| R445 road | |
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| Road network | |
The R445 road is a regional road in Ireland. The route is a non-motorway alternative route to the N7/M7 motorway between Dublin and Limerick. Indeed, much of the route comprises roads that were formerly part of the N7 between the cities, prior to motorway and other bypasses. Some of the R445 route also comprises local link roads to new N7/M7 route sections.
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Ancillary roads constructed as part of the N7 Naas Road widening and junction separation scheme are classified as the R445. These offer local access to Johnstown and Kill. They connect to the existing R445 at Maudlin's Interchange (Junction 9 on the N7, start of the M7 motorway).
Here the R445 route follows the Dublin Road into Naas (this route was the N7 prior to the construction of the M7 in 1983). The route continues through Naas along Poplar Street and Main Street, before leaving the town along the Limerick Road. South of Naas, the R445 becomes a dual carriageway for 8 km (5.0 mi) and crosses the M7 motorway at Junction 10, continuing west to Newbridge along the town's Dublin Road, crossing the River Liffey via Liffey Bridge onto Main Street. The route continues along Edward Street, leaving the town as the Kildare Road. The R445 links to the M7 motorway at Junction 12, and crosses the Curragh beside the motorway before veering into Kildare Town. The route sections through Newbridge and Kildare formed the N7 until the extension of the M7 motorway between J10 and J13.
The R445 continues on the Dublin Road east of Kildare. This runs through the town via Dublin Street, Claregate Street and the Limerick/Cork Road. The R445 meets Junction 14 of the M7 motorway at Mayfield. From here, the route continues west through Monasterevin via Mooreabbey and Dublin Street. The R445 passes through Ballybrittas on the way to Portlaoise, meeting the M7 motorway again at Junction 16. The Dublin Road brings the R445 into Portlaoise where it joins the N80. The R445 begins again where it leaves the N80 at the junction of Grattan Street and Abbeyleix Road, following the former street out of the town, to meet the M7/N7 at Junction 18. The R445 route from east of Kildare to west of Portlaoise consists of redesignated roads which formed part of the N7 route prior to the opening of the M7 Kildare Bypass (2003), Monasterevin Bypass (2004) and Portlaoise Bypass (1997).
In 2010 all of the old N7 route between Portlaoise and Limerick was replaced with motorway and was reclassified as R445. The first section through Mountrath, Castletown and Borris-in-Ossory was reclassified in May 2010 followed the opening of the M7/M8 tolled motorway.
Following the bypass of Nenagh in 2000, and resulting realignment of the N7, the old route through the town was reclassified as part of the R445. The R445 passes through Nenagh via the Dublin Road, Thomas McDonagh Street, Pierce Street, Kickham Street, Ash Road and Clare Street. The route meets the N52 west of Nenagh. From the Carrigatogher Roundabout the R445 leaves the N52 road and continues along the old N7 route to Birdhill which was redesignated in April 2010. The route between Birdhill and Annacotty was redesignated as R445 in September 2010 following the opening of the Birdhill to Limerick section of the M7.
On 22 December 2010, following the opening of the M7 Castletown to Nenagh motorway project the old N7 route was reclassified as R445 from Borris-in-Ossory to Nenagh and the route continues through the towns of Roscrea, Moneygall and Toomevara.
Finally, the route through Limerick city, which formed the N7 prior to the opening of the Southern Ring Road in 2004, is also now the R445.
The route passes by Annacotty, and enters Limerick along the Dublin Road through Castletroy. The road crosses the Groody Bridge at the beginning of a new road section also opened in 2004 (also designated the N7 at the time). This brings the Dublin Road and R445 to the Parkway Roundabout, where it meets the Childers Road. The R445 continues as the Dublin Road, Clare Street and Lock Quay before crossing the Abbey Bridge across the Abbey River. The R445 passes through King's Island as the Northern Relief Road and Castle Street (passing by King John's Castle). The route crosses the River Shannon via Thomond Bridge and follows High Street, Sexton Street and the Northern Ring Road (past LIT). At Caherdavin Cross (Ivan's Cross) the route follows the Ennis Road west out of the city to meet the N18 at the Coonagh Roundabout.
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