National Primary Route 52

Could Open : Mullingar-M6 2015-2020; M1-Mullingar 2020-2025; Tullamore-Nenagh 2025-2030

Status : Some parts under consideration
N52 Road Logo

 


Dual Carriageway : 167.9 km (M1-Kells 37.4 km; Kells-Mullingar 37.0 km; Mullingar-M6 17.4 km; Tullamore-Nenagh 76.1 km)

It is difficult to make cross country trips in Ireland that don't involve Dublin in some way, as the road network is radial. Two very useful and complementary routes forming an X would involve a northeast-southwest dual carriageway, and a northwest-southeast route. The existing northeast-southwest route is the N52.

The N52 allows movement between Belfast, Newry and Dundalk down to Limerick and Shannon without passing through Dublin. Along the way, the road skirts past Kells, with the eponymous book, Mullingar, Tullamore, the very chilly Birr and Nenagh.

The central section from Mullingar to Tullamore has seen complete replacement with a new (though single-carriage) route in the last number of years, including a bypass of Tullamore. As of 2012, the penultimate part north of the M6 is under development. The final segment, a dual replacement for the M6-Tullamore Bypass, may be some time in proceeding, due to the good standard of the current route. All this is due to the designation in the government's National Spatial Strategy that Athlone, Mullingar and Tullamore formed a single unit and upgrading transport links between them therefore became a goal. Although this plan was never properly followed, the goal of improving links between these neighbouring towns was a worthwhile one.

As for the rest of the N52 route, however, construction is not planned and is therefore a long way off.

Wikipedia page on this road

ESSENTIAL INFO :

Origin M1 east of Ardee
Terminates Nenagh
Places Served Ardee, Kells, Mullingar, Tullamore, Birr, Nenagh
Routes Spawned N51
Intersects M1, N2, N3, N4, N80


TAKE THE SURVEY :


Please take a minute to answer a very short survey on your opinion of this road proposal.


Medoc from Ireland rates this scheme 7/10 and its alignment 7/10; and reckons the standard is about right: "Dual carriageway is about right. 2+2 not HQDC."
"The N80 from the M7 to Tullamore should also be 2+2 DC in addition to this scheme."
 Note that I do propose some dual sections for the N80 in a separate proposal, though not consistently for the whole route due to low traffic volumes.

Anonymous from Ireland really likes this scheme as they rate it 10/10 and its alignment 10/10. They reckon the standard is about right and have this comment to make:
"Mullingar To Kells must have work done, daily commuter from Delvin To Mullingar witness very high level of trucks."
 Micmac from Ireland rates both this scheme and its alignment 2/10. He thinks the spec should be higher, "as Tullamore bypass."
"It's crazy. It is to a great standard in places (Birr-Mullingar) and bits in W'Meath but why at this time construct to very different standards? Nenagh bypass has no shoulders badly comparing with other new sections. Would someone explain why Tipp North are currently (Jan 2012) widening an existing 2 m footpath to over 3m and still no shoulder. Incidentally, they also wasted a bag of money putting in unneeded roundabouts on this section. Bits of Borrisokane to Birr upgraded to no standard whatever. Has anyone examined the on-ramp at southern end to M7 south? Attempted murder. good, bad and indifferent but when improvements carried out they should be to a uniform modern standard. After all it's the Belfast Cork road, or should be."
 This long commentary seems to be broadly in favour of upgrades along this route, however - so it seems the 2/10 ratings are mistaken. Additionally, saying the spec should be higher "like the Tullamore bypass" is odd, as the proposal here is for dual carriageway for the route - but the Tullamore bypass is a single carriageway.


MAP OF N52 :