Regional road

:"Regional roads are also used in some parts of Ontario. See County Road for more information."

A regional road ( _ga. Bóthar Réigiúnach) 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).

History

Regional roads were formerly known as "Link roads" and under the pre-1980s 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 (`SI') 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".

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 (imperial equivalent 50 mph), rather than the 100 km/h (imperial equivalent 62 mph) for national roads. Prior to 20 January 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 2008, directional signposting on some regional roads in Ireland remains poor, with even modern signage usually relying on fingerpost signposts located directly at junctions however there are various signage tenders at the moment that are being processed that will address the regional roadways with the greatest signage deficit first and gradually work upwards until all regional roadways where deemed appropriate have been retrofitted with adequate signage.

Route descriptions

As of 2007, routes of all regional roads in Ireland are defined by Statutory Instrument No. 188 of 2006, "Roads Act 1993 (Classification of Regional Roads) Order 2006"; which specifies townlands, villages, towns, other settlements through which the route passes, as well as road names applied to route sections where applicable. The direction of any given route (i.e. which end is the start and which is the termination) is determined by the route description in the SI, thus any route can be listed in the form "Start, Intermediate Destinations, Final Destination" as below:

Dublin, North Leinster, Cavan & Monaghan

*R101 - North Circular Road, Dublin
*R102 - Blanchardstown - Malahide Road, Dublin
*R103 - Finglas - Killester, Dublin
*R104 - Finglas - Kilbarrack, Dublin
*R105 - Dublin - Howth
*R106 - Sutton - Malahide - Swords
*R107 - Dublin - Malahide
*R108 - Drogheda - N2 in Phibsborough, Dublin
*R109 - Lucan - Wolf Tone Quay, Dublin
*R110 - Dublin, St. Stephen's Green - Red Cow
*R111 - Conyngham Road - Beach Road, Sandymount, Dublin
*R112 - Chapelizod - Churchtown - Mount Merrion
*R113 - (Dublin) "Fonthill Road" from N4 near Lucan to N7 near Clondalkin. "Belgard Road" (dual-carriageway) from N7 to N81 at Tallaght.
*R114 - Dublin - Rathfarnham - Brittas, Dublin
*R115 - The Military Road - Rathfarnham in Dublin to Laragh near Glendalough in County Wicklow
*R116 - Loughlinstown to Ballyboden all in South County Dublin
*R117 - Dublin city centre via Enniskerry to Bray, County Wicklow.
*R118 - Dublin - Blackrock, Dublin, County Dublin and Dún Laoghaire - Lahaunstown, County Dublin
*R119 - Blackrock, Dublin - Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin - Bray, County Wicklow
*R120 - Lucan - Rathcoole - Corbally, County Dublin
*R121 - Lucan - Blanchardstown - Skephubble, County Dublin
*R122 - Finglas - Balbriggan, County Dublin
*R123 - Maynetown - Balgriffin, County Dublin
*R124 - Snugborough - Malahide, County Dublin
*R125 - Swords, Dublin - Dunshaughlin County Meath - Kilcock, County Kildare
*R126 - Lissenhall - Portraine, County Dublin
*R127 - Blake's Cross - Skerries, Dublin - Balbriggan, County Dublin
*R128 - Lusk - Rush, Dublin - Skerries, Dublin, County Dublin
*R129 - Coldwinters - Wyanstown, County Dublin
*R130 - Coolquoy Common - Grallagh, County Dublin
*R131 - Drumcondra Road - East Link Bridge - Merrion Gates, Dublin
*R132 - Former N1 (Dublin - Dundalk)
*R133 - Drummartin Link Road, Sandyford, County Dublin
*R134 - Nangor Road, Clondalkin, County Dublin
*R135 - Former N2 (Dublin - Ashbourne)
*R136 - Outer Ring Road, Dublin: R835 near Lucan via "Ballyowen Distributor Road" and "Grange Castle Road" to "Kingswood Interchange" on N7 (J2).
*R148 - Former N4 (Dublin - Kinnegad)
*R149 - Leixlip, County Kildare - Clonee, County Meath
*R150 - Drogheda, County Louth - Bettystown - Julianstown - Kentstown, County Meath
*R151 - Bettystown - Mornington, County Meath
*R152 - Drogheda, County Louth - Cushinstown, County Meath
*R153 - Navan - Balrath, County Meath
*R154 - Ballinagh, County Cavan - (N55) - (N52) - (N51) -(N3) near Clonee, County Meath
*R155 - Piercetown - Primatestown, County Meath
*R156 - N4 at "The Downs" near Mullingar, County Westmeath to the N3 at Mulhuddart, County Dublin
*R157 - Dunboyne, County Meath - Maynooth, County Kildare
*R158 - Trim, County Meath to Kilcock, County Kildare
*R159 - Enfield, County Meath - Laracor, County Meath
*R160 - Ballynadrumny, County Kildare - Trim, County Meath
*R161 - Navan, County Meath- Kinnegad, County Westmeath
*R162 - Monaghan Town to Navan
*R163 - Ballinlough Big - Kells - Slane, County Meath
*R164 - Kingscourt, County Cavan to the N51 near Athboy, County Meath
*R165 - The R188 Cootehill, County Cavan to the N2 near Ardee, County Louth
*R166 - Drogheda - Clogherhead - Castlebellingham - Tallanstown, County Louth
*R167 - Drogheda - Termonfeckin, County Louth
*R168 - Drogheda - Collon, County Louth
*R169 - Dunleer - Collon, County Louth
*R170 - Ardee - Dunleer - Murray's Cross, County Louth
*R171 - Ardee - Louth - Dundalk, County Louth
*R172 - Green Gates - Blackrock - Dundalk, County Louth
*R173 - (N1/N52 near Dundalk)– (R175)– Carlingford (R176)– Omeath– (becomes B79 road into Newry)
*R174 - Feede - Rockmarshall, County Louth
*R175 - The Bush - Greenore, County Louth
*R176 - Carlingford- Saint James' Well, County Louth
*R177 - Dundalk - Drumbilla, County Louth
*R178 - Dundalk County Louth - Carrickmacross, County Monaghan - Bailieborough - Virginia, County Cavan
*R179 - Kingscourt, County Cavan - Carrickmacross - Corcullioncrew, County Monaghan
*R180 - Carrickmacross - Ballybay, County Monaghan
*R181 - Shercock, County Cavan - Castleblayney - Tullynagrow, County Monaghan
*R182 - Castleblayney - Lurganearly, County Monaghan
*R183 - Castleblayney - Ballybay – Clones - County Monaghan
*R184 - Clontibret - Ballybay, County Monaghan
*R185 - Cavanreagh – Glasslough - Kiltybeggs, County Monaghan
*R186 - Monaghan - Drumfurrer, County Monaghan
*R187 - Annaghervy - Inishammon, County Monaghan
*R188 - Monaghan - Cootehill, County Cavan - Cavan
*R189 - Monaghan - Newbliss - Dyan, County Monaghan
*R190 - Ballybay, County Monaghan - Cootehill, County Cavan
*R191 - Mullagh - Bailieborough - Cootehill, County Cavan
*R192 - Shercock - Cootehill, County Cavan
*R193 - Rockcorry - Anny, County Monaghan
*R194 - Moynalty, County Meath - Virginia, County Cavan - Longford
*R195 - Virginia, County Cavan - Castlepollard, County Westmeath
*R196 - New Inn - Ballyjamesduff, County Cavan
*R197 - Belturbet - Corrarod, County Cavan
*R198 - Longford to Cavan
*R199 - Crossdoney, County Cavan - Ballinamore, County Leitrim

The Northwest

*R201 - N4 – Mohill (R202)– Carrigallen (R203/R204)– Killeshandra (R199)– (N87 near Belturbet)
*R202 - N4 in Dromod - Mohill (R201)– Ballinamore - (N87 near Swanlinbar)
*R262 - N56 at Mountcharles to N56 at Glenties, signposted as a shortcut from the N56.
*R284 - Sligo– Ballygawley– Sooey– Geevagh– Keadue– Leitrim, County Leitrim
*R285 - N4– Knockvicar– Keadue– all in County Roscommon

The West

*R323 - Kiltamagh to Ballyhaunis
*R327 - N60 near Claremorris to R360 in County Galway
*R333 - Tuam to Headford in County Galway
*R336 - Galway to Casla
*R335 - Westport to Leenane via Louisburgh and Murrisk
*R348 - N6 to Athenry via New Inn and Kilconnell to the N6 at Ballinasloe
*R357 - Athleague, County Roscommon to Blue Ball, County Offaly.
*R360 - Dunmore to Ballymoe, all in County Galway.
*R362 - Near Dunmore, County Galway to Athlone, County Roscommon.
*R367 - N60 near Ballymoe to the N6 in Tulsk, all in County Roscommon.
*R371 - N4 in Roosky to the N63 near Lanesborough, nearly all in County Roscommon.

The Midlands

*R390 - Athlone, County Westmeath to Mullingar, County Westmeath.
*R392 - Lanesborough, County Longford to Mullingar, County Westmeath.
*R393 - Longford, County Longford to Mullingar, County Westmeath.
*R394 - N55, County Cavan to Mullingar, County Westmeath.
*R395 - N55, Edgeworthstown, County Longford to Delvin, County Westmeath.
*R399 - N55 to R393 in County Longford
*R400 - Mullingar, County Westmeath, to Cushina, County Offaly.
*R401 - Enfield, County Meath, to Kildare, County Kildare.
*R402 - Enfield, County Meath, to near Tullamore, County Offaly.
*R403 - Lucan, South Dublin, to Carbury, County Kildare.
*R409 - Naas, County Kildare, to Prosperous, County Kildare via Caragh.
*R413 - Kildare to Ballymore Eustace via The Curragh, all in County Kildare.
*R414 - Monasterevin to Rathangan to Allenwood, all in County Kildare.
*R415 - Allenwood to Kildare to Crookstown, all in County Kildare.
*R417 - Monasterevin, County Kildare, to Carlow, County Carlow.
*R418 - Athy, County Kildare, to Tullow, County Carlow.
*R419 - Portlaoise, County Laois, to Rathangan, County Kildare
*R420 - Tullamore to the R445 near Monasterevin
*R421 - Roscrea to Tullamore
*R422 - New Inn to Mountmellick to the R421. All in County Laois.
*R423 - Portarlington, County Offaly to Mountrath to in County Laois.
*R425 - Abbeyleix to Ballyroan to M7, Junction 16. All in County Laois.
*R426 - Portlaoise, County Laois to Castlecomer, County Kilkenny
*R427 - R425, County Laois to the R417, County Kildare
*R430 - Mountrath, County Laois to Carlow, County Carlow
*R432 - Abbeyleix, County Laois to the N77 in Ballyragget, County Kilkenny
*R433 - Templemore, County Tipperary to Abbeyleix County Laois.
*R434 - N7 to Durrow - all in County Laois.
*R435 - Borris-in-Ossory, County Laois to south of Johnstown, County Kilkenny.
*R436 - Ferbane, Offaly to Kilbeggan County Westmeath.
*R437 - N62 near Ferbane to the N52 at Kilcormac, all in County Offaly.
*R438 - R356 in County Offaly to the N65 near Borrisokane in County Tipperary
*R440 - Birr, County Offaly across the Slieve Bloom Mountains to Mountrath County Laois.
*R444 - Shannonbridge, County Offaly to the N6 near Farnagh, County Westmeath.
* R445 - Former N7 (Dublin - Limerick)
* R446 - Former N6 (Kinnegad - Galway)
* R449 - Leixlip - M4 motorway - Celbridge; all in County Kildare
* R689 - Urlingford - Fethard - Clonmel.
* R693 - Urlingford - Freshford - Kilkenny, all in County Kilkenny.
* R694 - Freshford - Ballyragget - Castlecomer, all in County Kilkenny.

The Midwest

*R463 - Tuamgraney, County Clare to Limerick City
*R466 - Birdhill to O'Callaghans mills via O'Briensbridge and Broadford in County Clare
*R494 - Birdhill to Nenagh via Lough Derg coast, all in County Tipperary
*R497 - Nenagh to Tipperary Town, all in County Tipperary
*R498 - Nenagh to Thurles, all in County Tipperary
*R499 - N7 to Silvermines to N7 at Toomevara all in County Tipperary
* R501 - Templemore, County Tipperary to R498 at Borrisoleigh, County Tipperary.
*R502 - Templemore, County Tipperary to the N8 at Johnstown, Kilkenny.
*R503 - Thurles, County Tipperary to the N7 near Limerick
*R505 - Cashel, County Tipperary to the N24 near Limerick
*R509 - Childers Road, Limerick inner arterial route running around the southeast of the city.
*R660 - Cashel - Holycross - Thurles
* R691 - Cashel–Killenaule (R698)–Ballingarry–(R695)–Ballymack (N76 northeast of Callan).

The Southwest

*R512 - Limerick to Fermoy, County Cork
*R599 - Clonakilty to Dunmanway in County Cork

The South

*R639 - Former N8 (Port Laoise - Cork)
*R666 - Fermoy - Ballyduff - Lismore
*R675 - Waterford - Tramore - Dungarvan.
*R683 - Waterford - "Passage East", County Waterford.
*R684 - "Blenheim Cross", Waterford city - Dunmore East, County Waterford.
*R686 - Morisson's Road - Runs between Merchant's Quay and the "Inner Ring Road" (R709) junction at Ashe Road, Waterford.
*R687 - New Inn - Clonmel (via the N24).
*R709 - Inner Ring Road, Waterford.
*R710 - Outer Ring Road, Waterford.

The Southeast

* R700 - Kilkenny City - New Ross, County Wexford
* R702 - Coolgrange County Kilkenny - Enniscorthy, County Wexford - N11
* R705 - Leighlinbridge County Carlow -Graiguenamanagh, County Kilkenny - R700
*R724 - Muine Bheag - Fennagh - Myshall - Kildavin - all in County Carlow
* R725 - Carlow - Tullow - Shillelagh - Carnew - Gorey
*R726 - Carlow to the N81 near Rathvilly, all in County Carlow.
*R730 - Kiltealy - N30 - Wexford Town, all in County Wexford.
*R731 - Killann - Rathnure - Ballywilliam all in County Wexford
*R741 - Gorey to Wexford Town, all in County Wexford.
*R742 - Gorey - R772 to R741 near Wexford, all in County Wexford.
*R747 - N9 - Arklow, County Wicklow.
*R750 - Rathnew - Arklow, County Wicklow.
*R752 - Rathnew - Woodenbridge, County Wicklow.
*R755 - Kilmacanogue - Rathdrum, Wicklow.
*R756 - Wicklow Gap road Dunlavin - Laragh, Wicklow.
*R759 - Sally Gap Road, Roundwood - N81, Wicklow
*R761 - Bray - Greystones - Kilcoole - Rathnew
*R772 - Former N11 (Dublin - Wexford)
*R774 - Farenkelly Road, Greystones - N11 Link Road, Wicklow.

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 its 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).

Urban Regional Roads

*R110 - Dublin, St. Stephen's Green - Red Cow
*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).
* R449 - Leixlip - M4 motorway - Celbridge; all in County Kildare
*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.

By-Passed National Routes

Since the enactment 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)
* R147 Former N3 (Clonee - Kells) "*Awaiting Ministerial Confirmation"
* R148 Former N4 (Dublin - Kinnegad)
* R267 Former N15 (Donegal Town and Ballyshannon - Bundoran)
* R329 Former N17 (through Knock)
* R445 Former N7 (Dublin - Limerick)
* R446 Former N6 (Kinnegad - Galway)
* R448 Former N9 (Naas - Kilcullen)
* R458 Former N18 (Crusheen, Ennis - Smithstown, Shannon)
* R526 Former N20 (Limerick - Patrickswell)
* R527 Former N24 (Limerick - Ballysimon, County Limerick)
* R639 Former N8 (Port Laoise - Cork)
* R772 Former N11 (Dublin - Wexford)

ee also

* Irish National Primary Roads
*Irish secondary roads

References

* [http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/ZZSI400Y1994.html S.I. No. 400/1994: ROADS ACT, 1993 (DECLARATION OF REGIONAL ROADS) ORDER, 1994]
* [http://www.transport.ie/upload/general/7617-0.pdf Roads Act 1993 (Classification of Regional Roads) Order 2006] - [http://www.transport.ie/ Department of Transport]