Ireland's new motorway network

[odlum833]

One area that Ireland is not lacking right now is the construction of new motorways for main routes. Ireland currently has Europes largest road building programme ongoing.

The ultimate aim is to have the following motorways by 2012 - most completed by 2010


pic sabre




Note M20 not shown on map.



M1 Dublin - Border
M2 Dublin - Ashbourne
M3 Dublin - Kells
M4 Dublin - Kinnegad
M6 Kinnegad - Galway
M7 Dublin - Limerick
M8 Dublin - Cork
M9 Dublin - Waterford
M11 Dublin - Wexford
M17 Tuam - Galway
M18 Galway - Limerick
M20 Limerick - Cork
M21 Limerick
M25 Waterford
M50 Dublin
Outer Orbital Motorway for Dublin - number unkown (not 2012)
Dublin Eastern Bypass (M50) tunnel (not 2012)

All appart from the M20 Cork to Limerick are U/C. The M1 is complete.

The NRA (National Roads Authority) has also embarked on reclassifying newly built 'High Quality Dual Carriageways' to Motorways

More http://www.transport.ie/viewitem.asp...g=ENG&loc=2270

Note some routes not shown on this map like M20.


The aim is for Ireland to have Europes most comprehensive motorway network and we can say we are well on the way with over 400km's of motorway currently under construction. Many other upgrade schemes are also underway including for the M50.

[Noodles7]

Cant wait for the M11 to be finished, no more jams at the beehive and Enniscorthy etc...

[odlum833]

Originally Posted by Noodles7

Cant wait for the M11 to be finished, no more jams at the beehive and Enniscorthy etc...

+1 - get it all the way to Wexford

[PB-1888]

The old saying you know when you've crossed the border (from North to South) because the road gets bumpy has well and truly flipped over. Joke's on us.

One criticism, and its not because I'm a disgruntled Northerner. Is the most "comprehensive motorway network" something to aim for? In this era of climate change etc, should the investment not be more focused on high speed rail links? The enterprise service from Belfast to Dublin was a fantastatic innovation, but with the road improvements, even with Newry still a hassle, has almost left the enterprise an expensive luxury. The Belfast-Dublin rail link needs urgent attention. Our two main cities deserve an uninterrupted journey of less than an hour.

By the way NI is much worse re trains. Have you ever tried getting a train from Belfast to Derry? You'd need to book a day off.

[dronkula]

Originally Posted by PB-1888

The old saying you know when you've crossed the border (from North to South) because the road gets bumpy has well and truly flipped over. Joke's on us.

One criticism, and its not because I'm a disgruntled Northerner. Is the most "comprehensive motorway network" something to aim for? In this era of climate change etc, should the investment not be more focused on high speed rail links? The enterprise service from Belfast to Dublin was a fantastatic innovation, but with the road improvements, even with Newry still a hassle, has almost left the enterprise an expensive luxury. The Belfast-Dublin rail link needs urgent attention. Our two main cities deserve an uninterrupted journey of less than an hour.

By the way NI is much worse re trains. Have you ever tried getting a train from Belfast to Derry? You'd need to book a day off.

I certainly agree that they should be doing more with the railways.

Last week, I had the misfortune of getting the train from Dublin to Castlebar in County Mayo. Firstly, there's only 3 trains a day so that's pretty poor (early morning, lunchtime, early evening). Ok, so there may not be that much demand for a journey from Dublin to Castlebar, but from what I could tell, on that whole line after Athlone, there's just these 3 trains a day going along it to Westport. So, people can't even jump on the train for a relatively short journey to the next town for shopping etc.

Then the journey, which is 233km (144miles) took over 4 hours on the train. A journey in the UK I made many times was from Bangor, in North Wales to London - a distance of 266miles (428km!) and that is timetabled for 3 and a half hours.

The journey to Castlebar was delayed or anything. It was even semi-express - didn't stop until Athlone. It just took that long.

A lot of it was just single track - with passing places. This may be one of the reasons for there being only 3 trains a day - less passing needed when there's just 6 trains travelling along that route.

I think they need to forget about high speed rail - and just get a service which runs at 'normal' speed. All lines should be double tracked and there should be a 'western Ireland' line linking all the regional cities up so that you can go between Galway and Limerick without having to go via Dublin.

[Noodles7]

I think they need to forget about high speed rail - and just get a service which runs at 'normal' speed. All lines should be double tracked and there should be a 'western Ireland' line linking all the regional cities up so that you can go between Galway and Limerick without having to go via Dublin.

So true, normal speed rail would be nice but hey ripping up loads of our rail network back in the day wasn't a good idea, imagine that
Also the via Dublin thin for going anywhere is ridiculous, it clogs Dublin up when those times could be used to run communter services to Kildare etc.....

[odlum833]

We did need the motorways though - although I agree in the longer term we have to also put more into public transport.

[rossie1977]

Originally Posted by dronkula

I certainly agree that they should be doing more with the railways.

Last week, I had the misfortune of getting the train from Dublin to Castlebar in County Mayo. Firstly, there's only 3 trains a day so that's pretty poor (early morning, lunchtime, early evening). Ok, so there may not be that much demand for a journey from Dublin to Castlebar, but from what I could tell, on that whole line after Athlone, there's just these 3 trains a day going along it to Westport. So, people can't even jump on the train for a relatively short journey to the next town for shopping etc.

Then the journey, which is 233km (144miles) took over 4 hours on the train. A journey in the UK I made many times was from Bangor, in North Wales to London - a distance of 266miles (428km!) and that is timetabled for 3 and a half hours.

The journey to Castlebar was delayed or anything. It was even semi-express - didn't stop until Athlone. It just took that long.

A lot of it was just single track - with passing places. This may be one of the reasons for there being only 3 trains a day - less passing needed when there's just 6 trains travelling along that route.

I think they need to forget about high speed rail - and just get a service which runs at 'normal' speed. All lines should be double tracked and there should be a 'western Ireland' line linking all the regional cities up so that you can go between Galway and Limerick without having to go via Dublin.

they had the chance to double line that athlone-westport route about 8 years back but didn't do it, instead they tore up the old tracks that had been down since the 1920s and laid down a new single line as daft as it sounds.

there was a western line linking sligo to limerick but that was stopped many many moons ago

[odlum833]

Short video of the new bowstring at the N7/M50 inerchange being put in place last week as part of the M50 upgrade

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Zj2R1gz2og

In the context of the interchange it is at the top.

[scorpiogenius]

Maynooth exit

[scorpiogenius]

Here is the N4 Palmerstown Interchange with M50

Plan


I passed through the completed interchange today. The traffic was superbly streamlined and smooth, a far cry from the situation a couple of years back.





apologies for the blurred image...we just sped through the whole complex in a flash..

[odlum833]

Yes the N4 interchange was a huge improvement - thanks for pics - the important thing is now to complete the network which should see Ireland (republic) having Europe's best and most comprehensive motorway/highway system.

[dronkula]

Ok - quick question about the reclassification of the 'newly built 'High Quality Dual Carriageways' to Motorways' thing. Does this mean that these dual carriageways already only have 'motorway junctions' on them, or if they've got more traditional junctions (traffic lights etc.), will they be ripped out and replaced by proper ones?

[odlum833]

All routes being changed to 'M' are 'High Quality Dual Carriageways'. This means they are built to motorway standard and need no alterations. The reason apparently to classify them DC in the first place was that it was easier and quicker then getting a motorway order. Now they just simply change the signs and up the limit to 120km/ph.

Aerial of N4 interchange





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M3 Dublin - Kells motorway update

http://www.eurolink-m3.ie/newsletter...20Aug%2008.pdf


Really coming along now.....


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The 90km M20 Cork to Limerick scheme has a preferred route option emerging. In March this option will be published. In June the EIS will be published. Construction will begin in 2010 on the huge scheme expected to cost 1 billion euro. It part of the Atlantic motorway corridor.

[malec]

Hmm, all roads lead to Dublin I guess

[odlum833]

in a nutshell. Could not be any other way of course.


M50 upgrade - toll plaza removal

The NRA is pleased to advise that traffic is now running on the permanent carriageway configuration at the former toll plaza site. Southbound traffic was switched in the early hours of Thursday 23rd October while northbound traffic was realigned in the early hours of Friday 24th October.
This means that there is now a seamless four lane carriageway link from the completed works south of Jct 6 (N3) across the Liffey Valley Bridge and onto the widened motorway as far as Jct 10 (Ballymount).
In order to complete the plaza removal, other works will be continuing in the immediate vicinity to finish this scheme including a new signage gantry on the southbound carriageway, permanent verge safety fencing and landscaping measures. These are programmed for completion during December 2008. However, motorists should now experience the full benefit of this element of the M50 upgrade.

[scorpiogenius]

Red Cow interchange. Works still going on in the six laned M50 carriageway, the picture taken while moving in the luas to Tallaght. The Red Cow will be the largest and one of the busiest interchanges in the Republic.

[odlum833]

Nice pics.


This is the stretch of N4 up for reclassification to motorway in a few months

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:N4road4416a.jpg


Just to mention the 40km stretch of M8 between Cashel and Culahill will open 7th of December - so an early Christmas present

[odlum833]

M18 Gort - Crusheen motorway scheme will start construction next month


The project is part of the Atlantic Road Corridor and will see the M18 extended by 22km's between Galway and Limerick (after redesignation)


Map of scheme on this document

http://www.transport.ie/upload/general/10978-11.pdf



Images of more M50 interchages

N2/M50


M1/M50


M3/M50 (weird hybrid)


The canal and railway (Galway line) go through this junction aswell

[aaronniuk]

is the motorway between belfast and newry complete yet?