AA warning on back-to-school traffic gridlock
Term time set to hit drivers on commute
MOTORISTS should allow extra time for the work commute as schools go back after the summer break, AA Ireland has warned.
Commuting volumes are known to increase significantly from late August into the start of September.
Drivers in Dublin will need to be particularly mindful with new traffic restrictions in place as a result of the Luas Cross City.
AA Roadwatch Editor Arwen Foley said: “Regular commuters into cities across Ireland will have noticed a drop off in traffic over the summer months, and particularly in August, but with schools returning over the next few weeks, traffic volumes will start to increase.
“As well as the start of a new school year, August/september represents the start of a new traffic year with the number of cars on Irish roads increasing in line with schools and colleges re-opening and the end of the holiday season for workers.”
AA Roadwatch are advising congestion on the M7, particularly at Junction 9 (Naas North) and Junction 19 (Naas South) is likely to worsen. In Cork, traffic volumes at the Dunkettle Interchange are also expected to increase as the new school year begins, with Tralee, Wexford Town and Newbridge also likely to see more traffic build-up. Ms Foley added: “While the lack of school traffic is the main cause of reduced traffic during the summer season, it is holiday time for the rest of us as well. “In any given week during July and August you have close to 10% of the workforce taking time off. The two factors together are enough to take the pressure out of the system and it’s why we have all had such easy commutes for the last two months.”
Meanwhile, Fianna Fail TD Robert Troy has hit out at Transport Minster Shane Ross over congestion.
His criticism came after it was discovered the Department of Transport does not hold any traffic count data in the Greater Dublin Area.
Deputy Troy said: “Congestion is a massive mounting problem across the Dublin area and one the authorities are completely unprepared for.”