Commuter chaos after overnight M50 roadworks finish late

South Dublin County Council has apologised to commuters who were caught up in 13km of tailbacks yesterday morning.

The traffic chaos was caused by the failure to complete overnight works and a new temporary layout on the M50 between the N4 (Lucan) and the N7 Red Cow interchanges.

It is the second time in recent months the council has apologised for delays caused by a failure to complete road works on time before the start of a new layout. New diversions at the Red Cow roundabout at the start of May caused three hours of delays for motorists.

AA Roadwatch said yesterday's delays stretched from the junction of the M1/M50 near Dublin airport to the West-Link toll bridge and caused knock-on delays on approach roads to the motorway.

There were severe tailbacks on the M1 all the way to the airport and congestion built up in the Drumcondra and Port Tunnel areas.

The M3 backed up past Blanchardstown Shopping Centre, there were tailbacks as far as the Celbridge interchange on the N4 and the M7 was congested as far as Kingswood.

AA Roadwatch spokeswoman Nicola Hudson said the 20-minute delay in the opening of a lane on the southbound carriageway which had been closed overnight for upgrading work was enough to cause tailbacks which lasted for four hours. "It goes to show you how the slightest hiccup can cause major problems. We had similar problems on the N7 recently when a lane didn't open on time," she said.

The temporary layout on a section of the M50 southbound carriageway will be in place for about eight weeks. The new layout splits the two traffic lanes so that motorists have to choose the lane they wish to use. Traffic travelling south on the M50, wishing to exit at the N7 (Red Cow) to access Cork and Limerick will have to drive in the left-hand lane, while all other motorists will drive on the inside lane. A council spokeswoman said the opening of two lanes of traffic this morning had been unavoidably delayed.

She said the council, along with gardaí and the M50 contractor SIAC/Ferrovial would review the traffic arrangements and try to minimise inconvenience to motorists in future.

There was more misery for commuters yesterday afternoon when gardaí blocked off outbound traffic on the Chapelizod bypass causing 90 minutes of delays. Traffic from the south quays to Heuston Station and all approaches to Chapelizod, Ballyfermot and Kilmainham were affected. The backlog was cleared by rush-hour yesterday evening.