N roads which follow zig zag routes - confusing?

veryangryman

Some examples

N59
N70

Im wondering why they are classified as the one route for their length. N59 especially. Nobody would ever have a journey having to traverse the entire length of N59.

Whats the history on these roads? Should they be reclassified some day? Just seems like a faulty system.

And yes i know that M50 and M25(UK) are pretty orbital also but they are urban ring roads so i dont think its the same thing. I just think that tourists etc may get confused by it.

antoobrien

veryangryman wrote: »

Some examples

N59
N70

Im wondering why they are classified as the one route for their length. N59 especially. Nobody would ever have a journey having to traverse the entire length of N59.

In both cases there's also the small matter of a mountain being in the way of a more direct route. Google maps will show you this if you enable the terrain option.


Maps with terrain:
N59
N70

There's also the fact that historic routes were used to lay out a lot of roads, the N59 is a case in point. This road is the Galway to Clifden road with an extension to Westport, hence the detour around "connemara national park". You wouldn't go that way to go to Westport from Galway. I've usually done to Castlebar (though have braved the local roads on occasion as well).

L1011

the n59 goes to collooney though