Obstructions
If you become aware of something blocking the flow of traffic ahead, use the roadside telephone or a mobile phone to tell the Gardaí. Do not attempt to remove it yourself. Do not use a mobile phone whilst driving.
Emergency closure of sections on the Motorway
These signs are widely and successfully used on the motorway network throughout Europe and are strategically placed to inform motorists of an emergency or alternative diversion route for motorways.
There are four shapes — square, triangle, circle and diamond — but each can be shown filled or in outline, making eight distinct symbols. Close to motorway junctions, and on roads near to or following the line of a motorway, they are commonly placed on direction signs.
If a motorway is closed — let’s say because of a collision — then the Gardaí will close the road at the previous junction and force traffic to leave the motorway.
These signs instruct motorists to follow a particular symbol in order to re-join the motorway at the next junction.
Diversion routes are carefully chosen to follow roads of a suitable standard and width to carry all motorway traffic, and may make detours to avoid low bridges or other obstructions.
Assigning of Diversion Symbols
As the diversion route will generally be travelled in both directions a different symbol will be assigned to each direction of the diversion route to reduce the possibility of driver confusion at junctions along the route. Typically the solid symbols will be used in preference to the hollow symbols due to visibility and for use on Variable Message Signs (VMS). However this will not always be achievable where multiple diversion routes interface at shared locations.