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M3 Clonee-Kells Motorway construction updates

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Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 764 ✭✭✭Jayuu


    Pete_Cavan wrote: »
    Jayuu's suggestion for the M3 to be extended to serve Cavan and Monaghan is interesting. I dont think it is very realistic though because Monaghan town is currently only an hour and a half from Dublin via the M1. I dont think an extended M3 would be any faster when travelling from Monaghan and although I would love to see the motorway as far as Cavan (being a Cavan man myself) the population doesnt justify this. Like I said in my earlier post Virginia should be bypassed and the N3 from there to Cavan is good enough considering traffic volumes are quite low and then Cavan town is already bypassed.

    Good point although the idea was to give an alternative motorway route to the north and to ease pressure on the N2 corridor and also create an alternative and more direct Donegal route than the N4. But you're probably right that its not necessary to go the whole way to the border. However I do think that if you went to Cavan you definitely might as well go as far as the N54 between Clones and Monaghan with a link back to the existing N3.

    It actually doens't have to be motorway standard but at least 2+2.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,687 ✭✭✭✭jack presley


    I presume none of the protesters are ever going to use the new M3, even if they're in a hurry?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,143 ✭✭✭Pete_Cavan


    Fair enough, Im sure extending the road as far as Cavan would be unfeasible without accomodating Monaghan traffic also. As a long term plan I think that it makes more sense than extending the M2 motorway towards the border, this should be tied into an existing road.

    Another alterntive would be to upgrade the N2 from Ardee north and the N33 to 2 + 2 and route Dublin traffic coming from Monaghan/border onto the M1. This shouldnt be too difficult as Carrickmacross, Castleblaney and Monghan town have been bypassed in recent years so it would just mean adding a lane on either side. Who knows, with a bit of foresight when they were building these bypasses they might have CPO'd enough land to allow for this.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 70,172 ✭✭✭✭L1011


    My toll tag - a working, in credit eTrip unit - failed to work at either toll plaza today, express or normal lanes. Anyone else having problems?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,108 ✭✭✭nordydan


    murphaph wrote: »
    Is the link road from the trumpet to south of Navan built to full motorway specs? If so it's pretty interesting as an S2 would have sufficed (as was used at Kells onto the trumpet there) and I suspect this could be a short length of any future DOOR.

    Yes it is, bar a tightish bend at its joining point with the r147. Its an interesting link road, the overbridge on it is spectacularly high! Worth a spin down


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  • Registered Users Posts: 304 ✭✭privateBeavis


    MYOB wrote: »
    My toll tag - a working, in credit eTrip unit - failed to work at either toll plaza today, express or normal lanes. Anyone else having problems?

    I've account with easytrip and same thing, didn't work at either toll today. Even had one of the guys on the toll try to scan the device and it wasn't working!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,108 ✭✭✭nordydan


    murphaph wrote: »
    Are the two roundabouts either side of a bridge (ie, do they form part of a dumbell interchange)? Or is the M3, the roundabouts and the continuation N3 all on the same level?

    This is such a shoddy way to connect 2 dual carriageways together, one being a motorway! This doesn't happen anywhere else a motorway joins a dual carriageway as part of the same continuous route AFAIK (N6-M6, N7-M7, N11-M11 (twice), N8-M8).

    It may not delay much but for the want of a single flyover it shouldn't delay at all tbh.

    Edit: if this is indeed a flyover with 2 roundabouts either side of it, it is almost a carbon copy of the southern termination of the Ballymena Bypass which was designed for future connection to the never built "middle bit" of the M2. In the end they dualled the A26 (what has already been done with the N3) and 30 years later ran the M2 through the junction to flow directly into the A26. At least they had a reason: the A26 was S2 when the M2 was built and wasn't dualled until years later. The M3/N3 setup however seems quite bizarre to me, would love if someone could get some pics of the lay of the land there if possible please!

    It's actually a good idea, the dumbell interchange. Due to the presence of the n52 and the old road into kells. So each roundabout is 4 armed. In context of future gsj, its not a bad solution


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,031 ✭✭✭✭murphaph


    nordydan wrote: »
    It's actually a good idea, the dumbell interchange. Due to the presence of the n52 and the old road into kells. So each roundabout is 4 armed. In context of future gsj, its not a bad solution
    Have you seen this interchange Dan? Is it a partially built dumbell with flyover, or is it 2 roundabouts on the flat?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 524 ✭✭✭richardjjd


    Pete_Cavan wrote: »
    The M3 stinks of something dodgy because it is now the fourth motorway passing through count Meath, the home of the minister for transport.


    Noel Dempsey has only been Min Transport since June 07. N3 commencement order was given before that. First sod was turned by his predecessor, Martin Cullen. I don't think responsibility for any of the motorways which pass through Meath could be recorded as a Dempsey win.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,053 ✭✭✭✭Stark


    The M3 and the M2 are the only motorways that specifically serve Meath. The other two just happen to skirt Meath on their way to Galway and the North.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 123 ✭✭brandodub


    I've account with easytrip and same thing, didn't work at either toll today. Even had one of the guys on the toll try to scan the device and it wasn't working!

    My (old) EazyPass unit has worked perfectly in the express lanes in both directions since the M3 opened. I remember it went wonky though when M50 went barrier free. Just check and make sure they dont try to debit you for more than one trip.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 844 ✭✭✭GeneHunt


    murphaph wrote: »
    Have you seen this interchange Dan? Is it a partially built dumbell with flyover, or is it 2 roundabouts on the flat?

    it's all on the flat - no flyover bridge between the roundabouts.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 844 ✭✭✭GeneHunt


    nordydan wrote: »
    Yes it is, bar a tightish bend at its joining point with the r147. Its an interesting link road, the overbridge on it is spectacularly high! Worth a spin down

    Just remembered I took a few photos on Friday last (the opening day - note the lack of cars that's a contractors pickup:P) - but to my bitter disappointment I forgot to check the charge on my f%$king camera battery :mad:

    Photo 001 - the above overbridge on the Navan Link road

    Photo 002 & 003 are of signage on M3 eastbound before J10 - battery dead after that.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,032 ✭✭✭DWCommuter


    nordydan wrote: »
    Yes it is, bar a tightish bend at its joining point with the r147. Its an interesting link road, the overbridge on it is spectacularly high! Worth a spin down

    And don't forget that this link road in a deep cutting obliterated the original rail alignment into Navan and will now have to be bridged at extra cost eventhough the planned reopening of the line was Government policy before a single pen was put on an M3 designers page.

    You gotta laugh.:D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,698 ✭✭✭D'Peoples Voice


    Jayuu wrote: »
    As far as I can see the best long term planning here would be to build the M3 onwards bypassing both Virginia and Cavan on their eastern side. Then have the road turn back eastwards to pass Clones on the east and Monaghan on the west and reach the border where the exiting N2 does. Exits could be provided for all of these towns and link roads in.

    The M2 then from its current end then should turn westward to join the M3 at a new interchange north of Dunshaughlin (Junction 6a). This would have to be tolled along the same lines as the toll between Junctions 5 and 6 on the M3.

    Doing this would give us a motorway to the border serving the main towns of Meath, Cavan and Monaghan along the way and eliminating the need for any major work along the N2 corridor.
    Jayuu, I love to see you canvassing for this idea in Donegal town and Killybegs(even up north in Letterkenny),
    its not enough that they have no proper rail infrastructure,
    but hell adding an extra hour to their journey by redirecting the M3 towards a North Easterly direction,
    they would get a great kick out of that idea,
    the fact that you may be the victim of that kick is another thing!

    We have the M1 - adequate enough to feed both Belfast and Derry!
    The M3 is there to feed everything from Letterkenny, Enniskillen, Omagh, Bundoran down as far as Sligo(I know Sligo has the N4 - but a second option is no bad thing if Galway and Mayo keep growing in terms of usage - not in a recession thank god)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,125 ✭✭✭SeanW


    Can anyone tell me what the point is of this roundabout on the trumpet junction at J10?
    http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=53.70868&lon=-6.85642&zoom=16&layers=B000FTF


  • Registered Users Posts: 764 ✭✭✭Jayuu


    Jayuu, I love to see you canvassing for this idea in Donegal town and Killybegs(even up north in Letterkenny),
    its not enough that they have no proper rail infrastructure,
    but hell adding an extra hour to their journey by redirecting the M3 towards a North Easterly direction,
    they would get a great kick out of that idea,
    the fact that you may be the victim of that kick is another thing!

    We have the M1 - adequate enough to feed both Belfast and Derry!
    The M3 is there to feed everything from Letterkenny, Enniskillen, Omagh, Bundoran down as far as Sligo(I know Sligo has the N4 - but a second option is no bad thing if Galway and Mayo keep growing in terms of usage - not in a recession thank god)

    If you look at the map I drew there's no reason why Donegal traffic couldn't leave the motorway beyond Cavan and get back to the existing N3 at that point if they wished. You're also ignoring the fact that a motorway as far as Cavan would have significantly reduced their travel time already.

    Its all hypothetical anyway. There's no way the M3 is going beyond where it is for many years. But if it were to be built there's also no reason in not exploring all the options that might be possible and continuing a M3 to the border near Monaghan adds extra levels of usefulness to such a road.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,031 ✭✭✭✭murphaph


    GeneHunt wrote: »
    it's all on the flat - no flyover bridge between the roundabouts.
    So basically for the want of a single flyover on a 63km scheme, traffic has to needlessly negotiate 2 roundabouts. There's no good reason for this: the M3 will never be extended through this junction without using the path of the new N3 (2+2 section). It should have all been connected now.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,281 ✭✭✭mackerski


    SeanW wrote: »
    Can anyone tell me what the point is of this roundabout on the trumpet junction at J10?
    http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=53.70868&lon=-6.85642&zoom=16&layers=B000FTF

    My guess, one of three reasons:

    1. They wanted or needed to preserve non-motorway access to some field or property along the spur. Seems odd, given that it's a brand new road, but perhaps it was necessary because of the motorway blocking up a pre-existing access.

    2. They somehow found it desirable to minimise the length of the section under motorway restrictions. This one troubles me, because it does seem otherwise pointless.

    3. The location is considered a plausible site for future services, that could be accessed via the roundabout. I'm not so keen on this theory, since such a roundabout could readily have been built later.


  • Registered Users Posts: 304 ✭✭privateBeavis


    Tested my new Aiptek Pencam HD while on the new M3...



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,698 ✭✭✭D'Peoples Voice


    murphaph wrote: »
    So basically for the want of a single flyover on a 63km scheme, traffic has to needlessly negotiate 2 roundabouts. There's no good reason for this: the M3 will never be extended through this junction without using the path of the new N3 (2+2 section). It should have all been connected now.
    From memory, in the 80s, the M50(the Western Parkway) finished at Blanchardstown in much the same fashion - although maybe that had only one roundabout.
    Either way, I agree this should have be grade separated, so if they ever did want to extend the road northwards from that point, they wouldn't have to disrupt traffic on the N3/N52/M3!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 899 ✭✭✭bauderline


    Tested my new Aiptek Pencam HD while on the new M3...


    Very good, that garda car was fairly nailing it though wasn't he !


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,630 ✭✭✭Plowman


    This post has been deleted.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,108 ✭✭✭nordydan


    murphaph wrote: »
    So basically for the want of a single flyover on a 63km scheme, traffic has to needlessly negotiate 2 roundabouts. There's no good reason for this: the M3 will never be extended through this junction without using the path of the new N3 (2+2 section). It should have all been connected now.

    Agreed this should have been GSJ'ed from the start. As I stated on SABRE, there is no need for anything bar 2+2 north of this.

    Barring this, the dumbell arrangement is better than one giant roundabout. If future GSJ'ing is required, only one overbridge is required, not two. A lot of traffic will join leave at this junction. The M3 around Kells also serves as a toll free bypass, so the % of traffic flows through this intersection that are M3>N3 are not as many as one may think.

    The NRA should have stated a policy of 2+2 from Kells to Belturbet, but due to changes in road C/S standards in the last few years may have fudged the issue


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,221 ✭✭✭BrianD


    I'm surprised that they haven't tidied up the road signage from J4 onwards. M3 signs with the M3 greyed out, end of motorway signs and speed limit signs indicating 100kmh (is it 100kmh from J4 or should it be 120?).

    The R147 has also dropped to 80kmh as it has lost its N status. Is there an a mechanic for the local authority to up this back to 100? Similarly the N2 was upped to 120 before it got its motorway designation?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 70,172 ✭✭✭✭L1011


    BrianD wrote: »
    The R147 has also dropped to 80kmh as it has lost its N status. Is there an a mechanic for the local authority to up this back to 100? Similarly the N2 was upped to 120 before it got its motorway designation?

    Yes. Meath appear loathe to do it seeing as their sections of the R132, RwhatevrtheN2 became and R148 have all stayed at 80 or lower.

    Louth, Cork, Monaghan and Tipp South appear to be the main users of 100km/h R-roads. Some in Cork were just decent quality and never N roads at all!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,251 ✭✭✭✭Lemlin


    I drive this motorway everyday. Is there an 'Easy Pass' system that I can get for it? Where can I get one of these cards?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,053 ✭✭✭✭Stark


    Lemlin wrote: »
    I drive this motorway everyday. Is there an 'Easy Pass' system that I can get for it? Where can I get one of these cards?

    http://www.tagcompare.ie/


  • Registered Users Posts: 875 ✭✭✭Cookie33


    Ok so I've been on the M3 Friday evening and Monday evening, travelling from Clonee to Cavan and vice versa.

    A few negative points:
    The south toll bridge was really slow on friday evening and that wasn't just my queue both manual and automatic lanes. on monday, it picked up. Maybe they were just rusty lol

    Is it just me or is the motorway narrower from Clonee until after the south toll bridge than the other half?

    After the toll bridge at Kells, shortly afterwards the M3 ends and transforms into a dual carriageway at only 100kph. Why not 120kph? It's of the same standard and width?

    Don't get me wrong, I love the motorway, cuts 30mins off my journey :D


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  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 8,632 ✭✭✭darkman2


    This motorway is a very boring piece of road. If a motorway could be tagged with "most boring" this one would be it. Not much to see in that part of the country. M11 is much nicer drive.


  • Registered Users Posts: 875 ✭✭✭Cookie33


    darkman2 wrote: »
    This motorway is a very boring piece of road. If a motorway could be tagged with "most boring" this one would be it. Not much to see in that part of the country. M11 is much nicer drive.

    the M1 isn't too bad either.. got a nice bridge to look at when your driving over it


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,017 ✭✭✭✭_Kaiser_


    darkman2 wrote: »
    This motorway is a very boring piece of road. If a motorway could be tagged with "most boring" this one would be it. Not much to see in that part of the country. M11 is much nicer drive.
    Sssh! You'll only draw the Hill of Tara brigade out with crazy statements like that! :p

    My own thoughts after a few days on it is that the biggest benefit is being able to overtake all the 80-anywhere muppets that infested the old N3 without any hassle :)

    It's definitely not worth paying the tolls though - judging by the pickup of traffic even yesterday on the stretch between Navan and Kells it seems a lot of people have realised this. If you do it right you can avoid the Navan toll altogether but still bypass Kells and Carnaross which were the 2 big hold-ups on that stretch...


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,281 ✭✭✭mackerski


    BrianD wrote: »
    I'm surprised that they haven't tidied up the road signage from J4 onwards. M3 signs with the M3 greyed out, end of motorway signs and speed limit signs indicating 100kmh (is it 100kmh from J4 or should it be 120?).

    This 100 limit has been a bugbear of mine since it was posted, and even more so since I saw the guards out enforcing it at the very start of the Clonee Bypass a few weeks ago. As far as I can tell, this section has been motorway since the day of the last redesignations and as such carries a 120 limit by default. That they painted out the chopsticks signs during construction doesn't revoke the motorway status, so unless anybody knows any different, all of the prohibited traffic that has been forced down this road in the meantime has been using it illegally.

    I've just checked the Meath County Council site and can't find any section where speed limit bye-laws are available. If this 100 limit is or ever was valid then it must be either a special speed limit enacted by bye-law or a works limit for which documentation must also be lodged somewhere.

    So does anybody know? Or is this just an arm-chance on the part of the authorities?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,599 ✭✭✭Fiskar


    Seconds impressions, the road is still muck. Went on it again last night for a spin so heres my list of moans

    - Toll was very slow on Friday, so complained to customer service about it and have yet to hear back.

    - Cannot fathom why there is no turn off for Trim on the M3 other than Dunshaughlin, as the crow flies it directly left of Navan off the M3.

    - It is 2.4 miles or 3.8 km longer than going the old N3!

    - Went the old N3 to work and back home this evening, the m3 saving would only be 4 to 5 mins, no point stopping the bike for the toll.

    - It appears narrow, one cannot imagine a truck broken down fitting onto the hard shoulder with encroaching onto the inside lane.

    This road suits those in Kells or Cavan and those who don't already pay the M50 toll. Add that toll into the equation and you are paying a lot for your road use.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,091 ✭✭✭marmurr1916


    Fiskar wrote: »
    Seconds impressions, the road is still muck. Went on it again last night for a spin so heres my list of moans

    - Toll was very slow on Friday, so complained to customer service about it and have yet to hear back.

    Keep complaining, and complain to the NRA too.
    Fiskar wrote: »
    Cannot fathom why there is no turn off for Trim on the M3 other than Dunshaughlin, as the crow flies it directly left of Navan off the M3.

    Too bad.
    Fiskar wrote: »
    It is 2.4 miles or 3.8 km longer than going the old N3!


    It does have a slightly higher speed limit!
    Fiskar wrote: »
    It appears narrow, one cannot imagine a truck broken down fitting onto the hard shoulder with encroaching onto the inside lane.

    How wide is the hard shoulder? Appearances can be deceptive.
    Fiskar wrote: »
    This road suits those in Kells or Cavan and those who don't already pay the M50 toll. Add that toll into the equation and you are paying a lot for your road use.

    You don't have to use it if you don't want to. It's not compulsory.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,094 ✭✭✭Beau


    The Skryne/Johnstown exit? Surely if you were going to Johnstown, it'd make more sense to take the Navan exit?

    Love the road by the way!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,599 ✭✭✭Fiskar


    Beau wrote: »
    The Skryne/Johnstown exit? Surely if you were going to Johnstown, it'd make more sense to take the Navan exit?

    In a straight line it is quicker to come off at Junction 7, you travel in a semi circular fashion to Junction 8 where you loop back and take long slip road to the Kilcairn roundabout.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,094 ✭✭✭Beau


    Fiskar wrote: »
    In a straight line it is quicker to come off at Junction 7, you travel in a semi circular fashion to Junction 8 where you loop back and take long slip road to the Kilcairn roundabout.

    Yeh true, I thought of that but then would you be quicker just coming off on the Johnstown exit to go to Navan!

    Agree with you by the way about it not servicing Trim properly like it could.
    Kaiser2000 wrote: »
    My own thoughts after a few days on it is that the biggest benefit is being able to overtake all the 80-anywhere muppets that infested the old N3 without any hassle

    I hear ya! That was the most frustrating thing about that road.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,108 ✭✭✭nordydan


    BrianD wrote: »
    I'm surprised that they haven't tidied up the road signage from J4 onwards. M3 signs with the M3 greyed out, end of motorway signs and speed limit signs indicating 100kmh (is it 100kmh from J4 or should it be 120?).

    The R147 has also dropped to 80kmh as it has lost its N status. Is there an a mechanic for the local authority to up this back to 100? Similarly the N2 was upped to 120 before it got its motorway designation?

    As of Sunday, the signs on the Kells Bypass had still not been tidied up (e.g. M3 still greyed over). There are a few more places to clean up as well


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 369 ✭✭Empire o de Sun


    Cookie33 wrote: »
    Ok so I've been on the M3 Friday evening and Monday evening, travelling from Clonee to Cavan and vice versa.

    A few negative points:
    The south toll bridge was really slow on friday evening and that wasn't just my queue both manual and automatic lanes. on monday, it picked up. Maybe they were just rusty lol

    Is it just me or is the motorway narrower from Clonee until after the south toll bridge than the other half?

    After the toll bridge at Kells, shortly afterwards the M3 ends and transforms into a dual carriageway at only 100kph. Why not 120kph? It's of the same standard and width?

    Don't get me wrong, I love the motorway, cuts 30mins off my journey :D

    Toll Bridge?

    Toll Plaza


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  • Registered Users Posts: 875 ✭✭✭Cookie33


    Toll Bridge?

    Toll Plaza


    same difference :p


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 70,172 ✭✭✭✭L1011


    Anyone know if easytrip tags are working yet? Need to blip to Baileborough tomorrow and don't want to have to carry a monster of coins...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,722 ✭✭✭anotherlostie


    Guessing that as nobody posted anything about delays in Virginia on Friday evening means there were none? If it was OK on a bank holiday weekend, then it should be OK every weekend. Well until lights are installed at the Ballyduff and Bailieboro junctions!


  • Registered Users Posts: 304 ✭✭runway16


    Had my first trip on this last night. Now, it wasnt the best night to be driving, with the rain and wind, but I was very impressed.

    The signage is good, as are the catseyes - lets just hope they keep them clean.

    It is noticably curvy, but nothing major, and certainly not dangerously so. In fact, i personally prefer some curves rather than the dead boring straight stretches.

    The surface is fine - although is a tad bumpier than the M6 Athlone - Galway, with one notably bumpier stretch approaching the end of the route coming from Dublin. Again, its all subjective, and it certainly isnt the worst stretch of motorway ive been on.

    2 tolls - ridiculous. I'd rather pay 2.60 and stop once.

    Saying the road is "muck" is going way too far IMHO. It seems to me to be to the same spec as any of the newer stretches of motorways. Yes, the hard shoulders are narrower, but I like the concrete central barrier for one reason - no one wants to drive beside a concrete wall for very long, so when people are done overtaking, they ACTUALLY GET BACK INTO THE CORRECT LANE!!! must be a first for an Irish motorway! ;-)


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 25,234 ✭✭✭✭Sponge Bob


    runway16 wrote: »
    no one wants to drive beside a concrete wall for very long, so when people are done overtaking, they ACTUALLY GET BACK INTO THE CORRECT LANE!!! must be a first for an Irish motorway! ;-)

    Not a first, I had noticed precisely this effect in Galway.


  • Registered Users Posts: 875 ✭✭✭Cookie33


    when people are done overtaking, they ACTUALLY GET BACK INTO THE CORRECT LANE!!! must be a first for an Irish motorway! ;-)

    Actually I witnessed on Monday evening some idiot was driving the whole way beside the concrete wall, he only moved into the correct lane when someone wanted past


  • Registered Users Posts: 764 ✭✭✭Jayuu


    Cookie33 wrote: »
    Actually I witnessed on Monday evening some idiot was driving the whole way beside the concrete wall, he only moved into the correct lane when someone wanted past

    As opposed to an idiot, this might have been a European driver who would be more inclined to stay right and overtake left. :)


  • Registered Users Posts: 875 ✭✭✭Cookie33


    I think if they changed the concrete boulders to the poles and wires they have on the dual carriageway, it might not look as narrow


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,735 ✭✭✭Irish and Proud


    runway16 wrote: »
    Saying the road is "muck" is going way too far IMHO. It seems to me to be to the same spec as any of the newer stretches of motorways. Yes, the hard shoulders are narrower, but I like the concrete central barrier for one reason - no one wants to drive beside a concrete wall for very long, so when people are done overtaking, they ACTUALLY GET BACK INTO THE CORRECT LANE!!! must be a first for an Irish motorway! ;-)

    The interesting thing is that the motorway seems to be the same as the inter-urbans, except that the median is 4.0m as opposed to 2.6m for the M8 etc. Some of the junctions also appear to be of higher spec, as do the link roads - anything it seems from a 12.3m S2 (N51 West Approach) to an inter-urban style D2 (M3 Kilcarn Link, N51 East Approach) - the Dunboyne Bypass appears to be anything from 14m to 15m in width (WS2).

    Meath motorways certainly seem quite different, especially with interchanges such as Kilcarn (M3) and Ashbourne South (M2), both of which are greenfield trumpets. There are also variants at Kells South (M3) and Gormanston (M1 Link with R132 - links with the M1 itself via a dumbell junction). Another typical Meath interchange are split diamonds such as Clonee (M3) and Drogheda South (M1).

    If the LOOR goes ahead, wonder what the spaghetti junctions will look like? :D


  • Registered Users Posts: 401 ✭✭irishbuzz


    Sorry lads, could someone tell me if there is any existing discussion on the LOOR and if so could they point me to the thread. I had a dig for it but was unable to find anything.

    Thanks


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