Major changes are on the way for the M50, with variable speed limits among some of the plans to be introduced under a €50 million programme announced today. Under the plan to tackle increasing traffic volumes, the M50 is to become Ireland’s first “managed motorway” with controllers based in Dublin’s docklands being able to set variable speed limits, close lanes, divert traffic off the motorway and clear lanes for emergency vehicles.The plan has been around for since 2014 and should be active pretty soon.In addition to the €50 million set-up costs, the new management system will cost €30 million to run over the next decade.The scheme will rely on almost 100 overhead gantries carrying 386 lane closure signals, with an additional 64 variable message signs and 45 CCTV cameras. The overhead lane control signals will be complemented by 54 slip road signs on the entry points to the M50.Paddy Comyn, Head of Communications with AA Ireland, joined Matt Cooper on The Last Word to discuss.Catch the full chat by pressing the Play button on this page.[audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2021/09/17184334/m50-final.mp3"][/audio]