Five Northern Ireland roads to get new speed limits on 30 October 2026

Five roads, one confirmed change date

New legal speed limits are due to take effect on specific stretches of five roads in Northern Ireland from Friday 30 October 2026. The Department for Infrastructure published the confirmed Roads (Speed Limit) (No. 3) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026, Statutory Rule 2026 No. 175, on 13 October. This is a made order with a commencement date, not a fresh consultation seeking views on possible limits.

The order affects roads in Coalisland, Lisburn, Omagh and Tempo. It does not mean that each road has been given a new limit from end to end. DfI describes the changes as applying to particular lengths, with the precise legal boundaries contained in the published order. Motorists should follow the signs in place rather than use a headline as the boundary of the restriction.

Where the 40mph restrictions will apply

Four of the specified road lengths will be subject to a 40mph limit: Annagher Road in Coalisland, Brokerstown Road in Lisburn, Farmhill Road in Omagh, and Tempo Road in Tempo. These are geographically separate changes grouped into a single Northern Ireland statutory instrument.

The practical distinction is the segment affected, not simply the road name. Drivers approaching the affected lengths from a side road or travelling between villages should be particularly alert to commencement signs, terminal signs and any repeaters as appropriate. An old route planner or remembered limit is not a substitute for current road signs.

Drumnakilly Road will have a 50mph restriction

A length of Drumnakilly Road, Omagh, is listed for a 50mph limit rather than the 40mph limits on the four other roads. Drivers should not assume that a new round-number restriction is uniform across all five locations. The official legal schedule determines which length is covered.

For anyone regularly driving between Omagh and nearby settlements, this is the kind of change worth checking before routine journeys. The Department does not provide projected travel-time differences in its published summary, so claims that the rules will add a particular number of minutes to a commute would be unfounded.

Why the order also revokes existing limits

DfI says the same instrument revokes a speed limit relating to Annagher Road in Coalisland and Tempo Road in Tempo. A revocation listed alongside a new restriction does not, by itself, mean that either road is becoming unrestricted. The new provisions and repealed provisions must be read together.

This matters when comparing older Northern Ireland speed-order announcements. PureCar has previously reported other restrictions in these districts, but the 13 October announcement concerns a distinct statutory rule and a new 30 October commencement. It should not be combined with separate proposals for Ballyclare or Gortgonis Road without making their different legal status clear.

What drivers can do before 30 October

Drivers using these roads should familiarise themselves with the affected names now and watch for roadside changes at the end of the month. If a sat-nav still displays an older limit, prioritise the lawful roadside signage. For exact lengths, consult the legislation linked from DfI rather than relying on general town maps.

The rules are due to commence on 30 October, meaning this is a forward-looking report as at 16 October. Until then, drivers must obey the limits actually in force on the journey. The DfI publication notes that certain exceptions apply under the statutory rule; these should not be interpreted as a general exemption for ordinary traffic.

How this differs from a speed-limit review

Northern Ireland has also debated broader questions about 20mph streets and rural speed limits. This order is more immediate and much narrower: it specifies named road lengths and a definite start date. That makes it a useful practical notice for local drivers, not evidence that the Department has altered the default limit on every rural road.

PureCar will continue to distinguish confirmed traffic orders from consultations and general policy reviews. Readers with a journey passing through Coalisland, Lisburn, Omagh or Tempo can use the statutory schedule to identify the exact section affected before the new signs come into effect.

Official source

This report is based on the Department for Infrastructure original publication. For confirmed orders, check the statutory instrument, map and local road signs; for consultations, check the draft order and response deadline. Read the original DfI notice and linked documents.