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:''Regional roads are also used in some parts of Ontario. See County Road for more information.''
A 'regional road' (Irish: ''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).

Contents

History

Features

Notable Regional Roads

General

Urban Regional Roads

By-Passed National Routes

Scenic Regional Roads

Other Regional Roads

High capacity regional roads

See also

References

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 (`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 (~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.

Notable Regional Roads

General

★ 'R108' - Drogheda, County Louth - N2 in Phibsborough, Dublin

★ '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.

★ '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.

★ 'R132' - Former N1 (Dublin - Dundalk)

★ '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)

★ 'R154' - Ballinagh,County Cavan - (N55) - (N52) - (N51) -(N3) near Clonee, County Meath

★ 'R156' - N4 at ''The Downs'' near Mullingar, County Westmeath to the N3 at Mulhuddart, County Dublin

★ 'R164' - Kingscourt, County Cavan to the N51 near Athboy, County Meath

★ 'R173' - (N1/N52 near Dundalk)–(R175)–Carlingford (R176)–Omeath–(becomes B79 road into Newry)

★ 'R194' - Longford to Moynalty

★ 'R323' - Kiltamagh to Ballyhaunis

★ 'R327' - N60 near Claremorris to R360 in County Galway

★ 'R336' - Galway to Casla

★ '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.

★ 'R390' - Athlone, County Westmeath to Mullingar, County Westmeath.

★ 'R394' - N55, County Cavan to Mullingar, County Westmeath.

★ 'R392' - Lanesborough, County Longford to Mullingar, County Westmeath.

★ '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.

★ 'R418' - Athy, County Kildare, to Tullow, County Carlow.

★ 'R419' - Portlaoise, County Laois, to Rathangan, County Kildare.

★ 'R425' - Abbeyleix to Ballyroan to M7, Junction 16. All in County Laois.

★ 'R426' - Portlaoise, County Laois to Castlecomer, County Kilkenny

★ 'R432' - Abbeyleix, County Laois to the N77 in Ballyragget, County Kilkenny

★ 'R433' - Templemore, County Tipperary to Abbeyleix 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

★ 'R502' - Templemore, County Tipperary to the N8 at Johnstown, Kilkenny.

★ 'R509' - 'Childers Road', Limerick inner arterial route running around the southeast of the city.

★ 'R639' - Former N8 (Port Laoise - Cork)

★ 'R660' - Cashel - Holycross - Thurles

★ '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.

★ 'R691' - Cashel–Killenaule (R698)–Ballingarry–(R695)–Ballymack (N76 northeast of Callan).

★ 'R693' - Urlingford - Freshford - Kilkenny, all in County Kilkenny.

★ 'R694' - Freshford - Ballyragget - Castlecomer, all in County Kilkenny.

★ 'R705' - Leighlinbridge County Carlow -Graiguenamanagh, County Kilkenny - R700

★ 'R709' - 'Inner Ring Road', Waterford.

★ 'R710' - 'Outer Ring Road', Waterford.

★ '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.

★ 'R741' - Gorey - R772 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.

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)

★ ' 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)

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

★ 'R440' - Birr, County Offaly across the Slieve Bloom Mountains to Mountrath County Laois.

★ '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

Other Regional Roads

★ 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)

★ 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)

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).

See also

★ Irish National Primary Roads

★ Irish Secondary Roads

References

★ S.I. No. 400/1994: ROADS ACT, 1993 (DECLARATION OF REGIONAL ROADS) ORDER, 1994

★ Roads Act 1993 (Classification of Regional Roads) Order 2006 - Department of Transport