I'd still be tempted by the Enterprise though - no stress.

py2006

R.O.R wrote: »

They are blasting today just south of Newry, for the new Road. The road gets closed for 40mins at a time while they are blasting.

If it were me, I'd avoid like the plague - I've been stuck there for an hour in traffic when the road isn't closed!

Take the Enterprise train instead.

***EDIT***
Stealthyspeeder probably knows better than me, he does the journey everyweek (or at least that what he tells the revenue )

I'd still be tempted by the Enterprise though - no stress.

hmm How much is the Enterprise?

stealthyspeeder

I have only do this occasionally, but if I hear there is an accident or massive tailback around newry (pre christmas with the exchange rate and the shoppers:eek:) I get the M1 to Dundalk, take the backroads to Armargh and take the M1 (in the North) all the way to Belfast! adds 25 mins on to normal journey time but miss any massive delays!

py2006

stealthyspeeder wrote: »

I have only do this occasionally, but if I hear there is an accident or massive tailback around newry (pre christmas with the exchange rate and the shoppers:eek:) I get the M1 to Dundalk, take the backroads to Armargh and take the M1 (in the North) all the way to Belfast! adds 25 mins on to normal journey time but miss any massive delays!

Yea thats an option, my friend just mentioned that!

Out of curiosity, is the airport far? I may have to bus/taxi it there from city centre

bookerboy

You could go Slane,Ardee,monaghan,Armagh and on to Belfast.
Roads are not as good but no major delays.
3 hours max will get you there.

stealthyspeeder

py2006 wrote: »

Yea thats an option, my friend just mentioned that!

Out of curiosity, is the airport far? I may have to bus/taxi it there from city centre

Which Airport? International or George Best (city)

trad

Are you going to George Best Airport (beside IKEA near Belfast) or the International Airport at Nutts Corner, Aldergrove? (not near Belfast).

If you are going to Aldergrove you can go via Armagh and Portadown to Aldergrove Airport.

voxpop

stealthyspeeder wrote: »

I have only do this occasionally, but if I hear there is an accident or massive tailback around newry (pre christmas with the exchange rate and the shoppers:eek:) I get the M1 to Dundalk, take the backroads to Armargh and take the M1 (in the North) all the way to Belfast! adds 25 mins on to normal journey time but miss any massive delays!

This is the best option - the back roads to Armagh are nice and twisty which is a bonus.:)

py2006

We are going to the Georgie Best Airport!

zAbbo

py2006 wrote: »

We are going to the Georgie Best Airport!

You could get the Enterprise and then a train/bus to the City Airport, or alternatively go the Armagh backroads as above.