Gardaí announced yesterday that 11 miles of the route linking Limerick to Galway will close for 24 hours as part of the security operation for next week's visit of US President, George Bush.
The Irish Road Hauliers' Association yesterday described the shutdown of the road "as totally over the top".
The Garda plan involves shutting six miles of dual-carriageway from Shannon to Latoon, outside Newmarket-on-Fergus, while the five-mile stretch from Newmarket to Clarecastle will also close. The route will close from 3 p.m. on Friday to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Motorists will be diverted to regional and county roads. The upgraded N18 dual-carriageway was opened last November at a cost of €100 million.
Meanwhile, peace activists are to assemble for a peace rally in Shannon town centre next Friday with the intention of marching to the airport. Mr Tim Hourigan, of the Refuelling Peace group, said: "We have been told by gardaí we will be able to gather and march to the airport as long as we give guarantees the protests will be peaceful."
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