Concerns over road status

ALMOST 300km of dual carriageways on 10 national routes are to be reclassified as motorways from Friday.

The move will increase speed limits on the roads to 120km/h and ban learner drivers, agricultural vehicles incapable of speeds in excess of 50km/h and small motorcycles with an engine capacity of 50cc or less.

The move to nominate newer roads as motorways follows the similar redesignation of 260km of roads last September with more yet to to be opened.

However, concern has been expressed by councillors in Co Clare that parts of the Ennis bypass are not designed for vehicles travelling at motorway speeds.

In addition, midlands Fine Gael councillor John Naughten expressed concern about the “implications for development on the west side of Athlone as access would be prohibited”. He also raised the issue of access by learner drivers and farmers.

However, the National Roads Authority (NRA), which recommended the changes, said safety audits had been carried out twice on the Ennis bypass. It said over-development along new national routes eroded the investment in the new roads.

Unlike national roads, it is not permissible to create new openings onto motorways.

Among the sections of road to be reclassified are: 13km of the N2 (Killshane-Ashbourne); 7km of the N4 (Kinnegad-McNead’s Bridge); 20km of the N6 (Athlone-Ballinasloe); 8.5km of the Limerick Southern Ring; about 7km of the N8 (Watergrasshill-Glanmire); and three sections of the N11 (including Ashford-Rathnew and Arklow-Gorey).