41-529: The R460 road is a regional road in Ireland , located in County Clare and County Galway . 53°00′27″N 8°57′00″W / 53.007407°N 8.949928°W / 53.007407; -8.949928 This Irish road or road transport-related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Regional road (Ireland) A regional road ( Irish : bóthar réigiúnach ) in
82-590: A fluorescent yellow background), like those already used in continental Europe . Following the conclusion of the study, the sign was officially adopted in March 2024, though beacons are still permitted to be installed. Before adoption of the 1956 traffic signs regulations, warning signs accorded to a standard laid out in the 1926 Road Signs and Traffic Signals Regulations . These signs, unlikely to exist in situ anywhere in Ireland nowadays, were similar to signs used in
123-490: A further 23,000 new signs were erected bearing the speed limit in kilometres per hour. To avoid confusion with the old signs, all speed limit signs include the symbol "km/h" beneath the numerals. Distances, such as those shown on route confirmatory signs, had already been displayed in kilometres since the 1970s. Due to the two speed limits possible on non-urban roads after 2005 metrication, the "end of speed limit" signs in Ireland (a white circle with black diagonal line as used in
164-420: A green background, with the specific route number in yellow text. Regional and local county roads use black text on white background. Signs to points of interest (services, institutions, tourist sights) have white text on a brown background. The use of legend panels (coloured backgrounds for destinations and route numbers) and patches (coloured background containing a route number enclosed in brackets), derived from
205-737: A prohibition, which is instead indicated with an additional red diagonal line across the sign. The system of directional signs is based upon, and is very similar to, that employed in the United Kingdom , but is bilingual everywhere except in the Gaeltacht , where only the Irish language is used on signs. Only regulatory signs and certain road markings are prescribed in law under the Road Traffic (Signs) Regulations 2024 . All other signs are not legally prescribed, but are instead defined in
246-635: A total of "€7 million to continue progress on the regional roads signposting programme, which commenced in 2003" was granted to local authorities. There are some higher-capacity (i.e. not just single-carriageway) sections of regional road, most notably the R113 ( Belgard Road ) and R445 ( Old Naas Road ), R132 Swords Inner By-pass and R136 Dublin Outer Ring Road which have sections of dual carriageway. In some cases, important high-capacity urban routes are built or designated as regional roads, such as
287-544: A white background with a red border. A unique example was the "keep left" sign, which used a curved arrow pointing upwards. Since the introduction of the 1997 regulations, their design is identical to those used in the United Kingdom, with white symbols on a blue background. The former "No Entry" sign, a prohibition sign with an upward-pointing arrow, was replaced with the international standard red disk in TSM 2010. However
328-443: Is an example of a Regional road with a 100 km/h speed limit. As of 2009 , directional signposting on some regional roads in Ireland remains poor, with even modern signage usually relying on fingerpost signposts located directly at junctions. However, work on improving signposting on regional roads has been continuing since 2003; routes which previously had the most deficient signposting were selected for upgrading first. In 2007,
369-528: Is that the flag sign at the gore, which previously listed the primary destinations to be reached, now features the junction number and the word "Exit" instead. This revised scheme has been used on most motorway and high-quality dual carriageway schemes since 2007. The "Next Exit" signs listing destinations, which were originally used only on the M50, are now extended to other motorways. Until 1997, all mandatory signs were circular in shape and featured black symbols on
410-641: The Guildford Rules , is used to show roads of different classification on signs. A number of types of sign are available for use on all purpose roads. Chapter 2 of the TSM divides directional information signs into six categories: However, on rural roads, it is common for the appropriate signs to be missing. Often junctions are signed with only a fingerpost. Generally directional signs on major routes show major or end destinations. Smaller towns and placenames are shown only on signs nearer to that location. Only
451-516: The N2 Finglas – Ashbourne scheme and N7 Clondalkin – Naas scheme. These were the first roads in Ireland where overhead gantry signs have been used as a matter of course, instead of just very major junctions. Drivers are given clear advanced warning 1 km ahead of an upcoming junction. A half gantry at the junction then directed them to their destination. The new style signs are visually clearer than older type signs with drivers able to read
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#1732776579204492-578: The Republic of Ireland is a class of road not forming a major route (such as a national primary road or national secondary road ), but nevertheless forming a link in the national route network . There are over 11,600 kilometres (7,200 miles) of regional roads. Regional roads are numbered with three-digit route numbers, prefixed by "R" (e.g. R105). The equivalent road category in Northern Ireland are B roads . Until 1977, classified roads in
533-407: The Republic of Ireland were designated with one of two prefixes: "T" for Trunk Roads and "L" for Link Roads . The Local Government (Roads and Motorways) Act authorised the designation of roads as National roads: in 1977, twenty-five National Primary roads (N1-N25) and thirty-three National Secondary roads (N51-N83) were initially designated under Statutory Instrument S.I. No. 164/1977 . Many of
574-672: The Traffic Signs Manual ( TSM ) issued by the Department of Transport . Regulatory signs and road markings are also defined in the TSM , but the regulations for them take precedence — the TSM simply provides guidance regarding the design and installation of signs and is not by itself a law. The most recent edition of the TSM was published in 2019 (along with some chapters updated in 2021 and 2024). This succeeded two earlier editions — Traffic Signs Manual 2010 and Traffic Signs Manual 1996 . It bears much similarity to
615-488: The ' MUTCD ' style of a yellow diamond shape. The symbols used on these warning signs do, nevertheless, resemble much more closely those used (on red-bordered white or yellow triangles) in the rest of Europe than many of those seen in the United States. Regulatory signs differ very little from those used in the rest of Europe, the main exception being that red-bordered white signs indicate a restriction as opposed to
656-637: The 2010 TSM , which mandated the use of the terminal destination and next primary destination of the route instead. Today there remain very few examples, one notably on George's Quay . The original design (1983–1989) of Irish motorway signs were a simpler version of the UK design. These signs were only ever in use on the M7 Naas Bypass and M1 Airport Motorway. From 1989 to 2005, signs on motorways were nearly identical to that on UK motorways, although in Ireland, motorway junctions were not always numbered, or
697-514: The Irish place name is shown if the sign is in the Gaeltacht , or the official name in English is identical to the Irish name or nearly so (for example Dún Laoghaire or Port Laoise ). Due to the practice of signposting in both languages, usually a limited number of destinations will be signposted. If a destination can be reached by following a route which is a spur from the route travelled,
738-635: The M4 and M7. In 2005, upon the opening of the South Eastern Motorway section of the M50, the National Roads Authority erected new style gantry signs. The new signs retained typical colours and fonts but differed from older style of road signs in that they used separate overhead panels for each lane, headed with the route number in each case as well as new half-gantry signs closer to the exit. The new signs were also erected on
779-514: The UK) is no longer used – the end of an urban speed restriction is signalled by the sign displaying the limit for the following section. In October 2022, a nine-month long pilot scheme was undertaken by the NRA to introduce new signs that would replace Belisha beacons on newly installed pedestrian crossings . This scheme saw the introduction of a new blue square-shaped pedestrian crossing sign (featuring
820-612: The United Kingdom Traffic Signs Manual . The former ' fingerpost ' style of Irish directional signs can still be seen in many rural areas of Ireland. These signs differ from their modern-day equivalent as they have black raised text on a white background. Destinations are in all caps (the placename in Irish was on top and in a smaller font than the one in English). Sometimes, the former route number ("T" for trunk road, "L" for link road) can be seen, and
861-410: The United Kingdom at that time. The signs were cast-iron plates, with raised type painted black on yellow. A square pictogram illustrated the hazard, and the type of hazard was written in both Irish, with traditional typeface, and English. A hollow red triangle normally surmounted the pole to which the sign was attached. The Transport and Motorway typefaces are used on Irish road signs. Although it
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#1732776579204902-429: The advance directional sign of this era can still very occasionally be seen: this has a grey background, with the destinations in outlined, white-background boxes linked together with black lines, and the text is not raised on these, unlike on fingerposts. These signs, rare even when the system was in use, can be seen in some areas of Dún Laoghaire and Drogheda . These signs were prescribed under various regulations, with
943-480: The creation of a bypass ( motorway or other), the road previously forming part of the route is reclassified as a regional road rather than as a local road. The current routes of all regional roads in Ireland – as defined by Statutory Instrument (S.I.) No 54/2012 (Classification of Regional Roads) Order 2012 under the Roads Act 1993 – are listed below. The S.I. specifies the start and end points of each route and
984-410: The destination or route number will be shown in brackets on route confirmatory signs . Also, distances are shown in kilometres. Destinations on motorways and high-quality dual carriageways are signposted as follows: Chapter 4 of the TSM divides other information signs into the following categories: Regulatory signs are mostly circular and mostly black on a white background, with a red border. If
1025-514: The final design prescribed under the Road Traffic Signs (Regulations) 1962 . Despite the new sign style being introduced in 1977, the design change was never legislated for (apart from a reference to the change to italics in 1989) and the old designs were repealed only under the 1997 regulations, 20 years later. The first generation of the current sign system, introduced in 1977, can also be seen in on some national roads (and also on
1066-478: The former Bord Fáilte logo can be seen on some (they had responsibility for signs for a time), as well as occasionally a harp. Distances on these signs are in miles. This style of sign has become a common feature of many tourist images of Ireland and can be seen in some Irish pubs. However, they can be easily rotated, and have been done so on occasion and therefore are not completely reliable. While most examples of these signs still in situ are rural finger-posts,
1107-508: The former Trunk and Link road designations are still to be seen in some locations. The L (for Link Road) prefix on these signs is not connected to the network of Local roads currently in place. Unlike national roads, regional roads are maintained by local county or city councils rather than the National Roads Authority . The vast majority of the regional road network is made up of single-carriageway roads although some roads are dual-carriageway (see: High-capacity regional roads below). Until
1148-409: The gantry signs from a distance of approximately 300 m on a straight stretch of road. Despite their significant advantages, the new gantry signs caused confusion because the downward arrows over the left traffic lanes seemed to indicate to drivers that they should pull out into the right lane if they wish to continue on the motorway or dual carriageway, breaking the keep left rule. In July 2007, some of
1189-522: The gantry signs on the M50 between Junctions 13–17 erected in 2005 were replaced with signs in a revised style, reverting to a single panel over the mainline. By March 2008 all the 2005 style gantries had been removed from the M50 (and were later removed from the N2 and N7). The one aspect of the 2005 scheme that was retained is the half-gantry (or cantilever) sign just before the exit, which has now also been extended to other roads. A second change introduced in 2007
1230-496: The introduction of patching under the Guildford Rules in 1994 and the introduction of cantilever directional signs in 2005, as well as the expansion in gantry signs since then. "Compass-point directions" (such as "The North, "The South" and "The West") were formerly used, particularly in Dublin where the road network intersects. This system, inherited from the UK system, was permitted in the 1996 TSM but subsequently prohibited in
1271-916: The late 1990s, such roads were often in a very poor condition, 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 generally subject to a speed limit of 80 km/h (imperial equivalent 50 mph), rather than the 100 km/h (imperial equivalent 62.5 mph) for national roads. Prior to 20 January 2005, when Ireland adopted metric speed limits, national and regional roads had identical speed limits of 60 mph. Regional roads, however, pass through towns, villages and built-up areas frequently, so even lower local speed restrictions are often in place. However, certain regional roads, often sections of former national roads which have been bypassed by motorways or other road improvements, have speed limits of 100 km/h. The R132 (former N1)
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1312-516: 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 roads ) 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
1353-518: The names of those townlands, villages, towns, and other settlements through which the route passes, as well as individual road names where necessary to establish the exact routing. Sources Road signs in the Republic of Ireland Road signs in the Republic of Ireland do not differ greatly from those used elsewhere in Europe – with the notable exception that hazard or warning signs follow
1394-413: The normal letter i is now always used. Additionally, the capitals M , N and A are similar in appearance to lowercase m , n and a . The Irish text is placed above the corresponding English and is always in mixed case. All English text is in upper case Roman alphabet. Motorway signs use white text on a blue background. National routes (both primary and secondary) use white text on
1435-451: The number was not always signposted. The sign at the actual exit, which in the UK shows the road number to be reached, was replaced by a flag sign with the destination instead. On the M50 , in the case of junctions with national routes, the initial advance direction sign was replaced with a list of destinations for that national route. The 1989 design of signs can still be seen on older sections of
1476-514: The older version, now termed "No Straight Ahead", may be used when combined with a time or other restriction. Ireland's 'Yield' sign formerly read 'Yield Right of Way' from 1962 until 1997, and many of this older variant can still be seen around the State. Prior to 1962, it did not feature any inscription. On 20 January 2005, imperial speed limits on signs were replaced with metric speed limits. Around 35,000 existing signs were modified or replaced and
1517-520: The oldest stretch of the M1 ). This is similar to the current system, but the signs are simpler, a different shade of green is used, and the Irish place names are not in italics. These signs were directly based on the Worboys Committee designs which had been adopted in the UK in 1965. These signs were replaced by the current system on 1 January 1989. The design of signs has continued to evolve with
1558-587: The remaining classified roads became Regional roads (formally authorised under the Roads Act 1993 , having been indicated as such on road signs on a non-statutory basis for some years previously) and their routes were designated under a Statutory Instrument ('SI') in 1994. The latest SI designating the routes of Regional roads was published in 2012: the Roads Act 1993 (Classification of Regional Roads) Order 2012 . Other roads once classified as Trunk or Link roads eventually became Local roads . Older signs showing
1599-655: The sign contains a prohibition, a red line will diagonally bisect the sign. This type of road sign was introduced in 1956 with the Traffic Signs Regulations, 1956. Some signs were added later. These signs are laid out in Chapter 5 of the TSM . Speed limit signs have the speed with the letters "km/h" underneath. Warning signs use the MUTCD design, in that they are black on an amber (orangish-yellow) background, and are diamond-shaped. This type of road sign
1640-493: Was designed uniquely for dark text on light backgrounds, the Transport Heavy weight is used for all signs in Ireland. A distinctive oblique variant of Transport Heavy is used for Irish text, in which letters are inclined at 15 degrees. The letter a is represented by script a ( ɑ ), and the letter i was represented by dotless i ( ı ) in order to better differentiate them from their accented forms; however,
1681-710: Was introduced with the Traffic Signs Regulations, 1956. Some signs were added later, and many types of signs, even common ones, do not appear in any statutes. These signs are laid out in Chapter 6 of the TSM . Some types of sign (for example, pedestrian/zebra crossing signs) are somewhat randomly designed, and differ between county/city boroughs. Road works hazard signs are reddish orange. Lane closure signs are diamond shaped for Level 1 roads (Urban and Low Speed Roads) and Level 2 roads (Rural Single Carriageway Roads), and square shaped for Level 3 Roads (Dual Carriageways and Motorways). Supplementary plates are used in addition to warning, regulatory and roadworks signs. Their purpose