[neddynasty]

What'll they do for traffic lights on that new section I wonder. I presume there'll be temporary sets up for a while.

[Amtmann]

New westbound lanes are open now immediately southeast of the Bandon R'bout. Traffic seemed lighter than usual this morning. I'll be using these new lanes this evening; will try to take photos if I'm stuck in traffic.

[alanucc]

I went through eastbound yesterday (Sunday) afternoon and westbound traffic was at a standstill for most of the length between Bandon and Sarsfield. Hopefully it's sorted now.

[Typewriter]

Originally Posted by alanucc

I went through eastbound yesterday (Sunday) afternoon and westbound traffic was at a standstill for most of the length between Bandon and Sarsfield. Hopefully it's sorted now.

Yeah I was stuck in that. They had the three new west bound lanes coned off into one lane. Then the guards were directing the traffic coming onto the roundabout.

Somebody had the bright idea of opening the new road without any form of traffic lights inplace.

[quietsailor]

will the traffic coming from the Sarsfied R'about onto the Bandon road be free flowing and have priority over the roundabout traffic or will it still be signalised?

[cork_south]

Originally Posted by Typewriter

Yeah I was stuck in that. They had the three new west bound lanes coned off into one lane. Then the guards were directing the traffic coming onto the roundabout.

Somebody had the bright idea of opening the new road without any form of traffic lights inplace.

Evening Echo (@CorkEveningEcho)
30/04/2012 15:15
Traffic congestion reported on the South Ring Road as temporary traffic measures are introduced. #corkecho

[Amtmann]

Pics attached.

[neddynasty]

Drove on the new section the last couple of evenings. They probably need to temporarily realign the road markings to ensure people driving in the left hand lane of the old section are directed into the left most lane of the new section. Currently cars in the left lane of the old section are directed into the middle lane of the new section. Cars in the right lane on the old section are directed into the righter most lane of the new section forcing them around the roundabout or else trying to force their way into the middle lane in order to go through the roundabout on to the B/Collig bypass.

[AugustusMinimus]

Originally Posted by MrDerp

Doubtful. If I'm not mistaken:

1. There's no plan for westbound access to the Bandon Road flyover between Sarsfield Rd and Bandon Rd. Since traffic from Sarsfield Rd will have to go through the Bandon Road roundabout to access N40 West, they're unlikely to divert over the flyover temporarily.

2. There's no plan for an exit eastbound to the Sarsfield Road flyover for traffic going East over the Bandon Rd flyover, this traffic will exit at Bandon Road and navigate the two roundabouts when everything is finished. So, again, they're unlikely to do a temporary diversion.

Ultimately, the movements (bar special restrictions at certain times) for the duration of the works are exactly the same as before. Indeed all previous movements will remain in place after the works also, but there will be new express movements when the whole thing opens:
1. Through Eastbound traffic
2. Through Westbound traffic
3. Westbound traffic can bypass Sarsfields Rd roundabout and exit for Bandon Rd roundabout
4. Eastbound traffic from the Bandon Road roundabout can join the through eastbound traffic and bypass Sarsfields Rd roundabout.

If the Sarsfields Road flyover was ready first, this would facilitate a partial opening, but not the other way around.

I still get the feeling that they'll open the Bandon flyover early. All it would really require is for cars on the mainline between Bandon and Sarsfield roundabouts to be able to access the local access roads which will run between the two roundabouts and vica versa. Could easily be done on a temporary basis.

Would clog up the Sarsfields Roundabout something awful I guess. I have to wonder though why the flyover on the Bandon roundabout is so advanced compared to the one at Sarsfields.

[DerMutt]

I see many of the barriers/soundproofing panels have been installed on the Bandon Road flyover. The reason that flyover is so advanced is that much of the preparatory work, including the ramp on the western side, was done as part of the Ballincollig bypass (when the flyovers were supposed to be built immediately afterwards) and, of course, the nature of the ground near the Sarsfield Road. Did they ever manage to extract the digger that sank when they were building the roundabout and bridge years ago?

[MrDerp]

Well that was painful!

Forgot myself and took the link (as it shall remain known ) yesterday driving back to Dublin. 1 hour and 15 minutes from joining the back of the queue for the bandon road roundabout eastbound, to getting back on the link at sarsfield road roundabout.

I fully hold my hands up and take all of the blame though. As a roads forum reader it's inexcusable to ignore all the information I had and plough on regardless. Even an exit at curraheen would have saved me 45 minutes.

[Amtmann]

Originally Posted by MrDerp

Well that was painful!

Forgot myself and took the link (as it shall remain known ) yesterday driving back to Dublin. 1 hour and 15 minutes from joining the back of the queue for the bandon road roundabout eastbound, to getting back on the link at sarsfield road roundabout.

I fully hold my hands up and take all of the blame though. As a roads forum reader it's inexcusable to ignore all the information I had and plough on regardless. Even an exit at curraheen would have saved me 45 minutes.

I was caught too

[munchkin_utd]

Originally Posted by MrDerp

Well that was painful!

Forgot myself and took the link (as it shall remain known ) yesterday driving back to Dublin. 1 hour and 15 minutes from joining the back of the queue for the bandon road roundabout eastbound, to getting back on the link at sarsfield road roundabout.

bugger, I should have posted a reminder that the small section between the roundabouts was closed eastbound.
I went through it at 9am on Saturday on the way to the airport and the diversion by Wilton barely cost me a few minutes so just assumed that everyone would have the same luck.

[invinciblePRSTV]

What time was it when ye were caught? I came through at around 11.45 am and traffic was slow but steady thru Btown/Wilton, ably assisted of course by the lights being switched to flashing orange.

[MrDerp]

Originally Posted by invinciblePRSTV

What time was it when ye were caught? I came through at around 11.45 am and traffic was slow but steady thru Btown/Wilton, ably assisted of course by the lights being switched to flashing orange.

Hit the back of the queue around 13.30, left sarsfield rd roundabout at about 14.45.

There was a Garda at the bottom of hawkes road trying to keep the traffic moving through Bishopstown, but no-one on the roundabout itself.

The traffic coming from the N71 was ignoring the signals, using all 3 lanes, and treating it as an unsignalled roundabout, meaning N40E -> N71S was snarled in the middle, further complicating issues.

In hindsight, I think all eastbound traffic should have been diverted via Curraheen road leaving the roundabout for the N71 traffic.