Contents:

  • Completed and Upcoming Major Schemes List -->
  • Traffic Counts -->
  • Timeline Maps -->
  • List of Abbreviations -->
  • Motorway Completed: Year by Year -->
  • ...with graph -->


    • MISCELLANEOUS INFO

    This section contains various bits and pieces on road development in Ireland which didn't fit into other areas of the site. First is a list of completed and upcoming major road projects in Ireland. Minor schemes are not included as there are too many of them. The list only shows schemes of dual carriageway or larger. 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.

    Next is an area where you can browse graphs showing traffic counts on the trunk network, followed by information on year-by-year completions.

    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.


    COMPLETED AND UPCOMING MAJOR SCHEMES LIST


    Date

    Standard

    Name

    Length

    Stage

    1983-10-04

    M

    M7 Jct 9-10 Naas

    7

    Complete

    1985-xx-xx

    M

    M1 Whitehall-Jct 1-2 Santry-Airport

    5.5

    Complete

    1990-03-xx

    M

    M50 Jct 6-7 N3-N4

    3.2

    Complete

    1990-05-02

    M

    M50 Jct 7-9 N4-N7

    4.6

    Complete

    1990-12-17

    M

    M50 Jct 9-11 N7-N81

    4

    Complete

    1991-06-xx

    HQDC

    N6 Jct 8-13 Athlone BP

    9

    Complete

    1991-10-24

    M

    M11 Jct 3-6 Bray

    5.5

    Complete

    1992-04-03

    M 2

    M8 Jct 18-19 Glanmire

    7.5

    Complete

    1992-11-02

    HQDC

    N3 M50-Clonee (S Section)

    5.5

    Complete

    1992-11-02

    M 2

    M3 M50-Clonee (N Section)

    2.1

    Complete

    1993-06-16

    M

    M7 Jct 10-12 M7/M9 Newbridge (Naas-Newbridge)

    8

    Complete

    1993-10-xx

    M

    M1 Jct 11-13 Dunleer

    6.5

    Complete

    1994-03-04

    HQDC

    N4 Jct 15-17 Mullingar BP

    3

    Complete

    1994-10-24

    M

    M9 Jct 1-2 M7/M9 Newbridge (Newbridge-Kilcullen)

    6

    Complete

    1994-12-19

    M

    M4 Jct 5-8 Leixlip-Kilcock

    17.6

    Complete

    1996-12-xx

    M

    M50 Jct 3-6 M1-N3

    11

    Complete

    1997-05-29

    M

    M7 Jct 16-18 Portlaoise

    12.5

    Complete

    1998-01-26

    HQDC

    N4 Sligo-Collooney

    7.5

    Complete

    1998-10-12

    M

    M1 Jct 5-7 Balbriggan

    13

    Complete

    1999-01-29

    M 2

    M11 Jct 20-21 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 Jct 10-11 Newmarket on Fergus BP

    6

    Complete

    2003-02-03

    M

    M4 Jct 6 Celbridge

    0

    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 Jct 8-10 Glen of the Downs

    5.5

    Complete

    2003-11-07

    M 2

    M18 Jct 9-10 Hurler's Cross (N of N19)

    3.6

    Complete

    2003-11-07

    HQDC

    N18 Jct 8-9 Hurler's Cross (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 Jct 13-14 Rathnew / Ashford Bypass (N&S Sections)

    5.7

    Complete

    2004-09-27

    M 2

    N11 Jct 14-17 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

    Widening to D3AP

    N7 Jct 4-9 Rathcoole-Naas Widening from 4 to 6 lanes

    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 Jct 11-14 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 Jct 22-24 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 Jct 21-22 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 Jct 11 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

    Widening to D3AP

    N4 Jct 1-5 M50-Leixlip Widening from 4 to 6 lanes

    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

    2009-12-17

    M

    M7 Jct 24-26 Nenagh-Limerick (Nenagh BP)

    9.5

    Complete

    2009-12-18

    HQDC

    N6 Jct 19-20-Old N6 Ballinasloe-Galway

    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

    2010-03-22

    M 2

    M9 Jct 9-12 Kilkenny-Waterford

    34

    Complete

    2010-04-01

    M

    M7 J26-27 Nenagh-Limerick (Birdhill-Nenagh)

    16.6

    Complete

    2010-05-28

    M

    M8 Jct 1-3-Old N8 M7/M8 Portlaoise (Aghaboe-Cullahill)

    14

    Complete

    2010-05-28

    M

    M7 Jct 18-21 M7/M8 Portlaoise (Portlaoise-Mountrath)

    26

    Complete

    2010-06-04

    M 2

    M3 Clonee/North of Kells (Part 1)

    2.7

    Complete

    2010-06-04

    M

    M3 Clonee/North of Kells (Part 2)

    43

    Complete

    2010-06-04

    D2AP

    M3 Clonee/North of Kells (Part 3)

    12.6

    Complete

    2010-07-27

    HQDC

    N18 Jct 1-4 Limerick BP Ph.2

    10

    Complete

    2010-09-01

    Widening

    M50 Jct 3-14 Widening and Interchange Upgrade

    32

    Complete

    2010-09-09

    M 2

    M9 Jct 6-9 Carlow-Kilkenny

    30

    Complete

    2010-09-28

    M

    M7 J27-28 Nenagh-Limerick (Limerick-Birdhill)

    11.9

    Complete

    2010-11-12

    M 2

    M18 Jct 14-16 Gort to Crusheen

    22

    Complete

    2010-12-22

    M

    M7 Jct 21-24 Castletown-Nenagh

    36

    Complete

    2011-06-17

    Widening

    M1 Jct 2-3 Airport-Drinan Widening from 4 to 6 Lanes

    2

    Complete

     THE PRESENT DAY

    2013-06-30

    Widening

    M1 Jct 3-4 Drinan-Lissenhall Widening from 4 to 6 Lanes

    4

    Construction

    2013

    HQDC

    N4 Jct 14 The Downs

    5

    Construction

    2013-07

    D2AP

    N22/N69/N70 Tralee Bypass

    8

    Construction

    2013-09

    HQDC

    N40 Bandon/Sarsfield Rds Grade Separation

    3

    Construction

    2014-11

    SC

    N5 Ballaghaderreen Bypass

    13.5

    Construction

    2015-02

    HQDC

    N7 Jct 1B(?) Newlands Cross

    2

    Construction

    2015-09

    M

    M11 Jct 17-20 Arklow to Rathnew

    16.4

    Construction

    2016

    HQDC

    N8 Jct 19 Dunkettle Int Upgrade

    0

    Approved

    2017

    D2AP

    N17 Tuam Bypass

    4.2

    Tender

    2017

    M 2

    M17/M18 Oranmore-Galway-Tuam

    53.4

    Tender

    2017

    HQDC

    N25 New Ross Bypass

    3.6

    Approved

    2017

    D2AP

    N25 New Ross Bypass

    10

    Approved

    2018

    HQDC

    N6 Jct 20-22 Galway City Outer BP

    9.4

    Awaiting Approval

    2019

    M

    M11 Jct 24-26 Enniscorthy Bypass

    27

    Approved

    HQDC

    N22 Cork Northern Ring Road (M8-M20)

    10.4

    Suspended

    M

    M20 Limerick-Cork (Southern Section)

    48

    Suspended

    2020

    D2AP

    N21 Adare Bypass

    8

    Preliminary Design

    M

    M20 Limerick-Cork (Northern Section)

    48

    Suspended

    2020

    D2AP ?

    N22 Ballyvourney to Macroom

    21.5

    Awaiting Approval

    2020

    D2AP

    N11/N25 Oilgate to Rosslare Harbour

    35

    Awaiting Approval

    HQDC ?

    N28 Ringaskiddy to Cork (N Section)

    11

    Suspended

    D2AP ?

    N28 Ringaskiddy to Cork (S Section)

    2

    Suspended

    2020

    D2AP

    N17 Collooney to Tobercurry

    14

    Preliminary Design

    2020

    D2AP

    N24 Pallasgreen to Cahir

    37.5

    Planning

    2020

    D2AP/SC

    N81 Tallaght to Hollywood Cross

    27

    Route Selection

    2020

    D2AP ?

    N25 Waterford to Glenmore

    11

    Planning

    2020

    D2AP

    N5 Westport to Turlough

    27

    Preliminary Design

    D2AP

    N15 Ballybofey / Stranorlar Bypass

    14.9

    Suspended

    M

    M45? Leinster Outer Orbital Road

    74

    Suspended

    HQDC ?

    N4 Mullingar - Longford - Rooskey

    50

    Suspended

    D2AP

    N21 Adare - Abbeyfeale

    45

    Suspended

    HQDC

    N25 Carrigtwohill to Midleton

    4.7

    Suspended

    D2AP

    N17 Tuam to Claremorris

    23

    Suspended

    D2AP

    N17 Tobercurry BP to Knock BP Ph 1

    25.7

    Suspended

    D2AP

    N17 Tobercurry BP (Tobercurry to Charlestown)

    10.2

    Suspended

    D2AP ?

    N25 Midleton to Youghal

    18

    Suspended

    D2AP ?

    N25 Dungarvan Bypass

    13.2

    Suspended

    D2AP

    N15 Lifford to Stranorlar

    17

    Suspended

    D2AP

    N15 Sligo to County Boundary (N Section)

    20

    Suspended

    HQDC

    N15 Sligo to County Boundary (S Section)

    6

    Suspended

    M

    M50 Eastern Bypass

    13

    Suspended

    HQDC

    N22 Cork Northern Ring Road (M20-Ballincollig)

    9.6

    Suspended


    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
    2+1 Two Lanes One Way/One Lane Other Way
    SC Single Carriageway


    Some notes on terminology and motorway designation in Ireland.





    TRAFFIC COUNTS


    Traffic Count graphs for all motorways where data is available.

    Count data is pulled from the NRA's site.






    TIMELINE MAPS


    Timeline maps showing road building development since the 1970s. There is a medium-sized map, a very large version, and a version just showing the Dublin region.






    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. Completions in the future are estimates based on roads in the pipeline, as well as dual carriageways likely to be redesignated motorways in the future. The 2020 figure may 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 1.1 km downgrade  
    2007 0 278.8  
    2008 162 440.8 Includes 47 km of redesignations  
    2009 240.8 681.6 Includes 120.3 km of redesignations  
    2010 236.2 917.8  
    2011 0 917.8  
    2012 0 917.8  
    2013 0 917.8  
    2014 0 917.8  
    Estimates:
    2015 16.4 934.2  
    2016 53.4 987.6  
    2017 27 1014.6  
    2018 9.4 1024  
    2019 48 1072  
    2020 48 1120  
    2021 74 1194