RESTRICTIONS:ROAD TRAFFIC and airspace restrictions for the visit of US president Barack Obama will begin today, the Garda said last night.
In Dublin, from 6am this morning, traffic accessing College Green from D’Olier Street will be restricted to one lane and can access Grafton Street Lower and Nassau Street only. There will be no access to Dame Street.
Traffic, with the exception of Dublin Bus, will be diverted at Christchurch Place along Nicholas Street or Winetavern Street. There will also be no right-turn from South Great Georges Street on to Dame Street.
Dublin Bus will be running amended routes to facilitate the city centre restrictions.
Existing no-parking restrictions are to continue until Tuesday in areas including Chesterfield Avenue, the quays, Parkgate Street, D’Olier Street, Westmoreland Street, College Street, Grafton Street, Nassau Street and South Leinster Street. There will also be no parking on Lincoln Place, Westland Row, Pearse Street, Christchurch Place, Lord Edward Street. Dame Street, Merrion Square (all sides), Merrion Street and Fitzwilliam Place.
Additional no parking restrictions will commence today on Mount Street, Northumberland Road, Baggott Street, Pembroke Road, Raglan Road, Clyde Road and Herbert Park. Barriers will be positioned along all or some of these routes.
The Phoenix Park will be closed to all vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians, with the exception of Dublin Zoo patrons today and tomorrow. The zoo will open from 9.30am to 6pm today and from 9.30am to 4pm tomorrow. Access will be via the Parkgate Street gate only, with parking in the designated car park only. There will be no pedestrian access to the park except to Dublin Zoo. The park, including the zoo, will be closed completely on Monday.
Gardaí have warned that on Monday and on Tuesday morning, the public can expect temporary road closures along the quays and adjacent streets and bridges, and also on the N4, M50 and M1.
At the N4/M50 interchange, traffic travelling towards the city will be diverted north or south along the M50 and should access the city along the north or south city routes. Access to Palmerstown Village and Ballyfermot will be via Liffey Valley/Coldcut Road.
Non-motorway traffic should divert either as above or at Woodies interchange along the Outer Ring Road.
Gardaí have said traffic restrictions should not impact on commuter traffic in to Dublin city on Monday morning up until 10am, other than for commuters who use routes through the Phoenix Park which will be closed to traffic.
Private and commercial vehicles seeking to access Dublin city centre may also face delays and encounter parking restrictions. Private and commercial vehicles seeking to cross the city are encouraged to use the existing orbital routes and diversions.
Members of the public wishing to attend the event at College Green on Monday – which is free and will not require tickets – must enter through a security point at the intersection of Parliament Street and Dame Street in front of Dublin Castle. Those attending should make their way to the area either from the north on Parliament Street or from the west on Dame Street. This will be the only access point for the event.
To facilitate the large number expected, security gates will open at 2pm. Attendees are asked to allow time to get to the event as many streets will be closed to traffic and parking will be limited.
Pedestrians will be limited to crossing streets and roads at designated crossing points due to barriers along key routes.
Meanwhile, there will be restrictions to airspace above Dublin and the village of Moneygall during the visit, the Irish Aviation Authority has said. While scheduled commercial flights to and from Dublin airport will be unaffected by the restrictions, non-scheduled flights will need authorisation from the Department of Justice to fly within a 30-mile radius of the two areas.
The restrictions will apply over Dublin from between 6.30am on Monday to 12.30pm on Tuesday. Over Moneygall, movements will be restricted between 11.30am and 6pm on Monday.
Anyone wishing to fly model aircraft, balloons, gliders, para-gliders and hang-gliders within the restricted areas will need to apply for special permission 48 hours before they want to make the flight. Aerial photography, aerobatic manoeuvres, parachute dropping and other aerial work will also need authorisation within the restricted areas.
Air Force One, the blue and white presidential jet, is expected to touch down in Ireland shortly before 10am on Monday.
The distinctive Boeing 747-200B is one of two used by the president when travelling. According to the US embassy, Mr Obama has flown in it more than 300 times since he took up office. His suite occupies the nose of the plane. It has two couches that fold into twin beds, a separate dressing room, lavatory and shower, and a spacious office. There is also a medical facility. It can carry up to 76 passengers and has a conference room and seating compartments for staff, guests, secret service agents and the media.
On arrival, Mr Obama, accompanied by his wife Michelle, will call on President Mary McAleese at Áras an Uachtaráin, before travelling within the Phoenix Park to Farmleigh, where he will call on Taoiseach Enda Kenny at the Government’s guest residence.