Using the new Dublin city route navigation system to get to your destination

Dublin now has three ring (orbital) route systems each with their own colo(u)r code:

1)  The M50 blue route is a motorway standard C ring road (périphérique). 

2)  The outer city ring colo(u)r coded purple.

3)  The inner ring road around the downtown area colo(u)r coded light blue.  Broadly speaking this incorporates zones 1, 2, 7 and 8 which appears on mailing addresses after the word "Dublin".

It is worth getting to understand the system if you plan to drive or cycle in the Dublin area.  (Bicycles are prohibited on the M50 route).

Each junction along each of these ring routes has a number, making it easy to know when you have reached a particular point.  For example, to get to the Phoenix Park follow the purple signs (outer city ring) to junction 65.    This eliminates the need to constantly refer to a map when driving across town - simply look at the map before you set out to determine your destination junction number on either the purple or light blue orbital routes or the M50 ring - and follow the signage system to get to that point.

Access to selected hotels

Access to city centre car parks

South East City (eg St Stephen's Green, Grafton Street, Trinity College) Follow the blue route to junction  7, 11 or 14 and then follow P signs

South West City - Follow the blue route to junction 14, 15, 17, 18 or 19 and then follow P signs

North East City (eg IFSC) Follow the blue route to junction 1, 2,  38 or 40 and then follow P signs

North West City (eg Henry Street, O'Connell Street, Smithfield) Follow the blue route to junction 29, 30, 31, 34 or 38 and then follow P signs

Access to other points

Dublin Port - including Irish Ferries - follow Purple route to junction  79

Dun Laoghaire Port - (Stena Line) follow Purple route to junction  54 + N11 or the Purple route to junction 81 and then use the R802.

Dublin Airport - (avoiding M1 tunnel roadworks) follow Purple route to junction  69 + N2 + M50 eastbound.   

Ballsbridge including RDS and Blackrock - Purple route to junction  52 + R118

The Point Depot - Purple route to junction  79

IFSC - Blue route to junction  1

Scenic Coastal Drives

Southside - Killiney / Dalkey via Purple route to junction  81 + R802 south along coast

Northside - Howth via Purple route to junction  73 + R105 and R106 Malahide

Access to suburban city zones

(The zone number is shown on mailing addresses after the word "Dublin")

Zones 1, 2, 7 and part of 8 - downtown area roughly bounded by the Blue ring. The odd numbers are north of the River Liffey and the even are on the south side.

Southside

Dublin 4 - via Purple route to junction  51, 52, 53 or 54

Dublin 6 and 6W via Purple route to junction  55, 56 and 57

Dublin 8 via Purple route to junction  58

Dublin 12 via Purple route to junction  59

Dublin 14 via Purple route to junction  55 + R117

Dublin 16 via Purple route to junction  56 + R114

Dublin 18 via Purple route to junction  54 + N11

Dublin 22 and 24 - Purple route to junction  63 + N4 + M50 south to N7

Northside

Dublin 3 and 13 - via Purple route to junction   72

Dublin 7 - via Purple route to junction  67 or 68

Dublin 9 - via Purple route to junction  70

Dublin 11 - via Purple route to junction  69 + N2

Dublin 15 - via Purple route to junction  67

Dublin 17 - via Purple route to junction  70 + M1

If you need to drive to a particular address, it may be helpful to ask the party you are meeting  in advance for the route colo(u)r and junction nearest to them - if it not obvious from the map.   It may even be on their website!  

Please also note that a number of "R" route numbers have been added and modified recently in the Dublin area. 

Junction Numbers and Names

Inner city orbital route

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2006-12-29 08:20
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