It’s Wednesday – the middle of the week, with weekend not too far away.
We’ll be here with you until 9am with all the latest traffic, travel and weather info to get you safely to where you need to go.
Right, as always we’ll start by looking at the weather.
And, as always, it’s cold:
Met Éireann says it’s cold and frosty this morning, with fog patches clearing away early.
It’ll be another dry and sunny day in most of the country, but there will be some across Ulster and Connacht – possibly turning wintry on hills and mountains.
Temperatures will stay low at between five and seven degrees but light winds will make it feel “pleasant once again in sunshine”.
Anyone else feel that the last few days’ weather has been like summer without the heat?
GOOOOOD MORNING IRELAND!
Sorry if that’s too loud.
Welcome to Wednesday morning and the middle of the week.
Cormac Fitzgerald here bringing you up to date traffic and travel info to get you to work or wherever you may be going on this bright, frosty morning.
If you see anything noteworthy on your trip, have a traffic tip or just want to shoot the breeze then you can get me on cormac@thejournal.ie, or tweet me @cormfitz or just leave a comment beneath this article and I’ll take a look (none of these things you should do while driving).
Grand, let’s do this so…
Now, let’s check out traffic in Dublin for all the early risers courtesy of the good folks at AA Roadwatch:
Traffic is already busy on the Swords Road inbound (but it’s moving).
Traffic moving well so far on the M50 in both directions. Here’s the traffic at Ballinteer:
Look at all those pretty lights…
There’s already delays on the North Quays in Dublin city centre:
Look at all those frustrated lights…
Anyone coming in from the southside of Dublin city, take care at the junction of Merrion Road and Sandymount Avenue as the traffic lights are down.
Scratch that – the traffic lights are back in action.
Bad news for Irish Rail users.
The 5:40am Longford to Pearse is delayed by 30 minutes because of a level crossing issue at Ferns Lock. This will mean knock-on delays at other stations.
Stuck on a train not moving in any direction? Why not send me a snap: cormac@thejournal.ie or tweet @cormfitz.
The sun is coming up.
If anyone has a nice snap of the sunrise from wherever they are send it to me cormac@thejournal.ie or tweet me @cormfitz.
Otherwise it’s going to be another scratchy Journal sunrise.
Looks like that level crossing issue at Ferns lock is having a knock-on effect on other trains.
There’s now delays of up to 20 minutes on the Maynooth line as well. The 5,40 Longford to Pearse is going to terminate at Connolly.
Oh no.
More delays for train users. The 6:05 Waterford to Heuston is delayed by up to 20 minutes due to a mechanical issue.
This means knock-on delays for other stations.
And they just keep coming.
The additional 7.55 service from Dundalk to Connolly will not operate due to maintenance requirements.
Customers will be accommodated on the 6:50 Belfast to Connolly.
Problems with trains are like buses: none come for ages, and three come all at once (or something…)
Big news, folks.
We’ve got our first reader-supplied traffic pic of the day.
Shout out to Paul Devine for sending this shot of Botanic Road in Glasnevin.
Not even 8 o’clock yet and already bumper to bumper.
How is it where you are?
In non-train related news, traffic is picking up across Dublin in all the usual hotspots.
Here’s the Malahide Road:
Here’s Guild Street/ Seville Place:
Not quite chockablock yet, but getting there.
So, aside from train delays and traffic, what’s going on in the world today?
Well our resident fact checker Dan MacGuill has been wading through the claims and counter-claims of last night’s leaders’ debate to find out what truths were uttered and what falsities were put forward.
Keeping it on the election, Renua wants to show it’s down with da elderly by encouraging them to gets apps. This policy can be summed up with Renua’s catchy slogan:
‘An App a Day Helps the Elderly’.
Yep.
We’ve also got a tale of a Waterford woman and her 39 dogs facing eviction.
Things actually aren’t moving too badly at the moment in Dublin city centre, all things considering.
Red lines indicate bad traffic so O’Connell Street moving well and the south quays.
Must be that sunshine..
Now, courtesy of TheJournal.ie, brought to you exclusively this morning of Wednesday 24 February – here’s what you have been waiting for…
The sunrise!
Isn’t she a beaut.
Looks like there’s been a collision in Cork on the Ballydesmond/ Knocknagree Road (R582) – about 3km outside of Ballydesmond. Gardaí are en route.
There’s also been a crash at eh Bandon Road in Cork. AA warning motorists to take care in the area. Gardaí en route to that incident also.
Numerous delays on Irish Rail this morning, it seems. Due to some separate incidents on different lines.
Commuters aren’t one bit happy, it seems.
Are you stuck on a train? Let us know what t’s like – @cormfitz or cormac@thejournal.ie
Also, anyone stuck on a train? I’m hearing reports it’s cold on certain trains:
Keeping with this track-based train of thought, representatives for Luas workers will meet with company Transdev at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) this morning.
The purpose of the talks will be to sort out the ongoing dispute over pay that saw 96-hours of stoppages in the last two weeks.
Will they sort it out? Only time will tell.
But with further strikes planned for Match and St Patrick’s Day – let’s hope they do, or there will be a lot of angry Leprechauns this 17 March.
Is he angry or happy, I wonder?
Reports of a car on fire in Stoneybatter coming in from Livedrive.
Emergency services have a stop-go system in place.
Seems that care has backed up traffic from the Old Cabra Road to the Navan Road junction. Expect delays.
Now, I’ll be the first to admit that we don’t focus too much on Offaly for our traffic report.
And this picture courtesy of Sadie Keating explains why:
“Joys of no traffic on an Offaly road this morning,” says Sadie.
It does seem Offaly quiet down there…
How is it where you are? Tweet me @cormfitz or email cormac@thejournal.ie.
More traffic woes from Dublin:
Updates from Cork:
The council have been notified icy conditions on the local road between Glanmire and Little Island.
And that collision at the Bandon Road has been moved off the road and nis no longer affecting traffic.
A warning for extreme care to be taken in Leitrim, with conditions very icy on the N16 Sligo/Manorhamilton Road in places.
The council have been notified.
There’s also been another crash in Cork.
This time a multi-vehicle crash on the Kinsale/Cork Road (R600) northbound.
Gardaí are at the scene just outside of Riverstick on the Cork city side. The crash is blocking the road so be safe when approaching.
Okay, there’s now been a collision on that same stretch of road.
Emergency services are at the scene of a crash on the N16 Sligo/Manorhamilton Road before Glencar Waterfall on the Sligo side. Drive safely, everyone.
Straight out of the classic commuter playbook…
Latest Dublin city traffic cams are showing an increase in the usual areas.
Drumcondra Road is properly backed up at this stage:
And here’s the view on the ground, courtesy of Poj Flanagan:
Train delays easing a bit on the Maynooth line.
Still delays of up to 10 minutes, however, due to the earlier level crossing issue.
BE CAREFUL
LiveDrive are reporting a dog on the M50 northbound after J5 Finglas.
It’s been quite hectic on the commute today, with icy conditions, multi-vehicle crashes and train delays. Here’s a round-up of the latest traffic info for Dublin:
(It’s very busy)
In Cork, there’s been a number of crashes, so traffic is moving slowly in certain areas.
That’s probably a good thing, given that Gardaí are advising motorists to take extreme care on certain roads.
The latest is:
- Multi vehicle crash on the Kinsale/ Cork Rd (R600) just outside Riverstick on the Cork City side.
- Gardai at scene of collision on Ballydesmond/ Knocknagree Rd (R582) approx. 3km outside Ballydesmond.
- Gardai are advising extreme care on the local road between Glanmire and Little Island.
- Busy both ways on the Western Rd and Washington St.
- Delays approaching the Dunkettle Interchange Motorists are advised to expected delays around UCC today Busy northbound on Patrick St.
The latest:
Another crash in Cork.
Take it easy, everyone.
Okay, that’s it for me.
Quite hectic on the roads today – be sure to be safe and slow down: we’ll all get to where we’re going eventually.
And watch out for a dog on the M50:
No, wait, the R108:
Be safe, little guy.
Have a great day, everyone!
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