The Communications Director of Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Sean O’Neill has said that it is vital that the motorway protestors keep the hard shoulder open.
Mr O’Neill has stated that it is essential that the hard shoulder remains clear for emergency vehicles.
Speaking this morning, Mr O’Neill said: “It’s for emergency vehicles and emergency trips, whatever your actions are on the motorway network, please keep those open”.
“People need those and it’s for emergency needs”, he added.
Elsewhere, Mr O’Neill has said that delays due to these protests are nowhere near as heavy as last week.
While stating that “we do have some closures now”, Mr O’Neill has also noted full road closures on the M9 at Junction 3. He also said that on the M1 southbound, there is congestion between Junction 12 and 9.
“So that’s Dunleer and Drogheda. And that’s a go-slow. There’s people protesting there. And then on the M3, we have a full closure now. It wasn’t fully closed earlier today”, he continued: “And that is between Kells Junction 11 southbound and Junction 9 in Navan southbound. But the road is fully closed now, both directions”.
“On the M7, we had a go-slow movement going on into Long Mile Road. The gardaí have managed to pull them around and bring them back out, but it did cause significant congestion this morning. We just don’t know where that will evolve”.
“And then on the N28 Cork to Ringaskiddy, there’s a go slow going on down there”, he added.
The Director also said that motorists can find up to date information on this current situation on traffic.tii.ie.
“People need those and it’s for emergency needs”.
This comes just days after the Defence Force Units arrived at east Cork’s Whitegate oil refinery amid protests along Ireland’s main fuel depots, as well as the only oil refinery in Cork, causing major restrictions of the supply lines.
It was also reported tat the Garda Public Order Unit have deployed Pepper Spray as they push back protestors from entering the facility at Whitegate. More on this story from Nova here.