M5 motorway (Northern Ireland)

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Countries:

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland

The M5 motorway (English for, M5 motorway ') is a continuous four-lane motorway in Northern Ireland, which branches north of Belfast on the M2 and runs in a north-easterly direction along the north coast of the Bay of Belfast.

History

The M5 appears for the first time in planning from 1964. At that time it was planned the M5 along the coast to have run up to Carrick Fergus. Moreover, it should branch off the M6 into northern Larne halfway. However, further tests showed that the medium would be no need for such a highway. Thus, the M6 and almost the entire distance of the M5 have been postponed and kept only areas for future expansion of the route.

As the only section a 2.3 km long feeder to the M2 remained east of Newtownabbey in the planning. As an exception to the general halt to construction of freeways as part of the Northern Ireland conflict, the section was opened to traffic in September 1980.

Expansion plans

Meanwhile, since the first land that was reserved for the continued construction of the M5 have been released for development, is not to be expected that the highway will be built farther. The existing coastal road A2 Instead, currently is being expanded into a four-lane expressway.