N2 road
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* To be bypassed, Quarter 3, 2007 2+1 road. † To be bypassed Quarter 2, 2006. |
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The N2 road is a National Primary Route in the Republic of Ireland, running from Dublin to the border at Moy Bridge near Aughnacloy, County Tyrone to connect Dublin with Derry via the A5 in Northern Ireland.
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[edit] Route
The N2 commences at a junction with the N1 along Dorset Street Upper. From here the route goes to Drumcondra, via St. Mary's Place, Western Way and the Phibsborough Road (and also in the opposite direction; North Circular Road, Berkeley Road, Berkeley Street and Blessington Street). The route leaves the city past Glasnevin via Prospect Road, and Finglas via the Finglas Road. The N2 meets the M50 motorway at Junction 5.
The N2 runs as a dual-carriageway for 17km from the M50 to north of Ashbourne, County Meath. This project was opened on 25 May 2006, and includes 3.5km (2 miles) of three lane dual carriageway built to motorway standard. The route is the first to have a 120km/h (75mph) special speed limit (this was previously reserved for motorways, see Road speed limits in the Republic of Ireland for particulars).
The route continues through Balrath towards Slane, where a dangerous bridge brings the road through the town by the historic Hill of Slane, now home to the occasional rock festival. The N2 continues through Collon in County Louth. Just after Ardee the N2 meets the N33 road, which connects the N2 to the nearby M1 motorway. North of this, in County Monaghan, the N2 bypasses Carrickmacross to the east, along a bypass opened on 21 January 2005. This 9km (6 miles) wide single carriageway has been named The Kavanagh Way, after Monaghan writer and poet Patrick Kavanagh. The route passes through Castleblayney and Clontibret on the way to Monaghan. North of the town, the N12 diverges east to the border. The N2 continues north through Emyvale to reach the border at Moy Bridge directly south of Aughnacloy, County Tyrone. From here, the road becomes the A5 road to Omagh and Derry.
[edit] Upgrades
Projects under construction on the N2 include a 16km (10 miles) 2+1 carriageway bypass of Castleblayney and 3km (2 miles) single carriageway bypass of Monaghan town to the east. The Monaghan Bypass was opened on the 25 September 2006 By Pat the Cope Gallgher (Republic of Ireland Junior Minister For Transport).
Planned projects along the N2 include a 9km (6 miles) bypass of Ardee and a 4km (2½ miles approximately) bypass of Slane. All these projects will be standard two lane single carriageway roads. It is hoped to commence the Slane Bypass within the next 4 years.
There have been calls (by both Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland political parties) to upgrade the whole Dublin–Derry route to dual carriageway, including the A5 in Northern Ireland. In October 2006, the Republic of Ireland government announced it was funding €1bn in Northern Ireland, and one possible recipient of the money is the upgrading of the A5 Derry - Omagh - Aughnacloy road to motorway standard around 87km (54 miles). However, there was no mention of the N2 road being upgraded to motorway standard in the Republic. [1]. The Irish Dept of Finance website confirmed on March 22nd 2007 that 400 million euro had been set aside for Northern investment to include a dual carriageway to Derry and Donegal. It is unclear if any of this would be built in the Republic.
[edit] Exit list
| N2 National Primary Route | ||
| Northbound | Junction |
Southbound |
| Start of high-quality dual carrigeway | 1 | Dublin Airport, Dublin Port and ALL OTHER ROUTES M50. (Road continues as regular dual carrigeway for Finglas and Dublin) |
| Killshane (Exit only) | - | No access |
| St Margeret's, Blanchardstown | 2 | St Margeret's, Blanchardstown |
| Ashbourne, Ratoath, Swords R135 | 3 | Ashbourne, Ratoath, Swords R135 |
| Ashbourne. | 4 | Ashbourne |
| N2 continues as regular highway for Derry | - | Start of high-quality dual carrigeway |
[edit] External links
- Official site of the N2 Ashbourne Bypass/M50 Junction project
- Roads Act 1993 (Classification of National Roads) Order 2006 (PDF)- Department of Transport
- National Roads Authority (details of projects completed, under construction, and planned on the N2, and other routes)
| National primary roads of the Republic of Ireland |
|---|
| N1(M1) - N2 - N3(M3) - N4(M4) - N5 - N6(M6) - N7(M7) - N8(M8) - N9(M9) - N10 - N11(M11) - N12 - N13 - N14 - N15 - N16 - N17 - N18 - N19 - N20 - N21 - N22 - N23 - N24 - N25 - N26 - N27 - N28 - N29 - N30 - N31 - N32 - N33 - M50 |
| Roads in Ireland - National secondary roads - Regional roads |
| See also: National Development Plan, National Roads Authority |
