Regional road
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Regional roads are also used in some parts of Ontario. See County Road for more information.
A regional road in Ireland is a class of road not forming a major route (such as a national primary route or national secondary road), but nevertheless forming a link in the national route network. Regional roads are numbered with three digit route numbers, prefixed by "R" (e.g. R105).
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[edit] History
Regional roads were formerly known as "Link roads" and under the pre-1980's route numbering system had the prefix "L" (with "Trunk" roads having the prefix "T"). In 1975 the "T/L" numbering system began to be phased out in favour of the current M/N/R route numbering arrangement (under the Local Government (Roads and Motorways) Act 1974). Regional roads were fully introduced into Irish law under the Roads Act 1993, having been present on road signs on a non-statutory basis for some years previously, and their routes were legislated under a Statutory Instrument in 1994. However in some places very old signposts with the now obsolete numbering systems are still to be seen.
The latest SI declaring the state's regional roads was published in 2006, the Roads Act 1993 (Classification of Regional Roads) Order 2006.
[edit] Features
Unlike national roads, regional roads are looked after by local county/city councils rather than the National Roads Authority. Until the late 1990s, such roads were frequently very poor, although increased road maintenance funding to local councils has resulted in more frequent resurfacing of regional roads, as well as relaying and realignment on some routes.
Regional roads are subject to a lower speed restriction of 80 km/h (~50 mph), rather than the 100 km/h (~62 mph) for national roads. Prior to 2005, the limits were identical at 60 mph. Regional routes however, pass through towns, villages and built up areas frequently, so even lower local speed restrictions are often in place.
As of 2006, directional signposting on regional roads in Ireland remains poor, with even modern signage usually relying on finger signposts located directly at junctions.
[edit] Regional Roads by Type (not an official classification)
[edit] General
- R154 - Ballinagh,County Cavan - (N55) - (N52) - (N51) -(N3) near Clonee, County Meath
- R403 - Lucan, South Dublin, to Tullamore, County Offaly.
- R425 - Abbeyleix to Ballyroan to M7, Junction 16.
- R432 - Abbeyleix–Ballinakill–Ballyragget (N77).
- R433 - Templemore, County Tipperary to Abbeyleix County Laois.
- R502 - Templemore, County Tipperary to the N8 at Johnstown, Kilkenny.
- R675 - Waterford - Tramore - Dungarvan.
- R683 - Waterford - Passage East, County Waterford.
- R684 - Blenheim Cross, Waterford city - Dunmore East, County Waterford.
- R691 - Cashel–Killenaule (R698)–Ballingarry–(R695)–Ballymack (N76 northeast of Callan).
[edit] Urban Regional Roads
- R113 - (Dublin) Fonthill Road from N4 near Lucan to N7 near Clondalkin. Belgard Road (dual-carriageway) from N7 to N81 at Tallaght.
- R117 - Dublin city centre via Enniskerry to Bray, County Wicklow.
- R136 - Outer Ring Road, Dublin: R835 near Lucan via Ballyowen Distributor Road and Grange Castle Road to Kingswood Interchange on N7 (J2).
- R509 - Childers Road, Limerick inner arterial route running around the southeast of the city.
- R686 - Morisson's Road - Runs between Merchant's Quay and the Inner Ring Road (R709) junction at Ashe Road, Waterford.
- R709 - Inner Ring Road, Waterford.
- R710 - Outer Ring Road, Waterford.
- R774 - Farenkelly Road, Greystones - N11 Link Road, Wicklow.
[edit] By-Passed National Routes
Since the passing of the Roads Act 1993, motorways now form part of national primary roads. As a result when a new motorway, or other by-pass is built, the former N-road is downgraded to a regional road. The following are the downgraded N-roads:
- R132 Former N1 (Dublin - Dundalk
- R135 Former N2 (Dublin - Ashbourne
- R148 Former N4 (Dublin - Kinnegad)
- R446 Former N6 (Kinnegad - Galway)
- R445 Former N7 (Dublin - Limerick)
- R639 Former N8 (Port Laoise - Cork)
- R772 Former N11 (Dublin - Wexford)
[edit] Scenic Regional Roads
- R115 - The Military Road - Rathfarnham in Dublin to Laragh near Glendalough in County Wicklow.
- R116 - Loughlinstown to Ballyboden all in South County Dublin
- R173 - (N1/N52 near Dundalk)–(R175)–Carlingford (R176)–Omeath–(becomes B79 road into Newry)
- R336 - Galway to Casla
- R747 - N9 - Arklow, County Wicklow.
- R752 - Rathnew - Woodenbridge, Wicklow.
- R755 - Kilmacanogue - Rathdrum, Wicklow.
- R756 - Wicklow Gap road Dunlavin - Laragh, Wicklow.
- R759 - Sally Gap Road, Roundwood - N81, Wicklow
[edit] Selection of Regional Roads Without an Article
- R175 - (R173 south of Carlingford)–Greenore
- R176 - (R173) Carlingford–(R175 to Greenore)
- R178 - Carrickmacross–Dundalk
- R201 - (N4)–Mohill (R202)–Carrigallen (R203/R204)–Killeshandra (R199)–(N87 near Belturbet)
- R203 - (R201) Carrigallen–Arvagh (R198)
- R236 - (N13) Kilross–(N14)–(crosses border becoming A40 into Derry)
- R293 - (N73 near N4)–Ballymote (R296)–(R295)–(R294)–Ballaghaderreen (N5)–(R325)–(R326)–Ballyhaunis (N83)
- R295 - (R293) Ballymote–Keash–Boyle (R294)
- R296 - (R293) Ballymote–Bunnanadden–(R294)
- R297 - Joins (N59) at Castleconnor, goes through Enniscrone, then Easkey, then rejoins (N59) at Dromore West
- R298 - Connects (R297) from Kinnard, Enniscrone to (N59)
- R409 - Caragh
- R469 - (R462) Kilmurry–Quin–Knockhogan–Ennis (Doora Bridge, Station Road and Upper O'Connell Street -> N18).
- R512 - Old Cork Road, (R509) Limerick–(R514)–Bruff (R516)–(R518)–Kilmallock (R512)–(R517)–Kildorrery (N77)–(N72 near Fermoy)
- R518 - (N69) Askeaton–(N21) Rathkeale–Ballingarry (R519)–(R520)–(N20)–Bruree–(R512 to Kilmallock)
- R611 - (N28 from Cork)–Carrigaline (R612)–Belgooly (R600)
- R612 - (R611) Carrigaline–Crosshaven–Ballinluska–(rejoins R612 out of Carrigaline)
[edit] High capacity regional roads
There are some higher capacity (i.e. not just standard two lane) sections of regional road, most notably the R113 (Belgard Road) and R445 (Old Naas Road) and R132 Swords Inner By-pass which have sections of dual carriageway. In some cases, important high capacity urban routes are built/designated as regional roads, such as the mostly dual carriageway R710 Waterford Outer Ring Road, or the R774 Greystones to the N11 link, which is dual carriageway for it's full length. In many other cases, upgraded regional roads (for example, wide two lane) were previously part of a national primary road, prior to the construction of a motorway or other bypass. In most cases, when a national primary road is changed by the creation of a bypass (motorway or other), the road previously forming part of the route is reclassified to being a regional road (rather than just a local road).
