It is an unusual arrangement for a national secondary road to terminate at a regional road. However the R132 is the former N1 route (now by-passed by the M1 motorway) and is of a higher standard than most regional roads.
Upgrade
On 15 May 2009 Phase 2B of the N51 Navan Inner Relief Road was opened to traffic. This route provides a direct link between the N3/M3 Kells Road and the N51 Athboy Road. On the same day a further 3.9 kilometres of the realigned N51 which has been constructed as part of the M3 motorway scheme was opened to traffic, 2.5 kilometres of which is Type 1 dual carriageway.