The Roads Service and the PSNI have spent the past 18 months preparing for the opening and anticipate up to 15,000 people will descend upon the Holywood Exchange.

The Belfast premises is the largest Ikea in the UK and Ireland and has been tagged as its flagship store.

And while doors open at 10am, queuing is expected to begin much earlier, prompting this warning from Chief Inspector Andrew Freeburn.

"What we are advising the public to do is to plan ahead and expect delays," he said.

"Keep an eye out for road traffic information and be patient.

"We have spent the past 18 months working with the DRD, Harbour Police and the Fire and Rescue Service planning for the event and our objective is to try to maintain traffic flow and minimise traffic disruption."

Chf Insp Freeburn said based on other Ikea openings, including the recent Malaga one where three officers attended, measures had been put in place to ensure any problems encountered would not take place in Belfast.

A traffic management plan has been developed to manage the anticipated levels of traffic and Ikea will be deploying traffic marshals on the private roads around the store to assist directing traffic into their car parks.

He also said the Roads Service had sign posted directions to the store along the M3/A2 and that no lanes would be sectioned off during peak hour.

Traffic conditions will also be closely monitored by the CCTV cameras in the area and adjustments will be made to the electronic information signs and traffic signal timings to take account of these conditions.

In addition, a series of measures to assist with traffic management will include:

> Improvement of carriageway markings in and around the store

> Provision of additional temporary direction signs on the main approaches to the store

> Provision of no waiting cones to minimise any disruption created by cars parking on the approach to the store

> Provision of additional CCTV cameras to monitor traffic conditions in and around the store

> Provision of overflow parking for over 600 vehicles. This is in addition to the 1,450 spaces in the main Ikea car park

> Use of electronic driver information signs during the opening period.

A bus service will be in place from Thursday with a new Metro service operating every 30 minutes from the city centre. This will also serve Belfast Central Station for rail passengers.