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Dublin to Derry via Belfast.

  • 02-12-2014 10:54am
    #1
    Mackas_view
    Closed Accounts Posts: 298 ✭✭


    Hi I do a weekly commute from Dublin to Derry I was wondering what's the best way to go through Belfast as I'm really sick of the traffic on the A5 through Tyrone. I've heard there's a turn off at nutts corner any help would be appreciated


Comments

  • #2
    currins_02
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 133 ✭✭currins_02


    I've tried it all ways (travel M1/N2/A5 at least once weekly return - often more) from Dublin to Inishowen (just across Derry border). Using the M1/M50 junction as my notional Dublin arrival/departure I cannot seem to legally beat M1/N2/A5. In recent years over a couple of months I tried:
    *- N2 (old road all the way past Ashbourne, via Slane & Ardee) and on up A5
    *- M1 to Ardee, N2 and on to A5
    *- M1 to Newry and cross country to Ballygawley and up A5
    *- M1 to various exits around Lisburn & Dunmurray, vua Nutts Corner, out onto M2 and on to Derry
    *- M1 to Belfast, around Westlink and M2 on to Derry

    I tried all of the above in both directions. I tried all routes at least twice in each direction but some of them 3 or 4 times. Typically I travel Donegal to Dublin at early a.m. departing a between 5am and 6am and I typically return ex Dublin leaving between 4pm and 6pm. I can be on the road any day between Monday and Saturday. I could not legally (yes, if I did 90+mph on the motorways I could beat it, but consciously trying to stay legal in these times of speed cameras and points) beat the M1 to Ardee > N2 > A5 option. The full motorway option was approx 15mins slower and the others were all more. If I leave Dublin at 4pm, Omagh and Strabane can be slow, but they combined were nowhere near as bad as hitting Armagh on the time frame using the Newry>Ballygawley option.

    I can be anywhere in Dublin on a given day so the old road (N2/M2 from M50) was an option but the towns of Slane & Ardee kill it as can delays at the lights north of Ashbourne for Tayto park etc.

    I'd try them for yourself but for my commute the traditional route is hard to beat, i.e. M1 > N2 > A5. Maybe if your times etc are different but for the times I have identified consistantly at least a 10min-15min time advantage.


  • #3
    Mackas_view
    Closed Accounts Posts: 298 ✭✭Mackas_view


    Sounds like youve tried and tested them all. That was my plan but I'll take your word for it I usually leave dublin at 5ish on a Friday so it would be similar to your experience whatever way I go.

    From Strabane to ballygawley roundabout is an absolute night mare on Fridays and Sundays with Ardee to Monaghan not being much better on Fridays only


  • #4
    Chris_5339762
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,064 ✭✭✭Chris_5339762


    This is the only amendment I'd make... distance is longer but you get to stay on the M1 for a proportionally longer part of the journey.

    https://www.google.ie/maps/dir/Dublin/54.1374181,-6.7754582/@53.7273106,-6.7180409,10z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m10!1m1!1s0x48670e80ea27ac2f:0xa00c7a9973171a0!2m2!1d-6.2603097!2d53.3498053!3m4!1m2!1d-6.6703368!2d54.0705019!3s0x4860b0ab38871729:0x76159ecc85af7e7a!1m0!3e0?hl=en


  • #5
    currins_02
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 133 ✭✭currins_02


    Chris_5339762 wrote: »
    This is the only amendment I'd make... distance is longer but you get to stay on the M1 for a proportionally longer part of the journey.

    https://www.google.ie/maps/dir/Dublin/54.1374181,-6.7754582/@53.7273106,-6.7180409,10z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m10!1m1!1s0x48670e80ea27ac2f:0xa00c7a9973171a0!2m2!1d-6.2603097!2d53.3498053!3m4!1m2!1d-6.6703368!2d54.0705019!3s0x4860b0ab38871729:0x76159ecc85af7e7a!1m0!3e0?hl=en

    Won't open right on my phone but looks like you mean m1 to Dundalk, then cross country via Crossmaglen to Castleblayney? If so, tried that too. Any time gained on motorway is lost on road across plus can be queues at t junction in Castleblayney at busy times.


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