Significant numbers of people are expected to take to the roads, rail, sea and air, as the Easter bank holiday weekend exodus from towns and cities begins today.
Although many motorists began their weekend trips yesterday, the real build-up of bank holiday traffic will start from lunchtime today, according to AA Roadwatch.
Tailbacks and delays are expected on all the major routes out of Dublin. Particularly heavy volumes are likely on the N1 at the Drogheda bypass and through Drogheda town, the N2 through Ashbourne, the N4 at Enfield and the N6 at Kinnegad and Moate.
An unusually heavy build-up is also expected on the N7 from Johnstown and Kill through Monasterevin and on the N11 at Ashford and Rathnew.
The AA has urged motorists to slow down and resist the temptation to speed on clear stretches of road.
"Many of us will be driving long distances that we are not accustomed to. The best advice is to take it easy, respect speed limits and do not try to make up time lost in the tailbacks on the open road," Ms Emma Caulfield said.
Rail users face significant disruption due to work on the DART line in Dublin. From today until Easter Monday, there will be no DART service south of Connolly Station or on the Howth/Howth Junction line, with trains operating between Malahide and Connolly Station only.
Throughout the weekend works, customers for the Dublin Connolly to Gorey/Rosslare service will have to transfer to buses between Dublin and Greystones or Arklow, and will face delays of up to 40 minutes.
InterCity services will operate to an altered timetable. Customers should, before travelling, check times at stations, or online at www.irishrail.ie.
It is also one the busiest holiday weekends for air travel, with the number of passengers travelling to and from airports up 5 to 15 per cent on last year's Easter weekend figures.
More than 360,000 passengers are expected to travel through Dublin, Cork and Shannon,according to Aer Rianta.
In excess of 300,000 passengers will use Dublin Airport during this period, while Cork Airport expects to handle over 30,000 passengers over the holiday weekend.
Ferries will also be running at full capacity. Irish Ferries will carry approximately 40,000 passengers and 7,900 vehicles on their Dublin and Rosslare to Britain routes, and 5,200 passengers and 1,100 vehicles from Rosslare to France. Stena Line expects 45,000 passengers and 9,000 cars on its Irish routes.
