National primary road

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A national primary road (Irish: Príomhbhóithre Náisiúnta) in Ireland is a class of road forming a major route between the major urban centres. In short, they are the backbone of the Irish road network.

This category of road has the prefix "N" followed by one or two digits. The most important routes are numbered N1-N11 ( radiate anti-clockwise from Dublin), with those in the range N12-N33 being cross-country roads. National secondary roads (see next section) are numbered under the same scheme with higher numbers. On road signage, destinations served but not on the route in question are listed in brackets, with the connecting route also listed (see thumbnail). Directional road signs on national primary roads are usually in white text on a green background, with the road number in yellow. Signs for roads of different standard are shown using appropiately coloured patches according to a system derived from the UK's Guildford Rules.

Most national primary roads are of at least wide two lane standard, with sections within Greater Dublin and near the regional cities typically being at least dual-carriageway standard. There are however some narrow two-lane sections remaining.

Northern Ireland route sections (which are classified separately according to NI schemes) are in some cases included in a theoretical complete cross-border route – for example the N3 route, which re-enters the Republic. These are listed here in brackets for completeness (and are present on southern road signage).

[edit] Motorways and High Quality Dual Carraigeways

Main articles: Motorway and High Quality Dual Carriageway

Under the National Development Plan, the major national primary roads - the N1 to the Border, N6 (along with that section of the N4 leading to it) to Galway, N7 to Limerick, N8 to Cork, and N9 to Waterford are being upgraded to motorway or high-quality dual-carriageway standard. These roads have at least two lanes in each direction, an unbroken central median, and access only at special interchanges. In addition motorways have a set of regulations limiting access to certain types of motor vehicle traffic and other special rules. Upgrades to the specified roads are intended to be completed by 2010. In addition, a brand new national primary road - the M50 - has been built around Dublin. Where a section of national primary road is designated a motorway, signage is white-on-blue instead of white-on-green, in addition, the prefix "N" is dropped, and replaced with "M" instead on road signs. A high quality dual carriageway may be redesignated a motorway by means of an order under the Roads Act 2007.

In addition to the major inter-urbans, the N11, N17, N18, N20, N21, and N25 - all of which form links between regional cities or other strategic links - will have major sections of good standard dual carriageway (in the N18's case, the entire route is planned to be dual carriageway), with some sections of motorway also possible.

[edit] List of National Primary Roads

This list of national primary roads, and their descriptions, is based on the Roads Act 1993 (Classification of National Roads) Order 2006 ^[1]. The road lengths are, unless otherwise stated, from unverified sources and are therefore only approximate.

[edit] See also

• Roads in Ireland
• National secondary road
• Regional road

[edit] References