Directional signage Road signs in Ireland

1 directional signage

1.1 typefaces , colours
1.2 types of sign available
1.3 destination signing policy
1.4 motorway / high quality dual carriageway signage

1.4.1 original design
1.4.2 2005-2007
1.4.3 current signing policy
1.4.4 future amendments under consideration

directional signage
typefaces , colours

black-on-white regional road sign in irish , english, showing guildford rules patching n75 , m8



a simpler black-on-white regional road sign



white-on-green national road sign



white-on-green national road signs



white-on-blue motorway road sign. example of advance directional signage (ads)



a cantilever sign on n11.

directional signage in republic of ireland similar united kingdom design. place names listed in irish in mixed case, followed underneath english language equivalent place name in capital letters. transport heavy , motorway typefaces used, although irish language text uses distinctive oblique variant, in letters represented script (ɑ), , letters represented dotless (ı) in order better differentiate them accented forms (however, normal letter used). irish place name shown if sign in gaeltacht, or official name in english identical irish name or (for example dún laoghaire or port laoise). due practice of signposting in both languages, limited number of destinations signposted. if destination can reached following route spur route, destination , route number shown in brackets. also, distances shown in kilometres.

motorway signs use white text on blue background. non-motorway national primary routes use white text on green background, specific route number in yellow bold text. regional , local county roads use black text on white background. signs points of interest (services, institutions, tourist sights) have white text on brown background. patching (according guildford rules) used show roads of different classification on signs. on purpose roads, signs roads destination motorway should display motorway symbol.

types of sign available

a number of types of sign available use on purpose roads. signed junction signed in advance advance directional signs, can either map type (which displays junction pictogram) or stack type, in destinations on separate panels. in republic of ireland, national roads authority (nra) policy encourages stack type signs @ normal intersections (such t-junctions or crossroads), map-type signs used roundabouts , grade-separated junctions. map-type signs used @ normal intersections necessary sign restriction (such weight or height restriction). @ junction itself, either flag sign - sign triangular point @ 1 end , chevron - or (on rural roads) fingerpost points driver in direction taken. after junction, route confirmation sign listing route number , primary destinations erected.

however, on rural roads, common or of above signage missing. junctions signed fingerpost.

destination signing policy

one feature of road signage in republic of ireland, particularly along dublin s quays, national primary road signage directs drivers generically destinations such west , south , north . system, inherited uk system, banned under 1996 tsm, mandates use of terminal destination , next primary destination of route instead, signage patched specific destinations in 2000s (decade). while has been replaced specific placenames in cases, remains in use in other areas. in summer 2006, signage north , south erected in ashbourne @ start of new n2 dual carriageway. nevertheless, directional signage on major routes shows major or end destinations. smaller towns , placenames shown on signage nearer location.

motorway / high quality dual carriageway signage
original design

the original design (1983–1989) of republic of ireland motorway signage simpler version of uk design. these signs ever in use on m7 naas bypass , m1 airport motorway , rare examples still in situ.

from 1989-2005, signage on motorways identical on uk motorways (but see new motorway signage, below); although in ireland, motorway junctions not numbered, or number not signposted. sign @ actual exit, in uk shows road number reached, replaced flag sign destination instead. on m50, in case of junctions national routes, initial advance direction sign replaced list of destinations national route. 1989 design of signs can still seen on older sections of m4 , m7.

2005-2007

in 2005, upon opening of south eastern motorway section of m50, national roads authority erected new style gantry signage. new signage retained typical colours , fonts differed older side of road signage in used separate overhead panels each lane, headed route number in each case new half-gantry signs closer exit. new signage erected on n2 finglas – ashbourne scheme , n7 clondalkin – naas scheme. these first roads in ireland overhead gantry signage has been used matter of course, instead of major junctions. drivers given clear advanced warning 1 km ahead of upcoming junction. half gantry @ junction directed them destination. new style signage visually clearer older type signage drivers able read gantry signage distance of approximately 300m on straight stretch of road. despite significant advantages, new gantry signage caused confusion because downward arrows on left traffic lanes seemed indicate drivers should pull out right lane if wish continue on motorway or dual carriageway, breaking keep left rule.

current signing policy

in july 2007, of gantry signage on m50 between junctions 13–17 erected in 2005 replaced signage in revised style, reverting single panel on mainline. march 2008 2005 style gantries had been removed m50 (and later removed n2 , n7). 1 aspect of 2005 scheme retained half-gantry (or cantilever) sign before exit, has been extended other roads. second change introduced in 2007 flag sign @ gore, listed primary destinations reached, features junction number , word exit instead. revised scheme has been used on motorway , high quality dual carriageway schemes since 2007. next exit signs listing destinations, used on m50, extended other motorways.

thus sequence of signage @ motorway junction in ireland on motorways opened since 2007 (and older motorways have been re-signed) follows:

- next exit sign @ 2 km listing primary destinations reached exit. - 1 km - advance directional sign (map type) or gantry in lieu - 500m - advance directional sign (map type) or gantry in lieu - 100m - cantilever sign - gore - exit sign junction number - 500m following exit - route confirmation sign.

at entrance irish motorways, motorway ahead sign posted, listing motorway regulations. motorway speed limit posted on slip-road.

this new signage formally adopted publication of 2010 traffic signs manual.

future amendments under consideration

in november 2013 designs new style of directional sign released following lobbying conradh na gaeilge make signs display irish in equal proportion english. new design departs british transport typeface instead using test turas typeface. design demonstrates irish placenames shown in yellow on blue motorway sign.