Speed limit increases on 260km of roads

Motorists travelling on some of the State's newest national roads are to be allowed to travel faster from today after the roads were re-designated as motorways.

The new motorway speed limits introduced by Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey increases the permissible speed to 120km/h, up mostly from the 100km/h limit applying to "national" roads.

The designated motorways, which include schemes not yet open to traffic include: 46km of the N9 from Kilcullen to Powerstown, which is to become the M9 when it opens in 2010; the 6km Cashel bypass which now becomes part of the M8; 29km from Urlingford to Cashel which is to be designated the M8 when it opens in 2010; 28km of the Cashel to Mitchelstown road which becomes the M8; and 16 km from Mitchelstown to Fermoy also to become the M8 when it opens by 2010.

Also included are 36km of the N7 from Castletown to Nenagh which will become the M7, as does 38km between Nenagh and Limerick, when they open by 2010.

On the N6, the designations include 28km from Kinnegad to Kilbeggan and 29km from Kilbeggan to Athlone which are open and which now become the M6.

In addition to the speed limit changes, certain categories of road users are prohibited from using motorways, such as learner drivers, vehicles with engine capacities of less than 50cc, vehicles not capable of a speed of 50km/h, and pedestrians and cyclists. These road users will be catered for by the local/regional road network.

Importantly, the redesignation will prevent private access on to the new dual carriageways built by the NRA.

Access to private farms and homes are allowed on a national road but prohibited on a motorway.