Restrictions aimed at limiting through traffic in Dublin city centre are to come into force this morning despite opposition from the Department of Transport.
A ban on southbound traffic from Dorset Street through North Frederick Street and Parnell Square and O'Connell Street is expected to impact heavily on vehicles approaching the city from the northside.
Dublin City Council has said that as much as 70 per cent of O'Connell Street's traffic does not need to go through the city centre. It is implementing the restrictions to enhance the city centre environment for pedestrians and cyclists.
Dublin Bus which along with taxis, motor-cycles and bicycles is exempt from the changes, has said the move will improve journey times in the city centre by about 10 minutes.
But the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, is understood to have serious reservations about the project. It has been criticised for its use of a new generation of signposts, which replace familiar place names with new colour-coding and junction numbering systems.
Mr Brennan is understood to be concerned that his officials were not consulted on drawing up the scheme, particularly as the design of the new signs does not conform with existing State regulations.
Dublin City Council insists it has the authority to make the traffic changes and confirmed these would go ahead this morning.
The Minister was not available for comment yesterday but the council confirmed that Department officials requested a meeting with council officials late last week. Further meetings between officials and the Department are planned, a spokeswoman confirmed.