Road closures are already in place for the US President Joe Biden’s four-day visit to Ireland this week.
President Biden arrives in Belfast this evening where he will be met by the British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
He is due to tour Carlingford Castle in County Louth on Wednesday, attend a gala dinner at Dublin Castle on Thursday and visit Knock Shrine on Friday.
Road closures are already in place in Dublin and drivers have been warned to expect road closures, parking restrictions and traffic diversions in Louth and Mayo as well.
There will also be “temporary rolling road closures to facilitate security escorts” during the visit.
Road closures
In Dublin, parking restrictions have been in place on Earlsfort Terrace, Leeson Street Lower, Hatch Street Lower, Castle Street and Ship Street since 7am yesterday.
Meanwhile, Earlsfort Terrace closed to traffic at 7am this morning and will remain closed until Saturday.
Pedestrian access to businesses on Earlsfort Terrace is only via Hatch Street until the road reopens.
Meanwhile, Phoenix Park will be closed to both traffic and pedestrians from 5pm on Wednesday to 5pm on Thursday. Gardaí said arrangements are in place for “local access only”.
Meanwhile, residents in Louth Mayo and other parts of Dublin are being urged to remain on the lookout for further local road closures, parking restrictions and traffic diversions during the week.
Biden
President Biden will be arriving and departing from Dublin Airport at various times over the trip and passengers are advised to allow additional time to arrive at the airport due to possible rolling road closures, particularly late Wednesday and early Friday.
He will arrive and depart from Ireland West Airport on Friday afternoon and evening and passengers are again advised to allow extra time to arrive at the airport due to possible rolling road closures.
“In general, traffic restrictions for the visit will be kept to the minimum required and it is intended that any impact on the public will be localised and minimal,” said a Garda spokesperson.
Gardaí said they are working to keep the nature and scale of the policing and security operation “proportionate to the need to protect everyone’s safety”.
