Speed limit on Dundalk by-pass

helen_br · 13-05-2002 2:41pm #1

Does anyone know what the speed-limit on the N1 Dundalk by-pass is? I've this memory that it might be 30 mph but that seems very slow? Why would it be so slow?

Cheeers.

seamus · 13-05-2002 3:04pm

Dunno, I've never driven on it, but by the national car laws, speed on a national road is 60mph unless stated otherwise.

The Clown Man · 13-05-2002 3:05pm

When you come off the motorway and past the roundabout it is 50mph for about 1km up to the lights at the Xerox Plant. After the lights there is a 30mph limit because although the road is called the Dundalk bypass, it is acually an urban road in an urban-industrial area. The 30mph limit applies until the large bridge over the Fane (around 3km) and its 60mph from there on in.

The motorway is planned to continue north from where it ends at the moment and will actually go the other way around Dundalk because although the current "bypass" takes the shortest route to the Newry Road, the area is far too built up for any motorway. However, until then there really is no Dundalk bypass. Just a busy road that will take you through the outskirts of Dundalk faster than any other main road will.

Victor · 13-05-2002 3:27pm

Originally posted by helen_br
Does anyone know what the speed-limit on the N1 Dundalk by-pass is? I've this memory that it might be 30 mph but that seems very slow? Why would it be so slow?

Because it is a through-pass, not a by-pass (like Youghal, Omagh or Tuam(?)). Think of it - there are traffic lights on it and industrial estates and residential streets off it.

helen_br · 13-05-2002 3:34pm

Originally posted by The Clown Man
After the lights there is a 30mph limit because although the road is called the Dundalk bypass, it is acually an urban road in an urban-industrial area. The 30mph limit applies until the large bridge over the Fane (around 3km) and its 60mph from there on in.

It's not that urban though, is it? It's not like there are houses right by the road or anything like that. I think in Northern Ireland such a road would get a "compromise" speed-limit of 40mph, though maybe that's a dangerous approach to take...

The Clown Man · 13-05-2002 4:05pm

It's not that urban though, is it? It's not like there are houses right by the road or anything like that. I think in Northern Ireland such a road would get a "compromise" speed-limit of 40mph, though maybe that's a dangerous approach to take...

Well, there is Muirhevnamóir on your left past the Xerox lights. No houses along the road but three of the main entrances to an esate of around 1000 houses. There is also several turnoffs into industrial esates to the right and the fact that there are no carriages for these turns probably persuaded the council to leave it at 30. However, people using this road up until the next set of lights at the Avenue Road tend to ignore the limit. It's rare you finds someone doing less than 45mph and even more rare that you would find and speed traps.

After the Avenue Road lights there are 2 more sets of lights which would slow traffic enough to make it suitable for 30mph only. There are also a number of commercial and industrial parks along with the main route to the centre of Dundalk from the south making it busy with people not nescissarily bypassing Dundalk. Most of the cars you see on that road would be travelling to Dundalk from the southern suburban areas. Again, people tend to ignore the limit and I know I would rarely see people doing 30 there.

However, the fact is that it is an urban area and even though it is the main route through Dundalk it is not a bypass as most would think of it. It's a main road near the town itself.

By the way, you are not the first to voice irritation at the limits. It has been a fairly prominent point of discussion with the residents for a while now. Most tend to ignore the limits. Not legal, but it works. You get used to it. It's not half as bad as trying to get through Drogheda. You know that the dual carriaged road in the centre is also a 30mph road? And the fact that there is a convergance of lanes in the dead centre is a pain in the ass too.

Anyway.

Ramble Ends.

BabyEater · 13-05-2002 6:29pm

I dont think it should be a 30 zone till you hit the college turn off .
Not that anyone does 30 on that road unless its choca-bloc

NeRb666 · 14-05-2002 9:06am

it should be 200 mph cos it's a dodgy place to be:D

Turner · 14-05-2002 2:37pm

Originally posted by NeRb666
it should be 200 mph cos it's a dodgy place to be:D

True !!

But theres a load of depressions in the road which when going over at speed sound like you are on a train. chuck chick chuck chick (or however a train sounds).

helen_br · 14-05-2002 2:43pm

So when is this new motorway going to be built then? Most of the Dublin - Belfast road is now either motorway or dual-carriageway but this Dundalk section seems quite an anomaly.

BabyEater · 14-05-2002 6:19pm

They were going to build a proper bi-pass of Dundalk but that has been put on hold when the government figured out that they where broke.So it doesn't seem like it will be anytime soon.
On the same subject when is the Drogheda one going to be finished , it looks well underway

Victor · 14-05-2002 6:51pm

http://www.louthcoco.ie/downloads/latest_progress_report.doc

LOUTH COUNTY COUNCIL
ROAD WORKS SCHEME PROGRESS REPORT
Position as at 5th April, 2002
NATIONAL ROADS

(b) Northern Motorway (Balbriggan to Monasterboice)

Overall Length: 21.5km
Projected Cost: £150m
Completion Date: 2003

Current Position Work on all three Contracts is progressing satisfactorily. It is expected that work on the Northern Earthworks Section (Louth) will be completed in early 2002 with the Boyne Bridge completion in late 2002 and the Southern Earthworks Section (Meath) completed in mid 2003. The motorway will thus open to traffic in the middle of 2003. The Tolling Enquiry will be held on 11th March, 2002.

(c) Dundalk Western By-Pass

Length: 11.0km
Projected Cost: £55.0m
Completion Date: Early 2005

Current Position It is intended that this scheme will be constructed as a Public Private Partnership Scheme by the National Roads Authority. The Public Inquiry for the Armagh Road to Thistle Cross Scheme has been completed and a decision is awaited. The purchase of the land for the Road south of the Armagh Road has been substantially completed. Appointment of the Public Private Partnership Contractor is scheduled for late 2002 with completion of Construction by early 2005.

Speed limit on Dundalk by-pass

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