32km M50 Upgrade Scheme

The final section of the 32km M50 upgrade scheme will be officially opened today four months ahead of schedule. This completes 32km of motorway, from the M1 to the Sandyford interchange. Construction first began in 2006 and was built at a cost of €1billion.

The Upgrade Scheme has transformed the M50 from a two-lane heavily congested road with toll barriers and signaled interchanges into a modern free-flowing motorway that has reduced journey times by up to 50%.

The upgraded M50 has resulted in shorter, more reliable and safer journeys that improve commuters' quality of life, increase efficiency for businesses and help Dublin to be more competitive in order to attract more foreign inward investment.

The final section of the upgraded M50 Motorway, the new and improved Junction 6 (N3 Blanchardstown Interchange), will open to traffic at 5.30pm this evening.

Benefits to Commuters & Businesses in Dublin

It will significantly improve journey times into and out of Dublin including to / from Dublin Airport, Dublin Port and Dun Laoghaire.

Journey times from the M1 to the M11 reduced by 50% during the day

Increased road capacity which leads to improved traffic flows and congestion relief

More predictable journey times are improving quality of life for commuters

More efficient journeys for hauliers and those using the M50 for business travel

Contributes towards the Government’s road safety strategy by ensuring safer journeys for all M50 Motorway users

The upgraded M50 completes a modern motorway network and facilitates interconnectivity between Dublin and the main motorway routes to the north, west and south of Ireland

The technology installed on the M50 will provide for a more harmonised traffic management regime throughout the Greater Dublin Area.

It provides a modernised motorway network around the Capital linking to the rest of Ireland.

It will greatly enhance Ireland’s competitiveness in attracting inward foreign investment

In August 2008, the Westlink toll plaza was replaced by barrier-free tolling. The change over to e-flow barrier free tolling has eased congestion allowing drivers to continue driving at the same speed limit.

The M50 Upgrade Scheme comprises

Widening of 32km of motorway from two to three-lane standard in each direction between Junction 3 (M1) and Junction 14 (Sandyford)

An additional fourth auxiliary lane in each direction between Junction 3 (M1) and Junction 12 (Scholarstown)

Full free-flow interchange at four junctions Jct 3 (M1), Jct 5 (N2 Ashbourne/Finglas), Jct 7 (N4 Palmerstown), Jct 9 (N7 Red Cow)

Partial free-flow interchange at six other junctions Jct 4 (Ballymun), Jct 6 (N3 Blanchardstown), Jct 10 (Ballymount), Jct 11 (N81 Tallaght), Jct 12 (Scholarstown), Jct 14 (Sandyford)

Removal of the West-Link toll plaza to provide barrier free tolling

Establishing a segregated corridor for Luas at Jct 9 (N7 Red Cow), thus removing the need for traffic and trams to cross each other.

The M50 Upgrade Scheme was funded by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan and Transport 21 and was delivered through the National Roads Authority's PPP mechanism.