Gardaí have issued a traffic warning to football fans heading to the UEFA Europa League final at the Aviva Stadium tomorrow (May 22).
Attendance at the highly anticipated final between Atalanta and Germany is expected to be in excess of 48,000 people, with Gardaí implementing a large scale traffic management and policing plan.
Heavy volumes of traffic can be expected in Dublin City Centre and in the general Dublin 4 area throughout the day, culminating in a gradual build-up around the stadium in the lead up to kick-off at 8pm, and an immediate build-up of traffic post event.
A Fan Festival will also take place in Dublin Castle from 10am to 5pm on match day, which is also expected to cause congestion and potential traffic delays.
People travelling to the event are advised to plan the journey in advance and to expect delays and rolling road closure.
A large number of uniformed Gardaí will be deployed in Dublin for the event along with specialist units including the National Public Order Units, Air Support Unit, Mounted Unit, Armed Support Unit and more.
Road closures
A vehicle cordon will be put in place from 3pm at a number of locations, closed and controlled by An Garda Síochána.
These include Lansdowne Road (both sides from Northumberland Road to Herbert Road), Shelbourne Road (both sides from Ballsbridge to Bath Avenue), Bath Avenue (both sides from Londonbridge Road to Shelbourne Road), Newbridge Avenue, Herbert Road, Lansdowne Lane from Northumberland Road to Shelbourne Road, and Lansdowne Park.
All access routes will be maintained with a Garda presence and mobile Garda patrols along with Garda National Public Order Unit (GNPOU) presence.
Parking
From 7am tomorrow morning, parking will be prohibited by An Garda Síochána at seven different locations.
These include Lansdowne Road (both sides from Northumberland Road to Herbert Bridge), Shelbourne Road (both sides Shelbourne Avenue to the Podium Entrance), Havelock Square (right hand side from bath Ave to Gate 5), Herbert Road (both sides from Herbert Bridge to Tritonville Road), Lansdowne Lane (both sides), Northumberland Road (both sides from Haddington Road to Lansdowne Road), and South Lotts Road.
There are no facilities for parking of private vehicles or coaches. All vehicles must be parked legally.
DART stations
Lansdowne Road DART Station will close at 4pm on May 22 and will not reopen on that date. All passengers intending to use DART Stations from 4pm will be directed to Grand Canal Dock or Sandymount DART Stations.
Grand Canal Dock and Sandymount DART Stations will operate as normal. Additional management measures for queuing and access/egress from both stations will be put in place.
All match patrons will be advised in advance of the closure of Lansdowne Road DART Station and the use of the alternative stations.
Walking signage to each DART station will be put in place by Dublin City Council.
The DART barriers on Lansdown Road will close at 4pm and will remain down for the duration of the event to facilitate free movement of trains. Pedestrians will transverse the railway line via the under-pass in the Aviva Stadium.
Traffic diversions
South-bound traffic on Grand Canal Street will access the Merrion Road via Haddington Road and Northumberland Road, and will access the Strand Road and Sandymount Area via South Lotts Road and Irishtown.
North-bound traffic on Merrion Road wishing to access Shelbourne Road towards the city centre will be diverted onto Pembroke Road, Northumberland Road, Haddington Road and Grand Canal Street.
Other rolling road closures may be required due to temporary fan movements, potential protest activity or other non-event road related incidents.
The traffic diversions and road closures will remain in force until the event is finished and the roads are free of pedestrian traffic.
Fan March
It is expected that a Fan March from each of the participating team supporters to the Aviva Stadium will take place on May 22 as follows:
Atalanta FC will leave Simmonscourt Road at approximately 5.30pm and walk to the Aviva Stadium via Simmonscourt Road, Merrion Road, Pembroke Road and Lansdowne Road.
It is expected that some rolling road closures in the areas of Merrion Road, Pembroke Road, Northumberland Road will be conducted by An Garda Síochána to facilitate the Fan March along this route.
Bayer Leverkusen FC supporters will leave Shelbourne Park at approximately 5.30pm and walk to the Aviva Stadium via South Lotts Road, and Bath Avenue.
It is expected that some rolling road closures will be conducted by An Garda Síochána to facilitate the Fan March along this route.
