New M50 Proposal Would Finally Answer The Prayers Of Dublin Drivers And Beyond

We’ve been having a bad week with Transport in the capital.

First, Dublin’s dream dart underground was hit with a crushing blow, then a day later it was revealed that Dublin’s Metrolink could be getting a big unwanted change.

It’s been rough and it looks like the Transport Minister could be tested by two Fianna Fáil TD’s who are pushing for a second ring road to be build west of the M50 to ease traffic and congestion for the capital. 

The Irish Sun has confirmed that deputies John Curran and John Lahart have suggested the project which would help solve the crisis that occurs during peak hours.

TD Curran said that: “The M50 goes back to the 1980s concept — a bridge over the Liffey — and it became an outer ring road for the city. But in the intervening period Dublin has grown out beyond it. It is no longer a ring road, it has become an urban route.

“The volume of traffic on the road during peak hours has reached record levels. It is what would have been anticipated for 2023.

“The M50 is operating at close to full capacity. The Dublin area is growing in terms of population and housing, and it is growing west.

“If you are to plan for a 20-year period, you have to have a vision of another road west of the M50 — and that should be planned before housing is built.

“And there is an opportunity to do that now.”

“It doesn’t have to be to the same scale of the existing M50, but we need to have a look at providing a western orbital route — perhaps starting on the M7 as far out as Rathcoole.

“For traffic that is coming from the south and west that is looking to go northward bound, at the moment, all that traffic comes onto the M50, which is feeding congestion levels.”

Is this something that could happen in the near future? Or, more importantly, is it something you would love to see happen? Let us know in the comments.

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