Motorists driving through Dublin face huge disruption from Friday night

Motorists driving in Dublin city centre face severe disruption for a week starting on Friday night with Luas Cross City works closing off most of the south quays.

There will be severe restrictions on traffic in the O’Connell Bridge area, but the diversions may have a knock-on effect across the city centre.

From 8pm on Friday, August 4th until 8am on Saturday August 12th, there will be full closure of the South Quays at O’Connell Bridge. This is to allow new resurfaced carriageways to be put in place at Aston Quay and Burgh Quay, replacing the temporary road surfaces which have been in place during the construction stages of the Luas Cross City project. In addition, there will be smaller works taking place on Bachelor’s Walk.

• Full map by Luas here

O’Connell Bridge will remain open to Northbound and Southbound traffic but authorities are warning that anybody travelling through the city will be hit by traffic diversions and delays are expected.

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Traffic will be diverted away from the quays and proceed instead up D'Olier Street and College Green through Dame Street and Lord Edward Street re-emerging on to Merchant's Quay. To facilitate motorists, the bus gate at rush hour will be suspended. There will be local access for business owners in the area through Fleet Street.

Traffic on the north quays is also likely to be affected with remedial works taking place on Bachelors Quay, though it will not be closed to traffic.

Luas Cross City communications director Gráinne Mackin acknowledged that the disruption will be significant, but she said such works will be the last major disruption before the new Luas services begins running in December.

She said the work is being carried out at the quietest time of year during the August Bank Holiday weekend and the week afterwards when the schools are off and many people are on holidays.

“All the numbers show that this time of year is the best time of year for doing this work. Before you know it you are into September,” she said.

“This is a significant programme of work which will see the road being built up from the base. Now is the time to fully rebuild the road. It is more than a repair. It is a full scale reconstruction.”

Dublin Chamber of Commerce spokesman Graeme McQueen said its members acknowledged that this was work that had to be done.

“If anything, it is being done at the right time. Disruption is never ideal, but we hope that this work is done as quickly as possible. The end is in sight.”

Gardaí have advised motorists to avoid the city centre if possible especially those attending matches in Croke Park and the Aviva Stadium.