The National Roads Authority (NRA) announced yesterday they will spend €250,000 erecting signs across motorways in Ireland telling people where service areas do not exist.
The chiefs at the NRA think it’s just as important to inform motorists of areas without places to eat, avail of toilet facilities or refuel, as much as making them aware of areas with full facilities.
The NRA had planned to provide facilities at 12 locations off five motorways, called ‘online’ areas, but most have been cancelled because of government cutbacks.
Facilities at three locations will open in the next few weeks at the cost of €79.5m. Two are on the M1 at Lusk, Co Dublin, and Castlebellingham in Co Louth, serving the main Dublin to Belfast road.
A third is at Enfield in Co Meath on the M4 motorway from Dublin to Sligo and Galway.
There is no plan to build services areas on the M6 (Dublin to Galway), M7 (Dublin to Limerick), M8 (Dublin to Cork) and M9 (Kilcullen to Waterford) due to a lack of funding.
Over 130 signs will be place in the coming weeks, according to the NRA, which will alert drivers to the service areas just off the motorway network.
