IKEA Opening Will Affect M50

Home furnishings giant IKEA hopes to open the doors to their first Dublin branch at 11am, on Monday, 27th of July. This will mean 500 new jobs for the area, but it will also add pressure to the M50 as it is located just off the Ballymun Road, close to J4 Ballymun.

The opening of the €110m Ballymun superstore has been the topic of some debate in previous months, as under the stores planning conditions, it could not open the doors to its premises until a crucial interchange had been completed by the National Roads Authority. The upgrade of the Ballymun interchange is part of major works which have been underway along the M50; which seen an extra lane added in each direction along the length of the ringroad.

As part of IKEA's planning conditions, An Bord Pleanala insisted on the completion of the upgrade of the M50 between J4 Ballymun and J5 Finglas, due to fears that heavy volumes of traffic to IKEA would create congestion along M50. With up to 585 million people visiting the furniture chains 292 stores annually, large volumes of traffic are expected to descend upon the Ballymun Interchange upon the opening of its first branch in the Republic of Ireland. A representative for M50 Concessions confirmed that all work would be completed in advance of the store opening.

Speaking on reports in the media that the M50 upgrade works were delaying the opening of IKEA; a spokesperson has stated that IKEA were always aware of the implications this planning condition would have on their opening. They had been made aware of the construction schedule on the M50 upgrade, which is currently running to schedule and due for completion before the opening of the store. A traffic management plan will be in operation to facilitate volumes expected on July 27th, and all details will be available on www.aaroadwatch.ie.