Brexit Road Map to Dublin Port: 4 Key Messages for Hauliers
TII is responsible for managing the national road and motorway network. New traffic management measures will come into effect on 1 January 2021 to mitigate the impact of Brexit-related traffic congestion on the network.
This document provides guidance and advice to hauliers on what to expect when driving to Dublin Port post-Brexit. We appreciate your cooperation during this challenging time. By working together, we will keep Dublin Tunnel safe while minimising delays.
Contents
- Stay Informed
- Take Assistance and Direction from An Garda Síochána
- Know what to expect on your route to Dublin Port
- Know where to access emergency parking areas.
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1. Stay Informed
On the Road
- Approx. 120 permanent and 40 mobile variable message signs (VMS) are positioned along the national road network to provide you with real-time traffic information;
- Digital Traffic Information boards installed at each of the motorway services areas at Lusk (M1) and Enfield East (M4) will provide you with information on expected travel times to Dublin Port, together with information on incidents, roadworks and Dublin Port messages. This information will assist you in planning your rest periods and predicting your arrival time at Dublin Port; and
- In the Dublin Area, stay tuned for regular traffic updates on Dublin City Council’s ‘Live Drive’ radio station (103.2FM).
On-Line
- For updates on motorway congestion approaching the Dublin Tunnel, haulage companies can subscribe to TII’s email notification service by emailing info@mtcc.ie;
- Follow @TIITraffic and @DublinTunnel on Twitter for up-to-the-minute travel guidance; and
- Check out traffic.tii.ie; dublinport.ie; dublintunnel.ie for more travel information.
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2. Take Assistance and Direction from An Garda Síochána
We need to keep the motorway network safe for all users. An Garda Síochána will support compliance with traffic management measures. The Gardaí will also be enforcing the 5+ axle HGV cordon restricting HGVs from accessing certain Dublin city streets and ensuring motorway hard shoulders are not used by vehicles for parking.
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3. Know what to expect on your route to Dublin Port
Northern (Santry) Entrance to Dublin Tunnel
If both the Port area and the adjacent road network south of the tunnel become congested, you will be required to queue at the northern entrance to the tunnel. The queuing system (metering) will safeguard the flow of traffic through the tunnel, as static traffic is not permitted in the tunnel. You may have previous experience of queuing during times of normal traffic congestion.
M50 Northern Approach to Dublin Tunnel
If congestion occurs (Status levels Amber or Red), the Free-Flow loop will be reserved for HGV Port traffic. All city-bound traffic will be advised to use the Junction 3 (M50/M1) roundabout.
From J4 (Ballymun), new electronic overhead lane signs on the overhead gantries will direct you to the appropriate lane for accessing the Port. Once directed into the appropriate lane, you should remain in that lane. All Port HGV traffic will be directed onto the Free-Flow Loop over Junction 3 (M50/M1). This 1 km long two-lane loop can accommodate up to 100 HGVs, if queuing of traffic is required.
If traffic is congested, new traffic signals at the Free Flow Loop/M1 Merge will be operated to give fair/balanced access to the Dublin Tunnel for HGV traffic from the M50.
M1 Southbound approaching Dublin Tunnel
If congestion occurs (Status Levels Amber or Red), Port traffic on the M1 will be directed to queue in the right lane on the approach to Dublin Tunnel after Junction 2 (Airport). Variable message signs will direct you when to get into the correct lane. Be aware that the speed limit is 80km/hr from Junction 2 (Airport) to the Dublin Tunnel.
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4. Know where to access emergency parking areas.
Emergency Parking in the Blue Car Park at Dublin Airport
Where prolonged congestion occurs and the Status Blue Level is declared, you will be directed by variable message signs to the emergency HGV parking at the Airport Blue Car Park, where space for 250 HGVs is available.
The parking area can be accessed from the:
- M50 via Junction 4 Ballymun and the R108.
- M1 via Junction 2 and following the variable message signage along the route.
Exit from this parking area will be on a “first in – first out” basis and departing HGVs will receive a Port access card to allow fair/balanced access through the tunnel to the Port.
Welfare facilities and light refreshments will be made available to drivers in the Blue Car Park. Please note that overnight parking will not be available in the Blue Car Park.
HGV over-night parking at Motorway Service Areas on the M1
Parking facilities, including overnight, are available at the motorway services areas on the M1, where additional parking capacity has been made available for HGVs.
Directions to the Blue Car Park
- GPS: 53°25'10.9"N 6°16'35.4"W
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