Operation Freeflow
Christmas is always a busy time on the roads, but this year there is great news for motorists and shoppers alike. A number of efforts have been implemented to ensure the free flow of traffic into Dublin, Cork and Galway cities. From free on-street parking, to park and rides facilities, easy access to the busy shopping areas is a priority this Christmas.
In Dublin a number of efforts have been employed to encourage shoppers to visit the city centre. Operation Freeflow will run until Christmas Eve, with additional Gardai solely deployed on traffic duties for the run up to Christmas. The priority of the Gardai will be to keep traffic moving freely, and crucial junctions around the city centre will be manned during peak times. To ensure the success of Operation Freeflow, drivers in the city centre are also urged to be considerate of other drivers by keeping junctions and yellow boxes clear, observing messages and instructions on VMS and not parking illegally.
Shoppers can also play their part by using Public Transport where possible, and to encourage this, all schedules, timetables and availability of Public Transport Services will be available on the Freeflow website. During Operation Freeflow, An Garda Siochana will also focus on the security of passengers travelling on public transport at night time, particularly those waiting for Dublin Bus services on Westmoreland St and College Green, as well as those waiting for Luas services in the city centre.
College Green Bus Corridor
Coming into the city during the festive period will be made easier than ever for motorists. The College Green Bus Corridor has ceased to operate during the evening rush hour until Friday 15th January. This temporary measure is to facilitate Christmas shoppers and normal traffic will be allowed to access College Green from 4-7pm daily. The bus corridor will continue to operate as normal during morning rush hour from 7-10am, affording priority to buses only. And since Thursday 19th November, On-Street Car Parking Charges in Dublin city centre have been suspended in a designated retail zone, after 2pm every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This means that approximately 1,380 on street car parking spaces will be made available for free at these times in this designated area until Sunday 27th December. Click here to view the map of the zone which stretches from St Stephens Green to Dorset St. Parking in streets outside the designated area will attract parking charges as normal. Information concerning eligible streets will be provided on the parking metres and motorists are advised to read these notices when parking. AA Roadwatch will also provide updates on parking availability in all city centre carparks – so to check opening hours, prices and locations click here. To check current updates on parking availability in these carparks in the run up to Christmas click here.
Operation Lifesaver
The safety of motorists is always a priority, particularly during this busy period. Operation Lifesaver will run in conjunction with Operation Freeflow, during which time there will be on-going checkpoints enforcing Road Traffic Legislation. The following offences will be specifically targeted; drink driving, speed, dangerous and inappropriate driving, seatbelts and HGV offences.
Portlaoise
It's not just in Dublin that Operation Freeflow has been implemented. In Portlaoise, from Thursday 10th of December until Monday 4th January, all non-essential works on radial routes and in the town centre will be suspended where possible. All routes may be viewed on the Co. Laois website. www.laois.ie. In addition, traffic wardens will enforce all parking bye-laws, with particular attention given to unauthorised parking of vehicles.
Galway City
Park and Ride facilities are a fantastic means of eradicating the hassle of driving into the city centre during this busy time. In Galway shoppers can avail of two separate park and ride facilities. Irish Rail will provide a service from Athenry to Galway until Christmas Eve, with a special return fare of €6 per adult and €4 for children under 16. Parking in Athenry Station costs €2. An additional service will also run from Galway Racecourse during the same period, where motorists and their passengers can avail of all-day parking and return bus travel to the City Centre for €2 return. Buses will provide fifteen-minute frequency commencing 07:00 to 21:30 from Monday to Saturday and on Sundays the service will operate from 11:00 to 19:00. In addition, Galway Shopping Centre has agreed to complement this service with a free looped bus service between Galway Coach Station and Galway Shopping Centre. This bus will run from 11:00 to 19.00 Monday to Sunday, every fifteen minutes. Go to the Galway city website for more details.
Cork City
In Cork city, Bus Eireann will operate a Park & Ride from Cork County Hall to South Main Street on Saturdays and Sundays up to the 20th December. On Saturdays, the service will run every fifteen minutes, with the first bus departing County Hall at 09.30 and the last bus departing South Main St. at 18.15. The Park and Ride site will be open from 09.00 to 19.00. On Sundays, the service will also run every 15 minutes, with the first bus departing County Hall at 10.30 and the last bus departing South Main St. at 18.15. The Park and Ride site will be open from 10.00 to 19.00. This return service costs €3 for adults, €1.50 for children and €5 for families.
Limerick City
In Limerick, efforts have also been made encouraging shoppers to visit the city. Parking in the city centre will be free every Friday and Saturday until Dec 19th inclusive, from 2pm onwards. This means there will be 3000 on street parking spaces free for shoppers to use from 2pm on Friday afternoons and a further 1044 on-street parking spaces free to use on Saturday afternoons from 2pm. On-street parking in Limerick city is always free on Sundays.
AA Roadwatch will be busy over the Christmas period with updates on traffic, travel, events and parking from 6am until 11pm daily. You can also tune in to hear our radio reports from 6.30am every weekday, or to hear the latest traffic updates, dial 1550 131 811 (calls cost 95c per minute). And of course you can simply log on to www.aaroadwatch.ie at any time to check traffic in your area over the festive season.