MISCELLANEOUS INFO
Below is a list of recently completed and upcoming major road projects. The exact date is not always known. Many roads in Ireland open as dual carriageways and are subsequently redesignated motorways. From a legal perspective, this is a much easier way of getting the motorway built. Click here for more information on this and for a factsheet on the terminology used in road construction in Ireland, which can vary by country.With such a rich archaeological heritage and large areas of unspoilt scenery, it was inevitable that many road building projects in Ireland would prove to be controversial. An essay on this.
RECENTLY COMPLETED AND UPCOMING ROAD LIST
|
Date |
Standard |
Name |
Length |
Stage |
|
1997-05-29 |
M |
M7 Jct 16-18 Portlaoise |
12.5 |
Complete |
|
1998-xx-xx |
M |
M1 Jct 5-7 Balbriggan |
13 |
Complete |
|
1998-xx-xx |
HQDC |
N4 Sligo-Collooney |
7.5 |
Complete |
|
1998-xx-xx |
D3AP |
N7 Jct 1A(?)-4 Rathcoole-Newlands Cross |
5 |
Complete |
|
1999-01-29 |
M 2 |
M11 Arklow BP |
6.8 |
Complete |
|
1999-05-21 |
HQDC |
N25 Jack Lynch Tunnel |
12 |
Complete |
|
2001-01-26 |
M |
M1 Jct 13-16 Dunleer-Dundalk |
16 |
Complete |
|
2001-04-20 |
D2AP |
N20 Blackpool BP |
2.5 |
Complete |
|
2001-07-12 |
M 2 |
M20 Patrickswell to Limerick |
9.5 |
Complete |
|
2001-07-31 |
M |
M50 Jct 11-13 N81-Ballinteer |
9 |
Complete |
|
2002-09-30 |
M 2 |
M18 Newmarket on Fergus BP |
6 |
Complete |
|
2003-06-09 |
M |
M1 Jct 7-11 Drogheda |
22 |
Complete |
|
2003-06-28 |
M |
M1 Jct 2-5 Airport-Balbriggan |
16 |
Complete |
|
2003-09-12 |
M 2 |
M8 Jct 17-18 Watergrasshill |
10 |
Complete |
|
2003-10-22 |
D2AP |
N11 Glen of the Downs |
5.5 |
Complete |
|
2003-11-07 |
M 2 |
M18 Hurler's Cross (N Section, N of N19) |
3.6 |
Complete |
|
2003-11-07 |
HQDC |
N18 Hurler's Cross (S Section, S of N19) |
3.1 |
Complete |
|
2003-12-08 |
M |
M7 Jct 12-14 Kildare |
12 |
Complete |
|
2004-05-31 |
M 2 |
M7 Jct 28-30 Limerick BP Ph.1 |
10 |
Complete |
|
2004-09-27 |
D2AP |
N11 Rathnew / Ashford Bypass (N&S Sections) |
5.7 |
Complete |
|
2004-09-27 |
M 2 |
N11 Rathnew / Ashford Bypass (Central Section) |
8 |
Complete |
|
2004-09-20 |
HQDC |
N22 Ballincollig Bypass |
11.7 |
Complete |
|
2004-10-11 |
M 1 |
M8 Jct 7-9 Cashel BP |
7 |
Complete |
|
2004-11-08 |
M |
M7 Jct 14-16 Monasterevin |
17 |
Complete |
|
2005-06-30 |
M |
M50 Jct 13-17 Ballinteer-M11 |
11.4 |
Complete |
|
2005-07 |
M 2 |
M4 Jct 12-13 McNeads Bridge to Kinnegad |
6.8 |
Complete |
|
2005-09-26 |
M |
M1 Jct 16-18 Dundalk |
11 |
Complete |
|
2005-10 |
M |
M50 Jct 15 Carrickmines |
0 |
Complete |
|
2005-12-12 |
M |
M4 Jct 8-12 Kilcock-Kinnegad |
36.8 |
Complete |
|
2005-12-12 |
M |
M6 Jct 1-2 M4 Kilcock-Kinnegad (M6 section) |
1 |
Complete |
|
2006-01 |
M |
M1 Jct 3 Drynam |
0 |
Complete |
|
2006-05-24 |
HQDC |
N2 Ashbourne BP - M50 (S Section) |
4 |
Complete |
|
2006-05-24 |
M 2 |
N2 Ashbourne BP - M50 (N Section) |
13 |
Complete |
|
2006-08-15 |
D3AP |
N7 Jct 4-9 Rathcoole-Naas |
15 |
Complete |
|
2006-10-02 |
M |
M8 Jct 14-17 Fermoy |
18 |
Complete |
|
2006-10 |
HQDC |
N25 Kinsale Rd GS |
3 |
Complete |
|
2006-12-05 |
M 1 |
M6 Jct 2-4 Kinnegad-Kilbeggan (Kinnegad-Tyrellspass) |
19 |
Complete |
|
2006-12-20 |
M |
M50 Jct 1-2 Dublin Port Tunnel |
6 |
Complete |
|
2007-01-26 |
M 2 |
M18 Ennis BP |
14 |
Complete |
|
2007-05-16 |
M 1 |
M6 Jct 4-5 Kinnegad-Kilbeggan (Tyrellspass-Kilbeggan) |
9 |
Complete |
|
2007-07-04 |
M 2 |
M11 Arklow Gorey Bypass (Gorey BP) |
13.5 |
Complete |
|
2007-08-02 |
HQDC |
N1 Jct 18-20 Dundalk-Newry |
10 |
Complete |
|
2007-09-05 |
M 2 |
M11 Arklow Gorey Bypass (Gorey-Arklow) |
9.5 |
Complete |
|
2007-10-15 |
M 1 |
M8 Jct 9-10 Cashel-Mitchelstown (Cashel-Cahir) |
12 |
Complete |
|
2008-03 |
HQDC |
N11 Kilpeddar/Delgany Jct |
0 |
Complete |
|
2008-05-29 |
M 1 |
M9 Jct 4-6 Carlow BP |
19 |
Complete |
|
2008-07-16 |
M 1 |
M6 Jct 5-8 Kilbeggan-Athlone |
28 |
Complete |
|
2008-07-25 |
M 1 |
M8 Jct 10-12 Cashel-Mitchelstown (Cahir-Mitchelstown) |
28 |
Complete |
|
2008-12-08 |
M |
M8 Old N8-Jct 4-7 Cullahill-Urlingford-Cashel |
40 |
Complete |
|
2009-05-25 |
M |
M8 Jct 12-14 Mitchelstown-Fermoy |
16 |
Complete |
|
2009-07-06 |
D3AP |
N4 Jct 1-5 M50-Leixlip |
5.5 |
Complete |
|
2009-07-23 |
M 2 |
M6 Jct 13-14 Athlone-Ballinasloe |
17 |
Complete |
|
2009-10-19 |
HQDC |
N25 Waterford BP |
17.8 |
Complete |
|
2009-12-18 |
HQDC |
N6 Jct 19-20-Old N6 Ballinasloe-Galway |
5 |
Complete |
|
2009-12-17 |
M |
M7 Nenagh-Limerick (Nenagh BP J24-26) |
9.5 |
Complete |
|
2009-12-18 |
M 2 |
M6 Jct 14-19 Ballinasloe-Galway |
51 |
Complete |
|
2009-12-21 |
M |
M9 Jct 2-4 Kilcullen-Carlow |
27 |
Complete |
|
2010-03-18 |
M |
M7 Nenagh-Limerick (Birdhill-Nenagh J26-27) |
16.6 |
Construction |
|
2010-03-22 |
M 2 |
M9 Jct 10-12 Kilkenny-Waterford |
24 |
Construction |
|
2010-04 |
M |
M7 Nenagh-Limerick (Limerick-Birdhill J27-28) |
11.9 |
Construction |
|
2010-05 |
HQDC |
N7 Jct 30-33 Limerick BP Ph.2 |
10 |
Construction |
|
2010-06 |
M 2 |
M3 Clonee/North of Kells (Part 1) |
2.7 |
Construction |
|
2010-06 |
M |
M3 Clonee/North of Kells (Part 2) |
43 |
Construction |
|
2010-06 |
D2AP |
M3 Clonee/North of Kells (Part 3) |
12.6 |
Construction |
|
2010-08 |
M 2 |
M18 Gort to Crusheen |
22 |
Construction |
|
2010-09 |
M |
M7 Jct 21-24 Castletown-Nenagh |
45 |
Construction |
|
2010-09 |
M 2 |
M9 Jct 6-10 Carlow-Kilkenny |
40 |
Construction |
|
2010-12 |
M |
M7 Jct 18-21 M7/M8 Portlaoise (Portlaoise-Mountrath) |
26 |
Construction |
|
2010-12 |
M |
M8 Jct 1-3-Old N8 M7/M8 Portlaoise (Aghaboe-Cullahill) |
14 |
Construction |
|
2012-05 |
HQDC |
N7 Jct 1A(?) Newlands Cross |
0 |
Preliminary Design |
|
2013-07 |
M 2 |
M17/M18 Oranmore-Galway-Tuam |
57 |
Preliminary Design |
|
2013-07 |
HQDC |
N11 Arklow to Rathnew |
16.4 |
Preliminary Design |
|
2014-07 |
D2AP |
N25 New Ross Bypass |
13.6 |
Preliminary Design |
|
2012 |
HQDC |
N25 Bandon/Sarsfield Rds GS |
3 |
Preliminary Design |
|
2012 |
HQDC |
N25 Carrigtwohill to Midleton |
4.7 |
Preliminary Design |
|
2015 |
HQDC |
N6 Jct 20-22 Galway City Outer BP |
9.4 |
Preliminary Design |
| 2015 |
HQDC |
N22 Cork Northern Ring Road (M8-M20) |
10.4 |
Preliminary Design |
| 2015 |
HQDC |
N21 Adare Bypass |
8 |
Preliminary Design |
| 2015-01 |
M |
M11 Enniscorthy Bypass |
27 |
Preliminary Design |
|
2015 |
M |
M20 Limerick-Cork (Northern Section) |
48 |
Preliminary Design |
|
2015 |
M |
M20 Limerick-Cork (Southern Section) |
48 |
Preliminary Design |
|
2015 |
D2AP ? |
N25 Midleton to Youghal |
18 |
Constraints Study |
|
2015 |
D2AP ? |
N25 Dungarvan Bypass |
13.2 |
Route Selection |
|
2015 |
D2AP ? |
N25 Waterford to Glenmore |
11 |
Preliminary Design |
|
2015 |
D2AP |
N15 Lifford to Stranorlar |
17 |
Preliminary Design |
|
2015 |
D2AP |
N15 Ballybofey / Stranorlar Bypass |
14.9 |
Preliminary Design |
|
2015 |
D2AP |
N15 Sligo to County Boundary (N Section) |
20 |
Route Selection |
|
2015 |
HQDC |
N15 Sligo to County Boundary (S Section) |
6 |
Route Selection |
|
2015 |
D2AP |
N17 Tuam Bypass |
4.2 |
Preliminary Design |
|
2015 |
D2AP ? |
N17 Tuam to Claremorris |
23 |
Constraints Study |
|
2015 |
D2AP |
N17 Tobercurry BP to Knock BP Ph 1 |
25.7 |
Preliminary Design |
|
2015 |
D2AP |
N17 Tobercurry BP (Tobercurry to Charlestown) |
10.2 |
Preliminary Design |
|
2015 |
D2AP |
N17 Collooney to Tobercurry |
14 |
Preliminary Design |
| 2015 |
D2AP ? |
N22 Ballyvourney to Macroom |
21.5 |
Preliminary Design |
2015 |
HQDC ? |
N4 Mullingar to Longford |
50 |
Constraints Study |
|
2018 |
M |
M50 Eastern Bypass |
13 |
Constraints Study |
|
2018 |
M |
M40? Orbital |
74 |
Constraints Study |
|
After 2015 |
HQDC |
N81 Tallaght Bypass Extension |
3 |
Preliminary Design |
|
HQDC |
N8 Jct 19 Dunkettle Int Upgrade |
0 |
Preliminary Design |
|
|
D2AP ? |
N11/N25 Oilgate to Rosslare Harbour |
35 |
Preliminary Design |
|
|
HQDC |
N22? Cork Northern Ring Road (M20-Ballincollig) |
9.6 |
Constraints Study |
|
|
HQDC ? |
N28 Ringaskiddy to Cork (N Section) |
11 |
Route Selection |
|
|
D2AP ? |
N28 Ringaskiddy to Cork (S Section) |
2 |
Route Selection |
|
Notes:
1 Redesignated motorway on 2008-09-24.
2 Redesignated motorway on 2009-08-28.
Redesigated schemes either opened as dual carriageway or were specified as dual during the planning and/or construction phase.
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
| M | Motorway |
| HQDC | High Quality Dual Carriageway |
| D2AP/D3AP | All Purpose Dual Carriageway with 2 or 3 lanes each way |
Some notes on terminology and motorway designation in Ireland.
MOTORWAY COMPLETED : YEAR BY YEAR
These are calculated by summing all projects completed that year. Some projects were completed in a particular year, but were only designated motorway some time later. They are listed under the year they became motorways. 2009 and beyond are estimates based on roads in the pipeline, as well as dual carriageways very likely to be redesignated motorways in the future. The 2020 figure will almost certainly be higher.
| Year | Km that year | Total km | Notes |
| 1983 | 7 | 7 | |
| 1985 | 5.5 | 12.5 | |
| 1990 | 11.8 | 24.3 | |
| 1991 | 5.5 | 29.8 | |
| 1992 | 0 | 29.8 | |
| 1993 | 14.5 | 44.3 | |
| 1994 | 23.6 | 67.9 | |
| 1995 | 0 | 67.9 | |
| 1996 | 11 | 78.9 | |
| 1997 | 12.5 | 91.4 | |
| 1998 | 13 | 104.4 | |
| 1999 | 0 | 104.4 | |
| 2000 | 0 | 104.4 | |
| 2001 | 25 | 129.4 | |
| 2002 | 0 | 129.4 | |
| 2003 | 49.3 | 178.7 | Includes a 0.7 km downgrade |
| 2004 | 17 | 195.7 | |
| 2005 | 60.2 | 255.9 | |
| 2006 | 22.9 | 278.8 | Includes a 1.1km downgrade |
| 2007 | 0 | 278.8 | |
| 2008 | 162 | 440.8 | Includes 47km of redesignations |
| 2009 | 240.8 | 681.6 | Includes 120.3km of redesignations |
| Estimates: | |||
| 2010 | 245.2 | 926.8 | |
| 2011 | 0 | 926.8 | |
| 2012 | 0 | 926.8 | |
| 2013 | 53.4 | 980.2 | |
| 2014 | 16.4 | 996.6 | |
| 2015 | 132.4 | 1129 | |
| By 2020 | 87 | 1216 | |
