The road is mainly single carriageway two-lane throughout. It has some upgraded sections, but generally the standard is poor or very poor. It starts at a grade separated junction with the M7 motorway and bypasses Nenagh on its western side as single carriageway. Past Nenagh it is generally a single carriageway with no shoulders all the way to Birr. Many sections of this part of the route are very poor through County Tipperary with sharp bends. The route from Birr to Tullamore was upgraded in recent years and has good alignment, hard shoulders and a good surface as has the section from Tullamore to Kilbeggan which was upgraded in the 1970s. At Tullamore the route forms a bypass of Mucklagh and Tullamore. The road forms an interchange on the M6 motorway south of Kilbeggan and follows it eastwards to the Tyrrellspass exit.. From the Tyrrellspass junction it heads north to Mullingar as the Tyrrellspass eastern bypass and the eastern bypass of Mullingar ; joins the N4 dual-carriageway just outside Mullingar briefly before leaving to head 5 kilometres east over what was once a notoriously dangerous road to Cloughan, which has since been upgraded. Past Cloughan the route continues on a very poor road to Delvin, Clonmellon, Kells and Ardee before reaching the M1 south of Dundalk. Prior to 2009, the Mullingar to Delvin stretch was an extremely dangerous road, and as of 2016, half of it has been upgraded to wide shouldered road. Eventually the route will be upgraded with the old road used for local access only. Two kilometers of dual-carriageway take it to the R132 from where it becomes the Dundalk eastern inner relief route, over a new bridge near the harbour and north to the N1.
Tullamore bypass
The Tullamore bypass is a new single carriageway upgrade to the N52. The route leaves the existing N52 approximately southwest of Tullamore town, intersecting with the N80 road, crossing over the Grand Canal, before rejoining the N52 again north of the town. The scheme began construction in April 2008, and was completed in October 2009. Four metal figures by sculptorMaurice Harron are located where the new roadway cuts through esker ridges. The figures represent symbols of learning and sanctity. Approaching from the norththe 1st figure holds up a chalice, the 2nd a book, the 3rd a crosier and the 4th shows the release of a flock of birds representing souls. The installation was funded by the percentage for arts scheme where 1% of the budget is allocated to roadside art.
Lack of priority
At the N52 junction with the R162 in County Meath the N52 stops and joins the R162 regional road and then leaves it again 100m further south. At this junction the regional road is the main road and is of a higher quality than the National route which crosses it.
