Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has announced a new symbol system for Emergency Diversions on the M50

Incidents are a major contributor to commuter delays with about 120 incidents occurring in a typical month on the M50, over half of them during rush hour traffic.

Serious incidents require the involvement of many different agencies including An Garda Síochána, Dublin Fire Brigade, the four Dublin Local Authorities, TII and the Motorway Traffic Control Centre. The various agencies involved came together in 2015 to form the Interagency Incident Coordination Group (IICG).  The IICG convenes in the event of a major incident so that the decision makers from each agency can coordinate a combined multiagency response.

“The incident response service involving all agencies is on call 24/7/365. This emergency diversion signage will assist in mitigating the impact of a major incident but not eliminate time delays.” Sean O’Neill

Currently symbols are in place from J4 (Ballymun)–J5 (Finglas), J5 (Finglas) -J6 (Blanchardstown) and J7 (Liffey Valley) - J9 (Red Cow). 

In the coming months the entire M50 will have a diversion route identified that will include J3 (at the M1 merge) to J17 (at the M11 merge), except for J6 (Blanchardstown) to (Liffey Valley) where no suitable alternative route exists.

Each symbol correlates to a specified diversion.  (See symbols below).

Diversion maps can be found the following links:

Northbound Diversion Routes 

Southbound Diversion Routes 

Agreement with the relevant Local Authorities is currently being finalised for additional junctions and signage will be completed for the critical sections by the end of the year.

Electronic signs on the M50 will be used to inform drivers when diversions are in place and each diversion route will be indicated by a specific symbol which drivers will be directed to follow.

Is it fair to charge for usage for the full length of the M50?

According to a study by the National Roads Authority there has been an increase in usage of the M50 by 26% since 2008. Most likely because the M50 now works as an efficient ring road to bypass the city, keeping congestion out and getting road users home relatively quickly.

The report  suggests that 4 new toll points should be put in place along the M50, these tolls would possibly net around €100m a year in revenue.

As it stands the M50 is only tolled for drivers who use the Westlink Bridge. The bridge was built by NTR and opened in 1990 and was the first tolled stretch of motorway in the country. NTR were granted a licence to toll the bridge for 30 years.

The NRA bought the Westlink in 2008 for €600m but it also cost around €1bn to upgrade the M50 (that's about €31.2m per kilometer)

Approximately 100,000 drivers use the Westlink per day but the number of cars which use the M50 per day is thought to be three times this number.

The government have come out and said that they do not intend to add any new tolls to the M50.  If they were to add tolls it could be seen as a fairer tolling policy for people who use the entire length of the M50 or it could end up costing those who cross the Westlink  even more in accumulated tolls.

One obvious problem would be increased traffic in the city and minor roads as drivers try to avoid yet another road charge. Thus reducing the amount of people who use the M50 and lowering projected revenues.

Do you want to spread the burden of M50 Tolls or would you rather keep the current system in place?

We don't think it will happen soon, but it is likely to be somewhere in the future. Leo Varadkar has said he has no plan to introduce the tolls. however if we are faced with the congestion which was part of the daily grind of the M50  once more should it at least be considered?