54-624: The R115 road is a regional road in counties Dublin and Wicklow in Ireland . It follows the Military Road ( Irish : An Bóthar Míleata ) for its entire length. The R115 is 40.5 km (25.2 mi) long; the full length of the Military Road ( Rathfarnham to Aghavannagh ) is 57.9 km (36.0 mi). The Military Road runs north–south across the spine of the Wicklow Mountains . It
108-519: A National Development Plan . Road construction in Northern Ireland now tends to proceed at a slower pace than in the Republic, although a number of important bypasses and upgrades to dual carriageway have recently been completed or are about to begin. Roads in Northern Ireland are classified as either Highways, motorways (shown by the letter M followed by a route number, e.g. M1), A-roads (shown by
162-515: A "N" prefix followed by a number from 51 to 99 ( N87 is currently the highest). There are 2,683.974 km (1,668 mi) of national secondary roads in Ireland, making up slightly less than 50% of the entire national route (national primary and national secondary) network. National secondary routes are generally more poorly maintained than primary routes (although their quality can vary widely), but often carry more traffic than regional roads . Almost
216-584: A general speed limit of 60 km/h (37 mph) or 30 km/h (19 mph) in built-up areas. While this is the maximum speed allowed, drivers must adhere to the Road Traffic Act and drive with due care and attention and with regard to the road conditions. Local roads are not generally referred to by number, but are registered with a four- or five-digit "L" number, taking the form Lxxxx. It used to be rare to see these numbers on signposts (and these numbers do not appear on Ordnance Survey maps), but in 2006
270-499: A general speed limit of 80 km/h (50 mph) or 50 km/h (31 mph) in built-up areas. While funding for national primary roads is administered centrally by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), regional and local roads are less well funded (although funding has increased in the 2000s). Local councils are responsible for these roads, as opposed to TII. All public roads which are not motorways, national roads or regional roads are local roads : "a public road, other than
324-419: A national road or a regional road, shall be a local road". Local roads vary greatly in quality, from wide urban streets to very narrow, rural lanes, known as boreens in Ireland. There are three types of Local road: Local Primary (local roads wider than 4 metres (13')), Local Secondary (local roads narrower than 4 metres (13')) and Local Tertiary (cul-de-sacs and other minor roads). Local roads are subject to
378-613: A theoretical complete cross-border route – for example the N3 route, which re-enters the Republic. These are listed here in brackets for completeness (and are present on southern road signage). This list ignores the sections of route reclassified as motorway (see previous section). National secondary roads fill in the rest of the main cross country routes in Ireland. They connect large towns (such as Birr) which are not served by National Primary routes, and some routes (such as N59) follow long coastal route connecting many towns. They are indicated with
432-624: A total of "€7 million to continue progress on the regional roads signposting programme, which commenced in 2003" was granted to local authorities. There are some higher-capacity (i.e. not just single-carriageway) sections of regional road, most notably the R113 ( Belgard Road ) and R445 ( Old Naas Road ), R132 Swords Inner By-pass and R136 Dublin Outer Ring Road which have sections of dual carriageway. In some cases, important high-capacity urban routes are built or designated as regional roads, such as
486-448: A white background with a red border. Speed limits in Northern Ireland are specified in miles per hour. Those in the Republic use kilometres per hour (km/h), a change introduced on 20 January 2005. This involved the provision of 58,000 new metric speed limit signs, replacing and supplementing 35,000 imperial signs. There have been routes and trackways in Ireland connecting settlements and facilitating trade since ancient times. Ireland
540-443: Is an example of a Regional road with a 100 km/h speed limit. As of 2009 , directional signposting on some regional roads in Ireland remains poor, with even modern signage usually relying on fingerpost signposts located directly at junctions. However, work on improving signposting on regional roads has been continuing since 2003; routes which previously had the most deficient signposting were selected for upgrading first. In 2007,
594-657: Is designated as a local road south of Laragh. For many years, the road was used as the Sally Gap special stage in the Circuit of Ireland car rally. The road was upgraded from the Dublin border to Sally Gap in 1942, by the 3rd battalion of the Construction Corps, to allow for the harvesting of peat and for post-war tourists. The route from Sally Gap to Laragh was apparently overgrown during this period but upgraded in 1956, along with
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#1732854975936648-451: Is focused on Dublin. Motorways were extended from Dublin to other major cities as part of the Transport 21 programme which aimed to have a world-class motorway network in place by the end of 2010. At that time, Ireland's main cities ( Cork , Limerick , Galway , Waterford and Belfast ) excluding Derry were connected to Dublin with motorways or with near-motorway standard roads. Dublin was
702-426: Is on the left-hand side of the road. The major routes were established before Irish independence and consequently take little cognisance of the border other than a change of identification number and street furniture. Northern Ireland has had motorways since 1962, and has a well-developed network of primary, secondary and local routes. The Republic started work on its motorway network in the early 1980s; and historically,
756-591: Is the Cork Ring Road and the N50 is the Dublin Ring Road. National secondary roads (see next section) are numbered under the same scheme with higher numbers. On road signage, destinations served but not on the route in question are listed in brackets, with the connecting route also listed (see thumbnail). Northern Ireland route sections (which are classified separately according to NI schemes) are in some cases included in
810-454: Is used more than once save in the case of Local Primary Roads.(not all road numbers are currently in use): In the Republic of Ireland , a motorway forms part of a national primary route, but is indicated by the prefix M instead of N . Motorways are the highest standard roads and certain drivers and vehicles are prohibited from using them. The motorway network has been expanded extensively since
864-698: The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government began a programme of new signage for regional roads that incorporates local road numbers on directional signage (see thumbnails). The Republic of Ireland had a different road numbering system prior to the introduction of the National Route numbering system. Major roads were marked with "T" for Trunk Road , less important roads were marked with "L" for Link Road. The first nine Trunk Roads (T1, T2, T3, T4, T4a, T5, T6, T7, T8) radiated out from Dublin (with
918-475: The Irish financial crisis brought this target into question. National Primary routes form the main cross country roads in Ireland and include all motorways. This category of road is numbered from 1–50 with the prefix "N" (or "M" for motorway sections). The routes numbered N1-N11 radiate anti-clockwise from Dublin, with those in the range N12-N26 being cross-country roads and N27-N33 being newer short link roads. The N40
972-853: The Kilkenny ring road, the N80 bypasses Carlow and the N85 bypasses Ennis . When the Fermoy (Moorepark) to Kilbehenny section of the M8 was completed, the former N8 bypass of Mitchelstown was re-classified as the N73 . Examples of national secondary roads are: Alternative National roads are regional roads which provide an alternative route to a national route. A large amount of national primary routes have been replaced by motorways, which certain drivers and vehicles are prohibited from using. These regional roads provide an alternative route to
1026-539: The R759 road . From there it continues to a point east of Mullaghcleevaun Mountain (850 m) before descending to the village of Laragh , near Glendalough , via the scenic Glenmacnass waterfall . The R115 terminates at Laragh, at a junction with the R755 and the 'Wicklow Gap' road, the R756 . The Military Road continues south past Glenmalure to Aghavannagh in south County Wicklow , but
1080-407: The Republic of Ireland were designated with one of two prefixes: "T" for Trunk Roads and "L" for Link Roads . The Local Government (Roads and Motorways) Act authorised the designation of roads as National roads: in 1977, twenty-five National Primary roads (N1-N25) and thirty-three National Secondary roads (N51-N83) were initially designated under Statutory Instrument S.I. No. 164/1977 . Many of
1134-795: The Yellow House pub and continues to the Ballyboden roundabout, where it intersects with the R113 ; it then follows the Edmondstown Road for 100 metres where it meets the R116 . At this point the route takes the Scholarstown Road and turns left onto Stocking Lane where it rises through the Dublin Mountains (past the Hell Fire Club ), followed by a descent into Glencree at the head of the valley of
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#17328549759361188-766: The 1980s. The Roads Act 1993 also classified all public roads which are not national or regional roads as local roads . The Republic has an extensive network of public roads connecting all parts of the country. As of 31 December 2013, there was a total of 7,959.309 km (4,946 mi) of national roads: of which 5,305.56 km (3,297 mi) were national primary routes (including motorways) and 2,653.749 km (1,649 mi) were national secondary routes. By May 2018 Network Lengths were as follows. National Primary Roads (including motorways) 2,717 km (1,688 mi) National Secondary Roads 2,696 km (1,675 mi) Total National Road N (and M) Network 5,413 km (3,363 mi) In addition to national roads,
1242-450: The 1990s, through construction of new motorways and redesignation of existing motorway-standard dual-carriageway sections of National Primary routes. The first motorway section in the state was the M7 Naas by-pass, which opened in 1983. Since 2009, all motorways in Ireland are part of, or form, national primary roads . At the end of 2004 there were 192 km (119 mi) of motorway in
1296-609: The Glencree river, with a spur down that valley to Enniskerry , before rising again to the vicinity of the entrance gate/road to the TV mast at Kippure (this part of the Military Road is the highest paved public road in Ireland at 523 m). It descends slightly to the Sally Gap Crossroads (elevation 495 m)( 53°08′16″N 6°18′44″W / 53.137799°N 6.312166°W / 53.137799; -6.312166 ), where it intersects with
1350-913: The N52 bypasses Nenagh , Mullingar and the centre of Dundalk (as a relief road) with a further N52 bypass of Tullamore planned, the N55 (along with the N3 ) bypasses Cavan , the N56 forms part of the Donegal bypass, the N61 and the N63 bypass Roscommon , the N71 bypasses Halfway and Skibbereen , the N74 bypasses Cashel , the N76 bypasses Callan , the N77 forms the northern part of
1404-583: The Republic since the 1990s use kilometres. The Republic's road signs are generally bilingual, using both official languages, Irish and English. However, signs in the Gaeltacht (Irish speaking areas) use only Irish. The Irish language names are written in italic script, the English in capitals. Signs in Northern Ireland are in English only. Warning signs in the Republic have a yellow background and are diamond-shaped, those in Northern Ireland are triangle-shaped and have
1458-512: The Republic also has an extensive network of other public roads: there are: 13,124 km (8,155 mi) of Regional Roads R and 81,300 km (50,517 mi) of Local L roads. Local Roads are broken into three classes, Local Primary (LP) 23,789 km (14,782 mi), Local Secondary (LS) 33,366 km (20,733 mi) and Local Tertiary LT 42,675 km (26,517 mi) For a combined public road network length of 99,830 km (62,031 mi) in 2018 The Republic's major road network
1512-433: The Republic and 286 km (178 mi) of dual-carriageway. This was extended, by the end of 2005, to 247 km (153 mi) of motorway and 297 km (185 mi) of dual-carriageway. By the end of December 2009 there were 667 km (414 mi) of motorway in Ireland, with 385 kilometres (239 mi) under construction at the time. As of 2019, the following motorway routes are in operation: In June 2007, it
1566-724: The Western seaboard. By 2015, TII planned that there would be approximately 1,090 km (677 mi) of motorway in Ireland, comprising the M50 (45.55 km (28 mi)), M20 (90 km (56 mi) approx), M18 (70 km (43 mi) approx), M17 (25.5 km (16 mi)), M11 (62 km (39 mi)), M9 (116.5 km (72 mi)), M8 (147 km (91 mi)), M7 (185 km (115 mi)), M6 (144 km (89 mi)), M4 (62 km (39 mi)), M3 (57 km (35 mi)), M2 (13 km (8 mi)), and M1 (89 km (55 mi)). However
1620-660: The addition of a car park at Glenmacnass Waterfall . Regional road (Ireland) A regional road ( Irish : bóthar réigiúnach ) in the Republic of Ireland is a class of road not forming a major route (such as a national primary road or national secondary road ), but nevertheless forming a link in the national route network . There are over 11,600 kilometres (7,200 miles) of regional roads. Regional roads are numbered with three-digit route numbers, prefixed by "R" (e.g. R105). The equivalent road category in Northern Ireland are B roads . Until 1977, classified roads in
1674-403: The better sections of regional roads. Many of them have been resurfaced with higher quality pavements in recent years with relatively smooth surfaces and good road markings and signposting. However, road widths and alignments are often inadequate, with many narrow and winding sections. National secondary roads generally do not bypass towns on their routes although there are a number of exceptions:
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1728-475: The creation of a bypass ( motorway or other), the road previously forming part of the route is reclassified as a regional road rather than as a local road. The current routes of all regional roads in Ireland – as defined by Statutory Instrument (S.I.) No 54/2012 (Classification of Regional Roads) Order 2012 under the Roads Act 1993 – are listed below. The S.I. specifies the start and end points of each route and
1782-434: The eighteenth- and early nineteenth-centuries. However, in the 18th century, a network of turnpike roads (charging tolls) was built: "a turnpike was a primitive form of turnstile – a gate across the road, opened on payment of a toll. The average length of a turnpike road was 30 miles". Routes to and from Dublin were developed initially and the network spread throughout the country. Turnpikes operated between 1729 and 1858 when
1836-710: The entire network of national secondary roads is single carriageway , although there are some short sections of dual carriageway on the Tallaght bypass section of the N81 , on the N52 at Dundalk , on the N85 at Ennis , on the N62 at Athlone and on the N71 between Cork and Bandon . Typically, national secondary roads are of a similar standard or higher than regional roads although some are of lower quality than
1890-612: The extensive railway network made them increasingly unpopular. Specialist routes to facilitate the butter trade, which centred on Cork , were built in Munster . The first butter road was commissioned in 1748 and was built by John Murphy of Castleisland in County Kerry . In other areas, notably in County Wicklow , military roads were built to help secure British military control over remote areas. The Military Road through County Wicklow
1944-817: The focus of some other major projects, such as the East-Link and West-Link toll-bridges, as well as the Dublin Port Tunnel . Major by-pass projects were also built around other cities and towns. The Jack Lynch Tunnel under the River Lee in Cork was a major project outside Dublin, and a fourth crossing at Limerick under the River Shannon (known as the Limerick Tunnel ) opened in 2010. The different classes of roads in Ireland are allocated blocks of numbers so that no number
1998-574: The former Trunk and Link road designations are still to be seen in some locations. The L (for Link Road) prefix on these signs is not connected to the network of Local roads currently in place. Unlike national roads, regional roads are maintained by local county or city councils rather than the National Roads Authority . The vast majority of the regional road network is made up of single-carriageway roads although some roads are dual-carriageway (see: High-capacity regional roads below). Until
2052-803: The foundation for the regulation of the modern system of public roads in Ireland. The Act gave the Minister for Local Government the power to classify roads: Trunk Road Funds were used to enable local councils to improve major roads and road surfacing was gradually undertaken throughout the 1920s, 1930s and beyond. By the 1950s an established system of road classification and numbering with Trunk Roads and Link Roads had long been developed. The present system of road classification and numbering began in 1977 when twenty-five National primary roads and thirty-three National secondary roads were designated. Regional roads were first formally designated in 1994, although Regional road route-numbers began appearing on signposts in
2106-478: The highway ( slighe ), the '[regional] main road' ( ród or rout ), the 'connecting road' ( lámraite ), the 'side road' ( tógraite ) which could be tolled, and the 'cow road' ( bóthar ). Bóthar is the most common term for 'road' in modern Irish : its diminutive form, bóithrín , (or boreen in English) is used as a term for very narrow, rural roads. The development of roads in Ireland seemed to have stagnated until
2160-916: The late 1990s, such roads were often in a very poor condition, although increased road maintenance funding to local councils has resulted in more frequent resurfacing of regional roads, as well as relaying and realignment on some routes. Regional roads are generally subject to a speed limit of 80 km/h (imperial equivalent 50 mph), rather than the 100 km/h (imperial equivalent 62.5 mph) for national roads. Prior to 20 January 2005, when Ireland adopted metric speed limits, national and regional roads had identical speed limits of 60 mph. Regional roads, however, pass through towns, villages and built-up areas frequently, so even lower local speed restrictions are often in place. However, certain regional roads, often sections of former national roads which have been bypassed by motorways or other road improvements, have speed limits of 100 km/h. The R132 (former N1)
2214-419: The letter A followed by a route number, e.g. A6), B-roads (shown by the letter B followed by a route number, e.g. B135) and other roads. There are two types of A-roads: primary and non-primary. Roads in the Republic are classified as motorways (shown by the letter M followed by a route number, e.g. M7), national roads (shown by the letter N followed by a route number, e.g. N25), regional roads (shown by
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2268-487: The letter R followed by a route number, e.g. R611) and local roads (shown by the letter L followed by a route number, e.g. L4202). There are two types of national roads: national primary routes and national secondary routes . Road signs in Northern Ireland follow the same design rules as the rest of the United Kingdom . Distance signposts in Northern Ireland show distances in miles, while all signposts placed in
2322-506: The mostly dual-carriageway R710 Waterford Outer Ring Road , or the R774 Greystones to the N11 link, which is dual-carriageway for its full length. In many other cases, upgraded regional roads (for example, wide two-lane roads ) were previously part of a national primary road, prior to the construction of a motorway or other bypass. In most cases, when a national primary road is changed by
2376-416: The motorway for these drivers. They are usually the former national road which was downgraded following the opening of the motorway. In 2010 new signage was introduced for alternative routes. They are signposted in black on a yellow background, instead of black on a white background for other regional roads. This new signage has been installed on most roads, being included when signage was replaced. Roads where
2430-628: The names of those townlands, villages, towns, and other settlements through which the route passes, as well as individual road names where necessary to establish the exact routing. Sources Roads in Ireland The island of Ireland , comprising Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland , has an extensive network of tens of thousands of kilometres of public roads, usually surfaced. These roads have been developed and modernised over centuries, from trackways suitable only for walkers and horses, to surfaced roads including modern motorways . Driving
2484-1004: The new signage has been installed include the R132 in Swords (alternative to M1), the R147 in Dunshaughlin (alternative to M3), the entire length of the R448 (alternative to M9), the R712 in Paulstown (alternative to N10) and the R772 from Rathnew to Arklow (alternative to M11). Regional Roads fill in the rest of the main roads in Ireland. They connect many small towns to each other and to the national road network. There are over 11,600 kilometres (7,200 mi) of regional roads. Regional roads are numbered with three digit route numbers, prefixed by "R" (e.g. R105). Route numbers range from R1xx in
2538-592: The north-east to R7xx in the south-east of the country, with newer short urban roads numbered R8xx and R9xx. They are signposted in black with a white background. Some of the more important regional roads such as the R136 Outer Orbital, Dublin and the R710 Waterford Outer Ring Road are dual-carriageway in whole or part. Most regional roads are however single carriageway roads, and many are rather narrow country roads. Regional roads are subject to
2592-582: The remaining classified roads became Regional roads (formally authorised under the Roads Act 1993 , having been indicated as such on road signs on a non-statutory basis for some years previously) and their routes were designated under a Statutory Instrument ('SI') in 1994. The latest SI designating the routes of Regional roads was published in 2012: the Roads Act 1993 (Classification of Regional Roads) Order 2012 . Other roads once classified as Trunk or Link roads eventually became Local roads . Older signs showing
2646-517: The road network there was once somewhat less well developed. However, the Celtic Tiger economic boom and an influx of European Union structural funding, saw national roads and regional roads in the Republic come up to international standard quite quickly. In the mid-1990s, for example, the Republic went from having only a few short sections of motorway to a network of motorways, dual carriageways and other improvements on most major routes as part of
2700-518: The way at Glencree , Laragh , Glenmalure , and Aghavannagh . The engineer in charge was Alexander Taylor (b. 1746), who was responsible for many other roads in the country, including some turnpike roads (toll roads). The official definition of the R115 from the Roads Act 1993 (Classification of Regional Roads) Order 2012 reads: The R115 / Military Road starts in Rathfarnham, County Dublin , outside
2754-483: Was announced that around 800 kilometres (500 mi) of 'new' motorway would be created; however, much of this resulted from the re-classification of most of the country's high-quality dual carriageways to motorway regulations rather than the construction of purpose-built motorways. This affected most of the major inter-urban routes between Dublin and various towns and cities and some of the Atlantic Corridor along
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#17328549759362808-521: Was begun in 1800 and completed in 1809. The R115 is part of the Military Road for its entire length. Railways became the dominant form of land transport from the mid-19th century. This situation persisted until the first half of the 20th century when motorised road transport (cars, buses and trucks) gradually began to take over from railways as the most important form of land transport. Pre-independence legislation (the Ministry of Transport Act, 1919 ) laid
2862-483: Was constructed between 12 August 1800 and October 1809, in the wake of the Irish Rebellion of 1798 , to open up the mountains to Crown forces to assist them in tracking down United Irishmen insurgents who were hiding there. Rathfarnham itself was the scene of some skirmishes in the early days of the rising. It was one of the first purpose-built roads in Ireland, excepting turnpikes . Four barracks were built along
2916-567: Was never part of the Roman Empire and, therefore, Roman roads were not built in Ireland. However, an Iron Age road with a stone surface has been excavated in Munster and togher ( Irish : tóchar ) roads, a type of causeway built through bogs , were found in many areas of the country. According to an entry in the Annals of the Four Masters for AD 123, there were five principal highways ( Irish : slighe ) leading to Tara ( Irish : Teamhair ) in Early Medieval Ireland . Early medieval law-tracts set out five types of road including
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