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AS IT HAPPENED

Commuting liveblog: M50 delays, icy roads and black ice

Here’s all the traffic, transport and weather news you need.

WELCOME TO MONDAY.

We’ll be with you until 9am this morning, bringing you all the latest traffic, transport and weather news.

Morning, folks.

Catherine Healy here on TheJournal.ie‘s commuting liveblog, helping you get to where you need to go.

Spotted something we should know about? Email catherine@thejournal.ie, tips@thejournal.ie or tweet me @Chealy_.

Not while driving, of course.

Let’s take a look at what the weather has in store for us.

Met Éireann says the morning will be very cold, with severe frost and icy stretches possibly lingering into the afternoon in some sheltered places.

It will be dry apart from the odd wintry shower in the north, with highest temperatures of between three to seven degrees.

A low temperature warning is in place for the whole country until midday, so expect frost and ice on many routes.

AA Roadwatch is advising drivers to allow extra time to de-ice their cars and remember that stopping distances are 10 times longer in ice.

In Dublin, traffic is already picking up along the city centre quays.

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And here’s how things are looking heading into the city, via AA Roadwatch:

  • Inbound on the N4 Lucan Rd, it’s very busy from the M50 interchange to the Palmerstown bypass
  • Further in, the right turn for Kilmainham is busy from Con Colbert Road
  • On the Stillorgan Road inbound, traffic is heavy from the Trees Road junction to Fosters Avenue
  • Nearby on the Rock Road, it’s busy but moving inbound from Booterstown Ave junction to the Merrion Gates.
  • The Swords Road is busy inbound from the Collins Avenue to Drumcondra
  • Southbound on Guild Street is slow approaching the Samuel Beckett bridge
  • Along the Grand Canal, there are eastbound delays between Ranelagh and Leeson St bridge
  • On the NCR, there are delays from Doyle’s Corner to the Dorset Street junction
  • The North Quays are busy from Inns Quay to Bachelors Walk
  • Traffic on the M50 is moving well in both directions

In Cork news: traffic lights are out of action on the N25 Cork/Waterford Road in Castlemartyr.

Elsewhere, it’s busy on the N28 Ringaskiddy Road inbound by Carrs Hill.

Restaurants across the country were packed with loved-up couples last night, but can a couple really be considered to be on a “date” when they go out?

If you’re bored on the train, bus or Luas this morning, watch us debate the burning question here.

TheJournal.ie / YouTube

In Tipperary, a truck has broken down on M8 Dublin/Cork Road southbound at J10 Cahir North, blocking the hard shoulder and left lane.

In Galway, traffic lights are out of action just west of Quincentenary bridge at the Newcastle Road junction, so take care on approach.

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Further out of the city, it’s busy as always heading into Galway Technology Park on Ballybrit Crescent.

Traffic is also heavy on the N17 Tuam Road southbound approaching Loughgeorge.

On the M50 southbound, it’s slow from J9 Red Cow to J10 Ballymount and then from J11 Tallaght to past J12 Firhouse, where there are reports of a breakdown.

Here’s how things look at the Tallaght exit:

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There are eastbound delays between Harold’s Cross and Leeson Street bridge along the Grand Canal in Dublin.

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On the other side of the Liffey, the North Quays are busy from Arran Quay to Bachelors Walk.

There are reports of a collision on the M50 northbound between J5 Finglas and J4 Ballymun in the right lane.

There’s also been a crash on the N25 Wexford/Waterford Road near the Taghmon turn-off at Larkin’s Cross in Wexford, so expect some delays on approach.

Taking the Dunsany/Dunshaughlin Road through Meath?

The M50 collision has now been cleared.

Meanwhile:

In Tipperary, the broken down truck on the M8 Dublin/Cork Road has also been removed.

Take care if you’re in the area:

There are reports of a breakdown on the Malahide Road inbound at Marino Crescent in Dublin, with traffic busy on approach back to the Ardlea Road junction.

It’s slow then inbound from the Malahide Road junction at Fairview to the Five Lamps on Amiens Street.

Nearby, it’s also busy southbound on Guild Street from Seville Place approaching Samuel Beckett bridge.

Meanwhile, on Amiens Street:

There’s been a collision in the right lane of the M50 northbound just after the Westlink bridge.

For those of you taking a Heuston-bound train from Portlaoise this morning:

The latest Galway updates, via AA Roadwatch:

  • There are inbound delays on the N84 Headford Road from Ballinfoyle to the Sean Mulvoy Road junction
  • There are some southbound delays on the N17 Tuam Road from Loughgeorge to Claregalway and again approaching the Bóthar na dTreabh junction
  • It’s busy westbound on Bóthar na dTreabh from before the Coolagh roundabout to the Briarhill jcunction
  • Traffic is also heavy inbound on the N6 Dublin Road approaching the Coolagh roundabout
  • There are delays both ways on the Monivea Road approaching the Briarhill junction
  • It’s heavy inbound on the Old Dublin Road from Roscam to GMIT
  • It’s starting to ease heading into Galway Technology Park on Ballybrit Crescent

There are longer than usual delays on the N22 Macroom Road:

The M50 collision between J7 Lucan and J6 Blanchardstown has now been cleared.

And that’s all from us for today. Check back in with us tomorrow morning for the latest traffic news!