R147 (old N3) Speed Limit

etchyed

I know this has been discussed here before but I'm not sure if it's ever had its own thread. Regardless, the discussion fizzled out and it shouldn't have because this is an absolute scandal that nobody should forget about. I was reminded of it by a British member of SABRE who had apparently to spend only a few hours in Co. Meath to notice.

http://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=27192&start=20

As I posted there:

On most former N-roads, local councils have reinstated the 100km/h limit immediately following the reclassification to regional road.

The old N3 (now R147), large sections of which were upgraded to wide single carriageway less than ten years ago, has not had its 100km/h speed limit reinstated in such a manner. Coincidentally (or not), the M3 is one of two toll road schemes (the other being the Limerick Tunnel) in which the NRA has guaranteed the operator a minimum level of traffic, with any shortfall in toll revenue being paid by the state. Unsurprisingly, this has turned out not to have been the brightest idea.

This mess of a situation is also the reason why, even if we had the money, the long-promised Dublin-Navan railway line will never be rebuilt. In an age when most countries are encouraging their citizens to travel in an environmentally sustainable manner, the government of Ireland now has a direct stake in ensuring that as many people drive as many cars as possible on one of its capital's main commuter belts.

(The last bit about the railway is not really the main point here and it's been said ad nauseum by DWCommuter before but I've left it in as it's relevant to just how much of a mess the whole M3 story is.)

It is undeniable that the old N3 has some very straight, very safe stretches that are more than suitable for a 100km/h limit. Why are they 80? I don't think it's completely over the top conspiracy theorising to suggest it's got something to do with the state-guaranteed-revenue motorway running parallel.

ardmacha

Why are they 80?

Because nobody has introduced the regulations to change the speed limit.

It may have to do with a conspiracy theory about tolls. It might equally have to do with voters living along that road not wishing to have a lot of through traffic on it now that it is no longer a main route.

jack presley

On most former N-roads, local councils have reinstated the 100km/h limit immediately following the reclassification to regional road.

Is that true? It's been a while since I drove it so they could have changed it in the last year or so but the old N1 from Swords to Balbriggan is still 80kmph as it is on the stretch up to Drogheda. Both those sections of road are as good as the old N3 you are describing.

And the old N2 between Finglas and the border with Meath at Coolquay is even worse, it's 60kmph there before going back up to 80kmph as far as Ashbourne.

The Maverick

jack presley wrote: »

And the old N2 between Finglas and the border with Meath at Coolquay is even worse, it's 60kmph there before going back up to 80kmph as far as Ashbourne.

This really annoys me, it is the exact same quality of road for the majority of the 60 kmph section. 80 kmph is bearable but 60 kmph must purely be a revenue generating move on Fingal CoCo's part.

icdg

etchyed wrote:

On most former N-roads, local councils have reinstated the 100km/h limit immediately following the reclassification to regional road.

jack presley wrote: »

[/INDENT] Is that true?

Certainly not in the case of the R148 (was N4). And while I have not traversed the entire lenght of the longest R-road in the state, any sections of the R445 (was N7) I have been on have not had their 100 km/h limit reinstated either.

I know some sections of the R132 (was N1) have, however.

etchyed

OK, OK, I've been called out on some assumptions that I've made. And perhaps I was a little overdramatic in my first post.

But the fact remains that there are large stretches of WS2 on this route that should not have an 80km/h limit. If I remember correctly (and admittedly I've already been corrected on this point) there are stretches of ex-N road that were never demoted to 80. The N3 is a prime candidate for being bumped back up to 100.

And people who built their houses on national primary route have no entitlement to peace and quiet.

niloc1951

ardmacha wrote: »

Because nobody has introduced the regulations to change the speed limit.

The regs. obviously exist because most of the R639 (old N8) between Fermoy and Portlaoise is 100KmPH.
I might be wrong, but afaik it's down to the relevant Co. Co. to implement the change. There is legislation on the books which enables the 'automatic' 80KmPH for 'R' roads be changed by the relevant Council.

L1011

The "regulations" are identical to any other speed limit variance from type.

For instance, page "630" (4) of this PDF has the Iris Ofigiul entry for the 100km/h limits on former N roads throughout Kilkenny:

http://www.irisoifigiuil.ie/currentissues/Ir040510.pdf


Note - if you're ever caught "speeding" in an area with a limit below type, check IO to make sure its actually been published. I've got zero points due to this (actually they'd have expired by now anyway)

icdg

The relevant legislation is s9, Road Traffic Act 2004.

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2004/en/act/pub/0044/sec0009.html#sec9