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The N5 road is a national primary road in Ireland, connecting Longford town with Westport. It connects Co.Mayo with Dublin and the midlands/east. The road diverges from the N4 from Dublin to Sligo at Longford town and from there serves as a direct route to Mayo. From Longford the N5 passes through Strokestown and Ballaghaderreen, before crossing the N17 at Charlestown near Knock International Airport. The N26 to Ballina leaves the N5 just outside Swinford. Out of all Ireland's National Primary Roads, the N5 is probably of the most sub-standard quality, with the majority of the Roscommon section being of very poor quality. County Mayo has improved its section of the N5 hugely in recent years with the opening of the 18km Charlestown bypass (2007) and the Swinford bypass (1993).
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Route through Longford and Roscommon
The N5 leaves the N4 on the northeast side of Longford. The route follows Major's Well Road, New Street, Ballymahon Street (and Dublin Street), Main Street and Richmond Street. 12 km (7 mi) west of the town, the road causes congestion in Longford town. The N5 crosses the River Shannon into County Roscommon at Tarmonbarry Bridge. The road passes by Scramoge along a realignment (opened in May 2004) on the way to Strokestown. West of Strokestown, at Tulsk, the N61 crosses the N5. The route continues northwest (see thumbnail) to Ballaghaderreen.
Route through Mayo
The N5 continues west bypassing Carracastle and Charlestown (bypass opened 2007). The N17 crosses the route near Charlestown. The N26 joins the N5 at Cloonlara just east of Swinford (bypassed to the south by the N5 Swinford Bypass). The N5 runs west/southwest through Bohola to Bellavary, where it meets the N58. The N5 continues west towards Castlebar, which is of good quality (constructed 1990) where it bypasses the town on the southeastern side. West/southwest of Castlebar, the road enters Westport along Castlebar Street, Bridge Street and Shop Street (the N5 also runs via James Street and North Mall). At The Octagon in Westport town centre, the N5 meets the N59. The N5 is County Mayo's busiest road with traffic counts of almost 18,000 on the Castlebar relief road. The section between Westport and Castlebar sees over 13,000 vehicles daily, the section with the lowest volumes is the Charlestown bypass and Co.Roscommon section with no more than 7,000 vehicles. It dips as low as 5,000 at Frenchpark.
Map of Route
Upgrades
An 18 km (11 mi) long single carriageway bypass of Charlestown, from east of Carracastle to west of Cloonlara, was opened in 2007.
Single carriageway (standard two lane) bypasses of Longford 2.6 km (1.6 mi)), Strokestown 4 km (2.5 mi) and Ballaghaderreen 14 km (9 mi) are in planning as of 2008[update]. A type 2 dual carriageway 17 km (11 mi) route from Westport to Castlebar is also in planning. Further type 2 dual carriageway schemes from Castlebar to the end of the projected N26 scheme are also planned. An upgraded single-carriageway (standard two lane) road between Scramogue Cross and Frenchpark, joining the end of the Ballaghadereen bypass is at the public consultation stage.
Confusion over termination point
Under the Local Government (Roads and Motorways) Act (Declaration of National Roads) Order 1977 - which defined the original national primary and secondary routes - the N5's terminus was set at Castlebar. The section of road between Castlebar and Westport was designated part of the N60, a national secondary route. Outdated road signage (which should have been replaced by the local authority or at least corrected) in Castlebar also indicates that the N5 commences on the Castlebar inner relief road at the Westport Road roundabout.
However the road between Westport and Castlebar was upgraded to national primary route status in 1994 (under the Roads Act, 1993 (Declaration of National Roads) Order, 1994) and became part of the N5 road. Road signage on this route reflects this. The route no longer runs through Castlebar town centre in any case, having been bypassed by a relief road. Road signage on the N4 in Dublin was mostly patched to reflect the new destination only in the early 2000s but some signs reading Castlebar still remain.
See also
References
- Roads Act 1993 (Classification of National Roads) Order 2006 – Department of Transport
- Current Status of Road projects under the Remit of the NRA (Current Status of Road projects under the Remit of the NRA as at January 2007)
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