Further information regarding access and permits from Waterford City Council at 051-849637 or email to tallshipspermits@waterfordcity.ie
Main traffic cordon
The traffic control cordon will operate daily around the city centre for three days, Thursday 30th June, Friday 1st July and Saturday 2nd July. The cordon will be clearly signed and will be in place from 7am each day until 2am the following morning. Traffic will not be allowed enter through the cordon without an official access permit. All access permits have now been issued.
The cordon will extend from Newtown Road to Bilberry Road as follows
Passage Road – John’s Hill – Ballytruckle – Poleberry – Bunker’s Hill – Barrack St – Morrison’s Road – Military Road – Gracedieu Road – Quarry Road.
Exceptions will include buses, taxis, emergency services and vehicles displaying special access permits.
On the north side of the river, road closures will be in place from at Newrath Roundabout and Rockshire Road traffic lights that will prevent access to Sallypark and Dock Road respectively. Rice Bridge will also be closed.
These road closures will be in place from the later time of 7.40am in order to facilitate Iarnrod Eireann passengers arriving for the 7.40 train to Dublin. Cars will be allowed access Plunkett Station each morning up to 7.40am via
- Sallypark
- Dock Road
- Summerhill, Bridge Street and Rice Bridge
Click here to see the traffic cordon on a map.
Road closures
A number of streets will be closed to general traffic for the duration of the event except for vehicles with special access permits. The effected streets are
- The Quay from Reginald’s Tower to Rice Bridge
- Rice Bridge will be closed to general traffic for the duration of the event. The existing inbound lanes will be fully closed to traffic at all times. The existing outbound lanes of Rice Bridge will be used as a single lane two-way carriageway for taxis, buses and emergency vehicles, for periods of the day when it is deemed safe to do so.
- Newrath Roundabout to Rockshire Road including Sallypark and Dock Road
- All side streets from the Quays
- O’Connell Street from Thomas Street to Gladstone Street
- The Glen from Summerhill to the top of Thomas Street and across to Morgan Street. From the top of Thomas Street to Ballybricken will remain open except during the Crews Parade.
- James Street will be temporarily accessible from the Anne Street end
- Bridge Street; Summer Hill; O’Connell Street; James Street; Anne Street; and Thomas Street may all be closed to traffic when pedestrian numbers in the area are so large that movement of vehicles will be impractical and potentially dangerous
- Bolton Street; Beau Street; Mall Lane; Bank Lane will all be closed to traffic from mid afternoon each day in order to facilitate preparation of the Bolton Street concert venue.
It may be necessary to restrict access to other street and public areas at short notice in the interest of public safety.
Click here to see planned road closures on a map.
Emergency access
Parking restrictions will apply on designated Emergency Routes from Waterford Fire Station and Waterford Regional Hospital and these will be clearly signed.
Park & Ride
Three large Park & Ride sites will operate, two at Newrath and one at Carrickphierish. Up to 50 buses, including double deckers will run continuously from the parking sites to designated drop-off points in the city centre. A total of 30,000 parking spaces are being provided.
Traffic approaching from Wexford will be directed to the BLUE car park via Ferrybank. Traffic approaching from Dungarvan, Tramore and Dunmore East will be directed to the GREEN car park in Carrickpherish. Traffic approaching from Kilkenny and Tipperary will be directed to the RED car park via Grannagh.
There will be a flat all-in charge of €10 per car for use of the Park & Ride that includes a free copy of the official brochure. To facilitate the business community and city centre workers, there will be no charge for the Park & Ride sites before 10am.
In the interest of public safety, the bus service will most likely be suspended between 10.30pm and 12.30am. Walking routes to the parking sites will be well signed and easily identifiable. A Garda presence will also be evident along the routes.
Click here to see Park and Ride sites on a map.
Disabled Parking
Visitors with official disabled parking permits will be allowed through the cordon and parking will be provided on Parnell Street. It will be necessary for visitors coming from the Tipperary, Dublin and Wexford directions to cross the new Suir Bridge (toll). Directions will be signed.
Click here to see the designated disabled car park on a map.
Cycle Parking
Visitors cycling to the event can avail of free secure parking in Blackfriars in the city centre. This facility will be supervised and will be open from 8am to midnight.
Click here to see cycle parking location on a map.
Public transport
Arising from the closure of the Quays, the Bus Éireann depot will be temporarily relocated from Merchant’s Quay to Ballybricken. To facilitate this, it will be necessary to restrict on-street parking of private cars in Ballybricken.
All bus service routes will be modified in the city centre area as a consequence of the road closures.
The frequency of rural bus services such as Tramore, Passage East, Dunmore East and Portlaw will be enhanced for the event. All residents along the routes should avail of the enhanced services by using available parking along the route.
All other city services will continue to run during the event and can also be used with available parking along the routes.
Click here for Bus Eireann. www.buseireann.ie
Click here for Suirway Buses. www.suirway.com
Click here for Kenneally’s Buses. www.jjkavanagh.ie
Train services to/from Waterford will be significantly enhanced during the event. Plunkett Station will be accessible to taxis while it is deemed safe.
Outbound train passengers who use Park and Ride can recoup the cost of the Park and Ride from the City Council. Claim forms are available at Plunkett Station.
Individual car access to Plunkett Station will be permitted up to 7.40am via Dock Road, Sallypark and Rice Bridge.
Click here for Irish Rail. www.irishrail.ie
Private Coaches
Coaches with overnight visitors will be allowed access to hotels on closed roads under Garda supervision. Overnight bus parking will be available free of charge at the Regional Sports Centre, Cork Road.
Click here to see overnight parking on a map.
Privately operated coaches, carrying day visitors to the event, will be offered free day long parking at Miller’s Marsh, a car park close to the event site. Coach operators wishing to avail of this facility should contact The Tall Ships Permits office in Waterford City Council.
Click here to see day parking on a map.
Coaches carrying visitors to the House of Waterford Crystal should approach the city centre from Cork direction from the Butlerstown Roundabout (on the Outer Ring Road). The coach drop off / pick up bays are located on the Mall adjacent to the centre and bus parking will be available in the nearby Bolton Street bus park.
Click here to see Waterford Crystal parking arrangements on a map.
Commuters
In order to facilitate commuters working within the cordon, the Park & Ride will be free up to 10am each day. Also, use of the regular city services and cycling/walking are recommended.
City centre car parks
All car-parks on the south quays between Rice Bridge and Reginald’s Tower will be closed to the public from 6pm on Wednesday, June 29 to Sunday morning, July 3.
Access to all other off street public car parks within the cordon will be restricted.
