Broken down coach and crash in Rathcoole adds to commuter chaos this evening

Traffic on major routes all around Dublin and Kildare is chaotic this evening following a serious incident on the N7 earlier today that is having massive knock-on effects to surrounding areas.

Emergency services are currently dealing with an overturned truck on the N7 Inbound near J5 Athgoe. The truck, which struck a barrier and ended up on its side at around 2.30pm this afternoon, has caused the closure of two lanes on the N7 Inbound and two lanes on the N7 Outbound. A crane has helped to get the overturned truck back on its wheels in the past few minutes and the clean up job has begun.

N7 update: overturned truck inbound before J4 Rathcoole is back on its wheels and clean up has started. Right & middle lanes remain closed inbound and the right lane outbound is also closed. Very heavy traffic both directions with over an hour reported to get by it. #m50safety

— M50 Dublin (@M50Dublin) October 3, 2018

Traffic is backed up as far as J11 on the M50, with cars at a virtual standstill up to the point of the incident.

A coach has also broken down on the N7, which has only exasperated the problems.

N7 IN AND OUTBOUND: Incident still in place Inbound before J4 Rathcoole. Traffic Inbound back to J9 Naas North. Right lane blocked due to same Outbound and traffic back to the M50 taking 60 mins to clear.

— Live Drive (@LiveDrive) October 3, 2018

On the N7 Inbound there are delays from J8 Johnstown on approach to the incident.

Traffic trying to avoid the N7 by going through Rathcoole might be best to find an alternative option as a crash on the main street in the town has caused significant delays there.

There are major delays on the N81 outbound due to the increased volume of traffic on that route this evening.

Motorists looking to avoid the N7 by using the N4 have also met significant delays on the N4 Outbound as traffic is heavy up until J7 Maynooth.

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