M1 motorway (Republic of Ireland): Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 22:22, 13 September 2008
Template:IRL motorway routebox
The N1 road is a National Primary Route in Ireland, connecting Dublin to the border with Northern Ireland along the east of Ireland (mostly as the M1 motorway). The route heads north via Drogheda and Dundalk to the Northern Irish border just south of Newry in County Armagh, where it becomes the A1 and further on, the M1 (Northern Ireland). In all the road connects Dublin with the three largest towns in Ireland, excluding the major cities, Drogheda, Dundalk and Swords. It also forms a significant part of the road connection between Dublin and the Northern Ireland cities of Newry, Lisburn and Belfast.
The route is part of European route E1.
The N1 begins at Bachelor's Walk where it connects to the N4. From here it follows O'Connell Bridge, O'Connell Street, Parnell Street, Parnell Square West, Granby Row, Dorset Street Upper (and via North Frederick Street, Parnell Square East and Cavendish Row), Dorset Street Lower, Drumcondra Road and the Swords Road. At Whitehall, the road follows the route of the former M1 Airport Motorway (this section now downgraded to single carrigeway primary route following the construction of the Dublin Port Tunnel). At the Dublin Port Tunnel portals, the road follows the M50 motorway for 2 km, before the M1 motorway begins at M50 Junction 3.
M1 motorway
Almost the entire length of the N1 has been upgraded to motorway standard and is designated the M1 motorway. At 80km it is, as from June 2008, the longest stretch of motorway in Ireland (excluding connecting motorways). It runs from the northernmost part of the M50 ring road in Dublin, north of Dundalk, bypassing the intermediate towns through which the original route travelled. The original N1 route now forms the R132 [1]. On directional roadsigns along the N1 route, the N1 designation is only used for two relatively short sections: between Dublin city centre and Whithehall, and between Ballymascanlon and the NI border. The motorway section of the N1 uses the M1 designation. Small yellow route markers along the motorway route also read N1.
The motorway was built in several stages as short disconnected bypasses, replacing the original N1 route. The first section opened (in 1983) was from Whitehall to Coolock Lane followed (in 1985) by the Airport Motorway between Whitehall and Dublin Airport, only the third section of motorway opened in the Republic of Ireland. 1980s style direction signs were still intact on this route up until 2006. Part of this original M1 is now a spur to Dublin Airport, while another part between Whitehall to the Port Tunnel portals is now narrowed to two+one lanes (although still grade separated) as a result of the Dublin Port Tunnel work.
There are toll fees for use of the motorway south of Drogheda. Work began in 2004 on a bypass of Dundalk, and was completed three months ahead of schedule in 2005, extending the motorway to just south of the Border.
Construction finished in 2007 on a cross-border stretch of grade-separated dual-carriageway linking the northern end of the M1 with the A1 near Newry in County Armagh. This was opened to traffic on 2 August 2007. Its length is 14km, 4.6km north of the border and 9.4km south of the border. This allows traffic to flow freely from Dublin Port on motorway/dual-carriageway standard road to the Cloghogue Roundabout, located at the southern-most end of the Newry Bypass.
Exit list
This is the National Roads Authority's junction numbering scheme for the M1 [2]. As of 2007 some junctions do not yet feature their number on road signs.
Future upgrades
The upgrade of the N1 is now complete in Ireland, the first major route to be completely upgraded to motorway/dual carriageway standard (outside of Dublin city centre) as per the National Development Plan. The Northern Irish authorities have no plans to replace the A1 route (currently a mixture of single and dual carriageway) with motorway, although the upgrading of the remaining single carriageway stretches to dual carriageway is underway, as well as plans for several grade separated junctions. Currently, to drive from Dublin city centre to Belfast, one travels along the N1, M1 (Ireland), N1, A1 and M1 (Northern Ireland).
References
- ^ Roads Act 1993 (Classification of Regional Roads) Order 2006 (PDF) - Department of Transport
- ^ Ordnance Survey Ireland Motorway Schemeta