View source for M50 motorway (Ireland)

{{Short description|Orbital motorway around Dublin}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{More citations needed|date=October 2009}}
{{infobox road
|country=IRL
|type= M
|route=50
|map={{IRL motorway map for Dublin|M50}}
|map_custom=yes
|map_notes={{clickable}}
|length_km = 45.5
|terminus_a = [[Dublin Port]]
|destinations = [[Dublin]], [[Finglas]], [[Blanchardstown]], [[Ballymount]], [[Tallaght]], [[Sandyford]]
|terminus_b = [[Shankill, Dublin|Shankill]]
|established = 1990
|history =Completed 1990–2005<br>Upgraded 2006–2010
|junction =[[File:Motorway Exit 3 Ireland.svg|link=|alt=|x24px]] [[File:M1-IE confirmatory.svg|link=|alt=|x24px]]<br />J3 → [[M1 motorway (Republic of Ireland)|M1 motorway]]<br />[[File:Motorway Exit 5 Ireland.svg|link=|alt=|x24px]] [[File:IRL N2.svg|link=|alt=|x24px]]<br />J5 → [[N2 road (Ireland)|N2 road]]<br />[[File:Motorway Exit 6 Ireland.svg|link=|alt=|x24px]] [[File:IRL N3.svg|link=|alt=|x24px]]<br />J6 → [[N3 road (Ireland)|N3 road]]<br />[[File:Motorway Exit 7 Ireland.svg|link=|alt=|x24px]] [[File:IRL N4.svg|link=|alt=|x24px]]<br />J7 → [[N4 road (Ireland)|N4 road]]<br />[[File:Motorway Exit 9 Ireland.svg|link=|alt=|x24px]] [[File:IRL N7.svg|link=|alt=|x24px]]<br />J9 → [[N7 road (Ireland)|N7 road]]<br />[[File:Motorway Exit 11 Ireland.svg|link=|alt=|x24px]] [[File:IRL N81.svg|link=|alt=|x24px]]<br />J11 → [[N81 road (Ireland)|N81 road]]<br />[[File:Motorway Exit 14 Ireland.svg|link=|alt=|x24px]] [[File:IRL N31.svg|link=|alt=|x24px]]<br />J14 → [[N31 road (Ireland)|N31 road]]<br />[[File:Motorway Exit 17 Ireland.svg|link=|alt=|x24px]] [[File:M11-IE confirmatory.svg|link=|alt=|x24px]]<br />J17 → [[M11 motorway (Ireland)|M11 motorway]]
}}

The '''M50 motorway''' ({{langx|ga|Mótarbhealach M50}}) is a C-shaped orbital [[Controlled-access highway|motorway]] in [[Dublin]] and the busiest motorway in [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]. The current route was built in various sections over the course of 27 years, from 1983 to 2010. It begins at [[Dublin Port]], running northward through the [[Dublin Port Tunnel]] and along a portion of the Airport Motorway. It then turns west at its junction with the [[M1 Motorway (Republic of Ireland)|M1]], circling the northern, western and southern suburbs of Dublin, before merging with the [[N11 road (Ireland)|M11]] at [[Shankill, Dublin|Shankill]] in South East Dublin. The road forms part of [[European route E01]].

An orbital motorway for Dublin was first proposed in the Dublin Transportation Study of 1971. Construction began on the first section, the Western Parkway (J6-J11) in 1987, and opened to traffic in 1990. This was followed by the Northern Cross Route (J3-J6) in 1996, the Southern Cross Route (J11-J13) in 2001, and the Southeastern Motorway (J13-J17) in 2005. The M50 route was extended to Dublin Port in 2006, via a section of the 1985 Airport Motorway (up to then a part of the [[M1 Motorway (Republic of Ireland)|M1]]) and the newly opened Dublin Port Tunnel.

A massive upgrade project commenced in early 2006 due to the motorway's chronic capacity problems. Lanes were added J3-J13, and many of the low-capacity [[roundabout interchange]]s were replaced with free-flowing interchanges. These upgrades were completed in 2010.

Motorists have paid nearly €2.2 billion in M50 tolls between the 2008 State buyout and early 2025 <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.newstalk.com/news/motorists-have-paid-nearly-e2-2-billion-in-m50-tolls-since-2008-state-buyout-2138073 | title=Motorists have paid nearly €2.2 billion in M50 tolls since 2008 State buyout }}</ref>

==Layout==
[[File:NewM50Dublin.JPG|thumb|left|4-lane section of M50]]

The M50 was originally planned to divert traffic travelling on National Primary Routes away from the city (a full bypass of Dublin). Due to urban expansion and sprawl, it now runs through Dublin's suburbs and serves as a route within Dublin, connecting the suburbs.

All of the National Primary Routes radiating from Dublin begin at their junctions with the M50. The junctions were originally in the form of grade-separated signal-controlled [[roundabout]] junctions, not free-flowing [[interchange (road)|interchange]]s. The M50 mainline itself was free-flow through all junctions. The other primary routes served are the [[M1 motorway (Ireland)|N1/M1]] to [[Belfast]]/[[Dundalk]]/[[Newry]], [[N2 road (Ireland)|N2]] to [[Derry]]/ [[Letterkenny]]/[[Monaghan]]/[[Ardee]], [[N3 road (Ireland)|N3]] to [[Cavan]]/[[Donegal (town)|Donegal]]/[[Navan]], [[N4 road (Ireland)|N4/M4]] ([[N5 road (Ireland)|N5]]) ([[M6 motorway (Ireland)|M6]]) to [[Galway]]/[[Sligo Town|Sligo]]/[[Westport, County Mayo|Westport]]/[[Lucan]], [[N7 road (Ireland)|N7]]/[[M7 motorway (Ireland)|M7]] ([[M8 motorway (Ireland)|M8]]) ([[M9 motorway (Ireland)|M9]]) to [[Cork (city)|Cork]]/[[Limerick]]/[[Waterford]]/[[Kilkenny]]/[[Naas]], [[N81 road (Ireland)|N81]] to [[Tullow]]/[[Baltinglass]]/[[Blessington]]/and the [[N11 road (Ireland)|N11/M11]] to [[Wexford]]/[[Arklow]]/[[Wicklow]]/[[Bray, County Wicklow|Bray]]. Additional junctions along the motorway serve other suburbs of Dublin such as [[Ballymun]], [[Blanchardstown]], [[Cherrywood]], [[Dundrum, Dublin|Dundrum]], [[Sandyford]] and [[Tallaght]].

Most of these interchanges were subject to high levels of traffic congestion, as was the former toll plaza north of the [[West-Link|West-Link bridge]]. The busier roundabout junctions were [[traffic signal|signal-controlled]], with tailbacks extending for several kilometres at [[rush hour]]. The most infamous was the [[Red Cow Roundabout]] junction with the N7, jokingly dubbed the "Mad Cow Roundabout".<ref>{{cite web|author=Bielenberg, Kim|url=http://www.independent.ie/incoming/my-mad-cow-break-wish-you-were-here-1269382.html|publisher=Independent News & Media PLC|title=My Mad Cow Break (Wish You Were Here)|date=19 January 2008|access-date=9 April 2009|archive-date=18 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018191809/http://www.independent.ie/incoming/my-mad-cow-break-wish-you-were-here-1269382.html|url-status=live}}</ref> As well as being the junction of two of the busiest roads in the State, the [[Luas]] tram [[Red Line (Luas)|Red Line]] from Tallaght to the city centre used to cross two [[slip road]]s at-grade, before continuing city-bound in the median of the R110 (formerly N7). As part of the M50 upgrade works (see below), these at-grade crossings were removed, and in December 2008, the completely reconstructed interchange was open. This greatly reduced the congestion at the once-notorious traffic black spot.

The roundabout at the N3 is also notable as the [[Royal Canal of Ireland|Royal Canal]] and the [[Dublin-Sligo railway line]] pass through its centre.

The original speed limit on the M50 was 70&nbsp;mph (112&nbsp;km/h). The Southern Cross Route from J12-J13 was given a lower limit of 60&nbsp;mph (96&nbsp;km/h), due to its more undulating, twisting route. The route from J3-J13 was changed to 100&nbsp;km/h after the Republic of Ireland's speed limits became metric in 2005, while the Southeastern Motorway section (J13-J17) became 120&nbsp;km/h. The Airport Motorway-Port Tunnel section of the route from J1-J3 has a speed limit of 80&nbsp;km/h due to the closely packed junctions and heavy volume of weaving traffic. Average speed camera technology is in operation in the [[Dublin Port Tunnel|Port Tunnel]] section of the M50.

==Junctions==
{{Kmposts}}
[[File:M50 access ramp sign.jpg|thumb|M50 access ramp]]
[[File:M50 Santry.jpg|thumb|Between J1 and J2]]
[[File:M50-At-Night.jpeg|thumbnail|M50 Dundrum exit at evening rush hour.]]
[[File:M50 looking south from J6 flyover.jpg|thumb|right|Looking south near J6 at Castleknock: COVID-19 lower traffic volumes]]
[[File:M50 looking north at Castleknock flyover.jpg|thumb|Looking north near J6 at Castleknock: COVID-19 lower traffic volume]]
[[File:M50 and East-Link Bridge.jpg|thumbnail|M50 and the West-Link Bridge viewed from [[Palmerstown]].]]
{| class="plainrowheaders wikitable"
|-
!scope-col|km
!scope-col|mi
!scope=col|Junction
!scope=col|Destinations
!scope=col|Notes
|-
|
|
|1
|[[Dublin Port]]
|End of motorway, continues as [[R131 road (Ireland)|R131]].
|-
|
|
|bgcolor="dcdcfe" colspan="3" align="center"|[[File:IE road sign symbol F-060.svg|link=|alt=|35px]] [[Dublin Port Tunnel]] Toll
|-
|
|
|bgcolor="ffdddd" rowspan="2" |2
|bgcolor="ffdddd"|{{jct|country=IRL|R|104}}&nbsp;– [[Coolock]], [[Santry]], [[Beaumont Hospital, Dublin|Beaumont Hospital]]
|bgcolor="ffdddd" rowspan="2"|Exit number is not signposted. Northbound entrance and southbound exits only.
|-
|
|
| bgcolor="ffdddd"|{{jct|country=IRL|R|132}}&nbsp;– [[Dublin|City centre]]
|-
|
|
|3
|{{jct|country=IRL|M|1}}&nbsp;– [[Belfast]], [[Dublin Airport]]<br />{{jct|country=IRL|R|139}}&nbsp;– [[Malahide]]
|
|-
|
|
|4
|{{jct|country=IRL|R|108}}&nbsp;– [[Ballymun]], [[Naul, County Dublin|Naul]]
|City centre
|-
|
|
|5
|{{jct|country=IRL|N|2}}&nbsp;– [[Derry]], [[Ashbourne, County Meath|Ashbourne]]<br />{{jct|country=IRL|R|135}}&nbsp;– [[Finglas]]
|City centre
|-
|
|
|6
|{{jct|country=IRL|N|3}}&nbsp;– [[Cavan]], [[Blanchardstown]]<br />{{jct|country=IRL|R|147}}&nbsp;– [[Castleknock]]
|City centre, [[Connolly Hospital]]
|-
|
|
|bgcolor="dcdcfe" colspan="3" align="center"|[[File:IE road sign symbol F-060.svg|link=|alt=|35px]] [[West-Link]] Toll
|-
|
|
|7
|{{jct|country=IRL|N|4}}&nbsp;– [[Galway]], [[Westport, County Mayo|Westport]], [[Sligo]]<br />{{jct|country=IRL|R|148}}&nbsp;– [[Palmerstown]]
|City centre
|-
|
|
|9
|{{jct|country=IRL|N|7}}&nbsp;– [[Limerick]], [[Cork (city)|Cork]], [[Waterford]]<br />{{jct|country=IRL|R|110}}&nbsp;– [[Inchicore]]
|City centre
|-
|
|
|10
|{{jct|country=IRL|R|838}}&nbsp;– [[Ballymount]], Cookstown, Belgard Road
|Ballymount Industrial Estate
|-
|
|
|11
|{{jct|country=IRL|N|81}}&nbsp;– [[Tallaght]]<br />{{jct|country=IRL|R|137}}&nbsp;– [[Templeogue]]
|[[Blessington]]
|-
|
|
|12
|{{jct|country=IRL|R|113}}&nbsp;– [[Firhouse]], [[Knocklyon]]
|Scholarstown, [[Ballyboden]]
|-
|
|
|13
|{{jct|country=IRL|R|826}}&nbsp;– [[Sandyford]], [[Dundrum, Dublin|Dundrum]]
|[[Ballinteer]], [[Rathfarnham]]
|-
|
|
|bgcolor="ffdddd"|14
|bgcolor="ffdddd"|{{jct|country=IRL|N|31}}&nbsp;– [[Dún Laoghaire]], [[Stillorgan]]
|bgcolor="ffdddd"|Southbound exit only.
|-
|
|
|15
|[[Carrickmines]], [[Kilternan]]
|[[Cornelscourt]], [[Leopardstown]], [[Ballyogan]], [[Carrickmines Luas stop|Carrickmines Park and Ride]]
|-
|
|
|16
|{{jct|country=IRL|R|118}}&nbsp;– [[Cherrywood]], [[Loughlinstown]]
|[[Shankill, Dublin|Shankill]], [[Killiney]]
|-
|
|
|bgcolor="ffdddd"|17
|bgcolor="ffdddd"|{{jct|country=IRL|N|11}}&nbsp;– City centre, Dún Laoghaire
|bgcolor="ffdddd"|Northbound exit and southbound entrance only.<br />Continues as [[N11 road (Ireland)#Link with M50|M11]].
{{jctbtm|exit|keys=incomplete,toll}}

The ''South Eastern Motorway'' section, a radial route, was originally meant to be part of the [[N11 road (Ireland)|M11]]. It curves away from the city centre and instead joins the N11 at junction 17 heading south. The next opportunity to exit the motorway is at the [[Bray, County Wicklow|Bray North]]  exit 5 of the M11.

There is no Junction 8, the junction number having been reserved for a potential extension of the M7 motorway from Lucan/Clondalkin to Naas. This is unlikely to be built given that the N7 Naas Road has been upgraded to dual three-lane with at-grade junctions converted to grade-separated interchanges or [[right-in/right-out|left-in, left-out (LILOs)]] junctions. However, it is an objective of South Dublin County Council to construct a new junction and use it to provide local access to the Cloverhill area of [[Palmerstown]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2009}} This is also very unlikely to happen as the NRA have stated they are against the provision of new interchanges on the existing M50 as they are seen to contribute to traffic congestion on the route and undermine its function as a motorway.

==Future plans==
[[File:M50 Sandyford.jpg|thumb|M50 J13/J14 overlap]]
[[File:WideningM50.JPG|thumb|right|M50 widening (Southern Cross section between J12 and J13), looking west (northbound) in June 2008]]

Completion of Dublin's ring road by the building of an [[Eastern Bypass of Dublin|Eastern Bypass]] of the city has been proposed. This plan is controversial, as it would require a tunnel across [[Sandymount Strand]] to or possibly through [[Booterstown marsh]] bird sanctuary. A motorway reservation from Sandyford to [[Booterstown]] was included in the [[Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown]] Development Plan, with space allowed for an interchange where it crosses the N11. The [[Dublin Port Tunnel]], which opened on 20 December 2006, would form the northern half of the Eastern bypass. This project was cancelled in 2009.

Another [[Outer Orbital Route|outer orbital road]] has been proposed for the Dublin region. It will, if approved, run approximately from [[Drogheda]] via [[Navan]], [[Trim, County Meath|Trim]] and [[Kilcock]] towards [[Naas]].

==See also==
* [[M50 Roma encampment]]
* [[N40 road (Ireland)|N40]]
* [[Roads in Ireland]]
* [[Motorways in Ireland]]
* [[National secondary road]]
* [[Regional road (Ireland)|Regional road]]
* [[European route E01]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081217221416/http://www.transport.ie/upload/general/7616-0.pdf Roads Act 1993 (Classification of National Roads) Order 2006]&nbsp;– [[Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport|Department of Transport]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060813155430/http://www.m50.ie/ M50 Motorway Upgrade]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050403210257/http://www.dlrcoco.ie/Roads/nontechsumm_m50eis.pdf Environmental Impact Statement on M50 Upgrade Scheme]
* [http://www.easytrip.ie/ Easytrip]
* [http://www.eflow.ie/ eFlow]

{{Roads in Ireland}}
{{Dublin transport}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:M50 Motorway (Ireland)}}
[[Category:Motorways in the Republic of Ireland]]
[[Category:Roads in County Dublin]]
[[Category:Ring roads]]