Obama traffic and travel disruptions

markpb

Just in case anyone thought there was light at the end of the tunnel, don't forget that Obama is on his way The Irish Times says:

Although the programme has remained a tightly-guarded secret, it is expected that the President will arrive in Ireland early on Monday morning. After meeting the President, Mary McAleese, in the Áras and Government ministers in Farmleigh, he will travel by helicopter to Moneygall, Co Offaly, the location of his ancestral homestead.

Mr Obama’s visit to Moneygall is likely to be shorter than originally anticipated. He is not expected to make a public address but will walk along the main street of the village and visit a local shop and bar.

The public event in Dublin is expected to take place in the early evening, with inevitable consequences for traffic flow in the city. College Green is likely to be closed for several days beforehand to allow for preparations for the event.

I wonder how DB will handle not being able to push almost all their cross city routes through College Green?

LXFlyer

I'm guessing but I'd say a combination of Winetavern Street/Parliament Street and the Quays for the routes using Georges Street or Dame Street, and via Westland Row/Pearse Street for the routes from Dawson Street.

It'll be fun either way!

Casey_81

Anyone have any information relating to traffic and travel disruptions due to Obamas visit?

Work near St Stephens green and get my train home from Connolly... so am wondering what the impact of closing off College Green will have.


<threads merged>

LXFlyer

They have not announced them as yet.

Optimus Prime

How are people supposed to get to work with College green and surrounding areas closed off?? This is ridiculous in fairness, how about having it in a park or a feckin stadium not in the middle of town!

LXFlyer

Garda twitter site (@gardatraffic) is saying they hope to announce details of traffic restrictions this evening or tomorrow morning.

BrianD

DCC and Sierra Construction have cordoned off one lane west bound. Plenty of activity and to be removing all sorts of items - signposts and a truck load of bicycles. So if you parked your bike in College Green today, you might want to give the council a ring.

Cookie_Monster

why college green, why not one of the stadiums which are ideal for that kind of thing :rolleyes:

acfan

Anyone have any idea of how it's going to affect pedestrians??

killbillvol2

Apparently there will be one entrance for pedestrians at Dame Street/Parliament Street junction. Searches, metal detectors etc. Not clear when this will start.

gutenberg

Dublin Bus have announced diversions for Saturday and Sunday:

http://www.dublinbus.ie/en/News-Centre/Travel-News/Diversions-for-Barack-Obamas-Visit-Saturday-21st-May/

Monday is still unavailable at present.

Will Nitelinks be running as normal tonight? My route leaves from Westmoreland Street, which on the daytime routes appears to be bypassed at the moment!

LXFlyer

gutenberg wrote: »

Dublin Bus have announced diversions for Saturday and Sunday:

http://www.dublinbus.ie/en/News-Centre/Travel-News/Diversions-for-Barack-Obamas-Visit-Saturday-21st-May/

Monday is still unavailable at present.

Will Nitelinks be running as normal tonight? My route leaves from Westmoreland Street, which on the daytime routes appears to be bypassed at the moment!

Should be ok as traffic can turn from College Street onto Westmoreland Street.

LXFlyer

The Garda website has been further updated this morning - I can only say from reading it that last week's restrictions look like they will have been lame by comparison....

Latest Update - Dublin

Phoenix Park
The Phoenix Park is closed to all vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians, with the exception of patrons visiting Dublin Zoo on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd May 2011.

The NO PARKING restrictions currently in place in the Phoenix Park continue.

Dublin Zoo will be open from 9.30am – 4pm on Sunday 22nd May. Public access via Parkgate Street gate ONLY. Parking will be in the designated car park ONLY.

NO PEDESTRIAN ACCESS to the Phoenix Park except to Dublin Zoo.

The Phoenix Park will be closed to all vehicular traffic, cyclists and pedestrians on Monday, 23 May 2011 and Dublin Zoo will be closed.


College Green/Dame Street
Since 0600hrs this morning Saturday 21st May traffic restrictions are in place in College Green, Dublin City Centre.

Traffic travelling along D’Olier Street can access College Green (restricted to one lane) and travel along Grafton Street Lower, Nassau Street ONLY.

NO ACCESS to Dame Street.

Traffic WILL NOT be able to access Westmoreland Street from Dame Street.


Traffic, with the exception of Dublin Bus and access, will be diverted at

• Christchurch Place along Nicholas Street or Winetavern Street
• No right turn from South Great Georges Street onto Dame Street

Dublin Bus will be running amended routes to facilitate this restriction. www.dublinbus.ie


From 06:00hrs on Monday 23 May the following city centre routes will be closed to traffic:

• College Green
• D’Olier Street
• Westmoreland Street
• College Street
• Dame Street
• Lord Edward Street
• Parliament Street

In order to facilitate the above closures other restrictions will be put in place from 06:00hrs on Monday 23 May as follows:

• Traffic travelling southbound on O’Connell St will be diverted east onto Eden Quay or west onto Aston Quay. There will be no access to D’Olier St.
• Traffic travelling along the South Quays will have no access to D’Olier St or Parliament St and access to Temple Bar will be restricted.
• Georges Street will be access only – no through traffic.
• All traffic on Capel Street Bridge will be diverted west on the Quays i.e. no access to Parliament Street.

Other City Centre Routes

From 1115hrs – 1430hrs on Monday 23 May road closures will be put in place on the following routes and adjacent streets:

• North Quays
• South Quays
• Lombard Street East
• Westland Row
• Pearse Street
• Clare Street
• Lincoln Place
• Merrion Square North
• Mount Street Lower
• Northumberland Road
• Baggot Street Lower
• Pembroke Road

Between 1145hrs – 1430hrs on Monday 23 May cross traffic on the above routes will be restricted for short periods.


From 1630hrs – 2100hrs on Monday 23 May road closures will be put in place on the following routes and adjacent streets:

• North Quays
• South Quays
• Lombard Street East
• Westland Row
• Pearse Street
• Clare Street
• Lincoln Place
• Merrion Square West

From 1650hrs – 2030hrs on Monday 23 May cross traffic on the above routes will be restricted at various times.


Merrion Square

From 0600hrs on Monday 24th May to 1100hrs on Tuesday 24th May the following roads and adjacent lanes will be closed:

• Merrion Street Upper
• Merrion Square West
• Merrion Square South
• Baggot Street (Merrion Row – Pembroke Street)
• Merrion Row

Ballsbridge

From 0600hrs – 1400hrs on Monday 23 May there will be road closures and limited access on the following roads in the vicinity of the US Embassy:

• Clyde Road
• Elgin Road
• Wellington Place
• Wellington Road

M50/ N4 Junction (Lucan) – Diversion as per last week
From 1000hrs – 2100hrs on Monday 23 May a traffic diversion will be in place on the N4 citybound at Junction 7 on the M50 Motorway. ALL Citybound traffic on the N4 and ALL traffic, with the exception of Public Transport, intending to travel to the city from the M50 will be diverted North/ South along the M50 to access Dublin City North and South.


Dublin Airport
Dublin Airport will remain open throughout the visit. Access will be maintained from the M1 Motorway and Swords road (R132) to the long term car parks and the Airport Terminals. Passengers are advised to allow extra time for their journey in light of traffic restrictions around the city and the airport.


From 0900hrs – 1000hrs on Monday 23 May traffic will be restricted on all roads on the perimeter of Dublin Airport (access only):

• Collinstown Avenue
• Naul Road (R108)
• R122

There will be NO PARKING or Pedestrian viewing on the perimeter roads including at the traditional plane spotting locations around the airport.


Available North/South Axes:

West City - Axes will remain unaffected through out Monday 23 May

• R136, Outer Ring Rd (N81 Tallaght – N4 Lucan & M50 Northbound)
• M50 Motorway
• R121 (Clonsilla rd/ Westmanstown Rd/ Lucan)
• R112 Kylemore Rd (Naas Rd – Outer Ring Rd – N4)

East City -

• Sherriff St, Guild St, Samuel Beckett Bridge, Macken St (traffic restrictions between 1100hrs – 1400hrs)
• East Wall Rd/ Dublin Port Tunnel, East Link Bridge, Sean Moore Rd, Beach Rd

O2 (Roger Waters Concert) on Monday 23 May:
The above event takes place in the O2 on Monday 23rd. Patrons have been advised by the promoters that there are traffic restrictions in Dublin City and to plan their journeys. They have been further advised to use Public Transport (LUAS, Dublin Bus etc…) or to access the O2 via East Wall Road/ Dublin Port or the East Link Bridge.


Parking Restrictions
All previously announced parking restrictions in Dublin city Centre remain in place.

LXFlyer

http://www.irishrail.ie/news_centre/news.asp?action=view&news_id=1117

Service arrangements for visit of President Obama, Monday 23rd May 2011


Full services will operate across DART, Commuter and Intercity on Monday 23rd May.
However, at the request of Gardaí, to assist with security arrangements for the visit of President Obama to Ireland, the following brief suspensions of services between Connolly and Pearse will apply:
11.45hrs to 12.15hrs
17.45hrs to 18.15hrs
19.45hrs to 20.05hrs

During these times all northside DART services will operate to/from Connolly only. All southside DART services will operate to/from Pearse only.
The following Maynooth, Drogheda & Arklow service alterations will apply:
12.10 Pearse-Maynooth will start from Connolly at 12.17.
17.10 Maynooth-Pearse terminates at Connolly.
17.30 Bray-Longford may be delayed by 10-15 minutes.
19.59 Pearse-Maynooth will start from Connolly at 20.05.

16.00 Drogheda-Pearse terminates at Connolly.
17.55 Pearse-Dundalk starts from Connolly at 18.03.
18.15 Pearse-Drogheda starts from Connolly at 18.30.
18.40 Connolly-Drogheda may be delayed by up to 10 minutes.
18.45 Drogheda-Pearse terminates at Connolly.
20.13 Pearse-Drogheda may be delayed by up to 10 minutes.

12.05 Connolly-Arklow starts from Pearse at 12.10.



Services may be delayed by 5 to 10 minutes as a result at these times.
Iarnród Éireann apologises for the inconvenience caused and thanks customers for their cooperation.
Customers should consult the Garda website or www.roadwatch.ie for information on road closures on Monday which may affect their route to or from Dublin city centre train stations.

LXFlyer

It would seem from those railway restrictions that sdonn's comment made in the Queen's Visit thread is precisely what the garda/security forces do fear, although not necessarily an RPG.

How could passengers on the loopline pose a threat, what are they going to do, pull the brake cord on the bridge at the exact moment her Majesty drives underneath and whip out a cunningly-camouflaged RPG?

devnull

Ballsbridge seems pretty badly hit.
http://www.aircoach.ie/news.article.php?ID=296

Updated: Sunday 22nd May 2011 - 12:30.

Due to the State Visit to Ireland of U.S. President Barack Obama (Monday 23rd – Tuesday 24th May 2011), there will be traffic restrictions and diversions in place along routes within Dublin City Centre. The infomation given below is subject to change as further information about diversions and road closures is released.

Dublin Airport will remain open throughout the visit. Access will be maintained from the M1 Motorway and the Swords road (R132) to the Airport Terminals. Passengers are advised to allow extra time for their journey in light of traffic restrictions around the city and the airport.

From 09:00 to 10:00 on Monday 23 May traffic will be restricted on all roads on the perimeter of Dublin Airport, so we would advise all customers to allow extra time for their journeys. Whilst we expect to still have full access to Dublin Airport during this hour, we recommend that anyone intending to check-in between 09:00 and 10:00 on Monday 23rd May 2011, arrives at the Airport before 09:00.

---

Dublin Airport – Ballsbridge / Leopardstown (via Dublin City Centre) Services

06:00 – 11:00 Services FROM Dublin Airport

Services with operate as normal to O’Connell Street, then will turn left along Eden Quay, Memorial Bridge, City Quay, Lombard Street East and Westland Row.

The Ballsbridge service will return to normal route at Merrion Square North with the first stop after our O’Connell Street stop being on Merrion Square North.

The Leopardstown service will continue along Merrion Square North, Merrion Square East, Fitzwilliam Street, Fitzwilliam Place, and resume its normal route from Leeson Street with the first stop after our O’Connell Street stop being by Leeson Bridge.

11:00 – 21:00 Services FROM Dublin Airport

During this time we will be running a shuttle service to Dublin City Centre, serving Drumcondra and O’Connell Street.

We regret that we will be unable to operate any services along the Ballsbridge route between 11:00 and 21:00.

On the Leopardstown service we will be unable to set-down at Trinity College, Kildare Street or Leeson Street Lower. The first stop will be at the Burlington Hotel.

21:00 – 23:59 Services FROM Dublin Airport

All services should return to normal routes.

06:00 – 11:00 Services TO Dublin Airport

Services from Leopardstown / Ballsbridge, to Dublin Airport, via Dublin City Centre, will operate on normal route to Dawson Street, then via Nassau Street, Westland Row, Pearse Street, Tara Street, George’s Street, Burgh Quay, O’Connell Bridge, and back onto normal route on O’Connell Street.

11:00 – 21:00 Services TO Dublin Airport

We will be unable to serve our Coach Stops on Dawson Street, Suffolk Street or Westmoreland Street. Please use our alternate stops on O’Connell Street and Leeson Street Lower.

Due to the closures south of the river, between 11:00 and 21:00 we will be operating a shuttle service serving O’Connell Street and Drumcondra. We will not be using our normal O’Connell Street ‘pick-up’ stop, but we will be setting down and picking up passengers at our ‘set-down’ stop directly outside the Gresham Hotel.

We regret that we will NOT be operating any services from our Ballsbridge route stops (Merrion Square North, The Schoolhouse Hotel, Pembroke Road, Merrion Road, Simmonscourt Road) between 11:00 and 21:00.

Services from Leopardstown to Dublin Airport, via Dublin City Centre, will operate on normal route to Leeson Street Lower, with the next stop being at Dublin Airport.

21:00 – 23:59 Services TO Dublin Airport

All services should return to normal routes.

---

Dublin Airport – Greystones service

All services are scheduled to operate as normal, but may be subject to delays due to traffic disruption within Dublin City Centre. Please allow extra time for your journey.

---

Dublin Airport – Killiney / Dalkey service

All services are scheduled to operate as normal, but may be subject to delays due to traffic disruption within Dublin City Centre. Please allow extra time for your journey.

---

Dublin Airport – Ballinteer service

All services are scheduled to operate as normal, but may be subject to delays due to traffic disruption within Dublin City Centre, and with traffic being diverted onto the M50. Please allow extra time for your journey.

---

Dublin Airport / Dublin City Centre – Cork service

From Dublin Airport towards Cork:

All services are scheduled to depart from Dublin Airport as normal.

From Dublin City Centre towards Cork:

The 07:00 and 09:00 services from Dublin City Centre (Westmoreland Street) are scheduled to depart as normal.

The 11:00, 13:00, 15:00, 17:00 and 19:00 will not operate from Dublin City Centre (Westmoreland Street), but will operate from an alternative stop, which will be the Bus Stop on Merchant's Quay (south of the river), just before the Four Courts Hostel.

From Cork towards Dublin City Centre and Dublin Airport:

All services are scheduled to depart from Cork as normal.

The 07:00, 09:00, 11:00, 13:00, 15:00 and 17:00 services from Cork will not call at Dublin City Centre, but will proceed straight from Kildare to Dublin Airport. This is due to the severely restricted access and closures along the Quays and in the central area of Dublin City Centre. Passengers wishing to access Dublin City Centre are requested to transfer onto a Dublin City Service at Dublin Airport. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

The 19:00 from Cork will serve Dublin City Centre as normal.

---

We appreciate your understanding and apologise for any inconvenience caused by the diversions to our services during the State Visit of U.S. President Barack Obama. We will keep our website, Twitter and Facebook updated as we receive further information regarding further diversions or possible disruption.

We request that you allow plenty of extra time for your journey and we look forward to welcoming you onboard our services.

Aircoach Team

devnull

Just the red line:
http://www.luas.ie/travel-updates/

Monday 23rd May - Latest Travel information

Red Line:
Luas Customer Care would like to advise passengers that delays are expected on the Red Line (Tallaght to The Point/Connolly) on Monday 23rd May due to the visit of President Obama. These will be in effect from approx 12 noon throughout the day until 8pm approximately. The Red Line will run as normal up to approx 12noon.

Green Line
Luas Green Line (Brides Glen to/from St Stephen’s Green) will operate a normal service.

Luas is working with the Gardai to minimise any disruption to passengers. Our website will be updated as additional information becomes available.

We would like to thank Luas passengers for their custom and advise them of the following contact information for Luas:

Freephone Customer Care: 1800 300604

LXFlyer

http://www.dublinbus.ie/en/News-Centre/Travel-News/Central-Control-31/

Note there are two tables outlining disruptions:

Table A - First bus to 11:00; 14:30-16:30 and 21:00 to last bus
Table B - 11:00-14:30 and 16:30-21:00

artvandelay48

can anyone shed light on this?

"Merrion Square

From 0600hrs on Monday 24th May to 1100hrs on Tuesday 24th May the following roads and adjacent lanes will be closed: "

is that 6 am to 11 am this morning or 6 am this morning to 11 am tomorrow morning?

markpb

artvandelay48 wrote: »

can anyone shed light on this?

"Merrion Square

From 0600hrs on Monday 24th May to 1100hrs on Tuesday 24th May the following roads and adjacent lanes will be closed: "

is that 6 am to 11 am this morning or 6 am this morning to 11 am tomorrow morning?

Presumably. He's supposed to be staying in a city centre hotel tonight so perhaps that explains the extended closure?

foggy_lad

markpb wrote: »

Presumably. He's supposed to be staying in a city centre hotel tonight so perhaps that explains the extended closure?

Is he not staying in farmleigh after we spent millions doing it up?

artvandelay48

markpb wrote: »

Presumably. He's supposed to be staying in a city centre hotel tonight so perhaps that explains the extended closure?

that's what I thought but heard on the radio that it was closed just today... it would have been nice if the garda website could get their dates right! "Monday 24th May to 1100hrs on Tuesday 24th May "

penexpers

markpb wrote: »

Presumably. He's supposed to be staying in a city centre hotel tonight so perhaps that explains the extended closure?

He is staying the American ambassador's residence in Phoenix Park

stop

DB seem to be all over the place today, the info on the DB site is out of date. Twitter account seems to be up to date as it's getting info straight from control. Why oh why can't they use the RTPI signs to advise people of the disruption?

LXFlyer

stop wrote: »

DB seem to be all over the place today, the info on the DB site is out of date. Twitter account seems to be up to date as it's getting info straight from control. Why oh why can't they use the RTPI signs to advise people of the disruption?

If you saw the line up of buses in the city centre this morning you'd understand how bad things were (maybe you did, I don't know)! It would appear that they are subject to rolling closures again by the gardai.

There was absolutely nothing moving from Merrion Square all the way back to Heuston Station. I have never seen so many buses lined up.

The schedule is basically out the window because no bus or driver was where they were supposed to be.

I frankly think that the gardai mucked up in terms of traffic management - quite simply private transport should have not been let into the city centre today.

As for the RTPI - The NTA seem to be badly out of touch on that one (they are responsible for the signs).

Sand Wedge

Does anyone know if the bridges across the liffey are open i.e. samuel beckett bridge, east link, o'connell bridge this evening? I know the quays are closed, just wondering about cross traffic!

Losty Dublin

Agreed 100%, today they made a big mess out of it when buses and public transport, the one mode we needed to keep on moving wasn'tt afforded any allowances.

Just this afternoon, the Luas was closed off from Heuston into the city for about half an hour awaiting the VIP cavalcade while all the Liffey bridges were closed off as well; not even a pedestrian was able to cross over! While a certain about of security closures were needed, the route could easily have been secured 10 minutes ahead in order to try keep Dublin moving and at lunchtime at that.

markpb

penexpers wrote: »

He is staying the American ambassador's residence in Phoenix Park

That's what I expected but the Irish Times think otherwise

The president is expected to stay overnight at a leading city-centre hotel before departing for London on the next leg of his European tour tomorrow morning.

(link)

LXFlyer

Sand Wedge wrote: »

Does anyone know if the bridges across the liffey are open i.e. samuel beckett bridge, east link, o'connell bridge this evening? I know the quays are closed, just wondering about cross traffic!

Per the Garda website both the Beckett and East Link bridges will remain open.

-Chris-

If he was staying anywhere, I'd presume it'd be the American ambassador's residence or Farmleigh?

markpb

-Chris- wrote: »

If he was staying anywhere, I'd presume it'd be the American ambassador's residence or Farmleigh?

That seems the most obvious but I guess there are reasons that Merrion Sq and surrounding streets are closed for 24 hours.

thomasj

No access to westland row ATM from Nassau street

Gardai saying pearse station currently closed

penexpers

Irish Times are saying that he will leave the country tonight due to ash cloud.

Cookie_Monster

m50 southbound partially closed at 6.30 today :eek:

end of rush hour, I'm sure that caused massive chaos

silverharp

very OTT , it was very difficult to even walk through town , and the police let a potentially dangerous situation develop on the halpenny bridge when a lot of people tried to cross it at once. Then on the pedestrian bridge at the IFSC they were letting people walk one way and not the other.

Carawaystick

According to the gardai
http://www.garda.ie/ObamaVisitHome.htm
"darts ... will run as normal"

But Irish rail said there would be no trains for a half an hour between Pearse and Connolly, finishing at 18:15

I got to Pearse at 18:15 and there were no trains northbound from then til I left at 18:40. As I entered the station, an Irish rail bouncer said the pedestrian bridge between there and the chq was closed.

two gardai at he junction of Pearse st and Westland row told me the bridge was closed and the next bridge down was open. I headed down Lombard st to the Liffey and lo and behold the pedestrian bridge was open.

At the top of westland row there were about 2 dozen gardaí, not one of which had the wit to tell people heading for the station to use the eastern side of the road as the pedestrian crossing was closed in front of the station. When I mentioned this to three senior gardaí (with red marks on their shoulders) they condescendingly told me they'd put up a sign.

After eventually getting to Connolly, my train was delayed another 14 minutes without any apology or reason given.

BabyBirch

Yeah the Darts were a nightmare, I couldn't get from Temple Bar to Pearse at 6 as it was impossible to get up the quays and back across the river. I went to Connolly, thinking the Darts would be running as normal soon. I waited 10 minutes for a train to Greystones with a massive crowd, the train arrived and everyone got on, then the driver announced that it was turning around and going back to Howth. No one from Irish Rail was around to tell anyone what was going on. I ended up walking to Sandymount as I didn't want to get caught up in the thousands of people trying to get out of town after the rally ended. I see from the IR twitter that the trains didn't get back to normal until about 7.30?

Casey_81

I left work early to try and avoid the mayhem.
I asked a guard for the quickest/handiest way from Grafton st to Connolly station.. he told me to give up and go home. When I mentioned that was exactly what I was trying to do he told me to go to go around lombard street & cross the quays at Custom house.. by the time I got to the quays the pedestrian bridge at CHQ was open so went that way.

All in all it took me about 50 mins to go from St Stephens green to Connolly - so not too bad considering.

foggy_lad

At least he's gone off to the uk now:) no more traffic chaos.

dfx-

And...now...we move on to air chaos:D

AlekSmart

Carawaystick wrote: »

According to the gardai
http://www.garda.ie/ObamaVisitHome.htm
"darts ... will run as normal"

At the top of westland row there were about 2 dozen gardaí, not one of which had the wit to tell people heading for the station to use the eastern side of the road as the pedestrian crossing was closed in front of the station. When I mentioned this to three senior gardaí (with red marks on their shoulders) they condescendingly told me they'd put up a sign.

After eventually getting to Connolly, my train was delayed another 14 minutes without any apology or reason given.

Hey Carawaystick,it aint all bad,sure now you know the significance of those red-tabs on the shoulders....:)

Bazzer2

AlekSmart wrote: »

Hey Carawaystick,it aint all bad,sure now you know the significance of those red-tabs on the shoulders....:)

Yeah, massive chips dipped in tomato ketchup.

SandyfordGuy

Luckily I don't live that far away from the airport now and was working down in the Sandyford area yesterday, so I just got Aircoach to airport which went via the M50 and avoided the city centre, then got a bus home from there, only took 35 minutes longer than normal as avoided the chaos in the city centre.

Normally my commute would be to Get Luas to Stephens Green and walk down to O'Connell Street and get another bus but that would have took forever.