Turnapin Interchange

Turnapin Interchange is junction 1 of the M1 and junction 3 of the M50.

Aerial view of the interchange

When this section of the M1 was first built, there was a single overpass carrying an unclassified road at this point. This overpass then became the northern bridge of a standard roundabout interchange when the northern cross section of the M50 was built, which opened in December 1996. The M50 approach to the junction was built with two lanes, both of which joined the roundabout.

This junction had separate slips for M50 clockwise to M1 north and M50 anti-clockwise; however, in 2010 free-flow right-turn slips were built, creating a directional-T between the M1 and M50, with the old roundabout nestled inside it.

While the new layout has a high capacity, it still suffers from congestion, primarily due to traffic joining the motorway from the roundabout struggling to merge. This unusual layout, effectively a right-hand entrance, has necessitated several signs urging drivers to stay in lane.

The status of the road to the east of here, known as the Northern Cross Route Extension, has caused some confusion. It was designated N32, but the first section of it was a single carriageway road under motorway regulations, making it actually M32. The N32 became the R139 in 2012, and the road had its motorway status removed. Despite this, new signs have gone up calling it the M50! As of 2021, electronic VMS signage still refers to the exit as "N32".

Routes

Route	To	Notes
M1	Aerfort AIRPORT · Béal Feirste BELFAST
M50	Ó Dheas SOUTHBOUND · Gach Trae Eile ALL OTHER ROUTES	For N2, N3, N4, N7
M50	An Lár CITY CENTRE · Calafort Átha Cliath DUBLIN PORT	Via tunnel
R139	Mullach Íde MALAHIDE	Formerly N32 (quondam M32)
M32	Mullach Íde MALAHIDE	Never signed as such.

Strip maps

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  The original layout of the interchange.

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  The Interchange in 2011

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  The current layout of the interchange.