[munchkin_utd]

Originally Posted by mfitzy

"Construction of additional lane and ancillary works on the Eastbound carriageway of M9 at the junction with the M7"

Surely this only means where the M9 and M7 merge the lane is to be extended. Neccessay certainly, but quite a bit away from a full 3rd lane from there to past Naas which is what is fully required.

Theres no need for a 3rd lane for the whole way as plenty enough dont know how to use a motorway and the innermost lane would just remain empty until the split for Waterford, with cars doing 80kmh using the middle lane as the driving lane - rendering the 3 lane highway useless.
(unless you want to zoom along the empty driving lane at 120kmh "undertaking" all the slow moving trafic in the middle and outer overtaking lane!)

[Wild Bill]

Originally Posted by munchkin_utd

Theres no need for a 3rd lane for the whole way as plenty enough dont know how to use a motorway and the innermost lane would just remain empty until the split for Waterford, with cars doing 80kmh using the middle lane as the driving lane - rendering the 3 lane highway useless.
(unless you want to zoom along the empty driving lane at 120kmh "undertaking" all the slow moving trafic in the middle and outer overtaking lane!)

Complete and utter rubbish.

[munchkin_utd]

Originally Posted by Wild Bill

Complete and utter rubbish.

here is a google streetview of the 3 lane upgraded stretch of road the Dublin side of Naas.
http://maps.google.de/maps?q=kildare...1,224.2,,0,8.8

Note EXACTLY that what I have said above is clearly visible here (EDIT: and look behind the google camera and its 500m+ of empty driving lane).
All the traffic is in the middle overtaking lane and outside overtaking lane and virtually nobody in the driving lane.
The proposed road is an direct extension of this road!

So as I said, you dont really need the 3 lanes the full 12km as the extra lane is going to waste with bad driving anyhow.

[Wild Bill]

Originally Posted by munchkin_utd

So as I said, you dont really need the 3 lanes the full 12km as the extra lane is going to waste with bad driving anyhow.

Repeating my comment would probably be bad form.

[veryangryman]

Originally Posted by Wild Bill

Repeating my comment would probably be bad form.

In fairness the stretches of three lane road are very short in this country. If you had really long stretches and on more of the motorway people would get used to behaving right on it. Find a country with as few 3 lane roads and as new a network.

[JupiterKid]

The UK has had D3M motorways with three lanes on either side for over 50 years now and still many drivers there don't use them properly.

The M7 is genuinely congested - even in these recessionary times - from the M9 junction to the Maudlins interchange. It needs to be widened sooner rather than later.

I don't think the M7 beyond the M9 junction needs widening but it may do so at some stage in the future.

[veryangryman]

Originally Posted by JupiterKid

The UK has had D3M motorways with three lanes on either side for over 50 years now and still many drivers there don't use them properly.

The M7 is genuinely congested - even in these recessionary times - from the M9 junction to the Maudlins interchange. It needs to be widened sooner rather than later.

I don't think the M7 beyond the M9 junction needs widening bit it may do so at some stage in the future.

Also most British motorways are so heavy trafficked that it is more noticeable when someone starts taking the piss on lane hogging. The added enforcement from the police keeps things moving too.

[road_high]

Originally Posted by munchkin_utd

Theres no need for a 3rd lane for the whole way as plenty enough dont know how to use a motorway and the innermost lane would just remain empty until the split for Waterford, with cars doing 80kmh using the middle lane as the driving lane - rendering the 3 lane highway useless.
(unless you want to zoom along the empty driving lane at 120kmh "undertaking" all the slow moving trafic in the middle and outer overtaking lane!)

Say that while using it everyday at 7.30 am and 5.00pm!! It's ridiculously congested and clearly not flowing freely as a motoway should. Definitely a capacity issue here.
Though I do take your point re lane hogging and general atrocious lack of awareness as to lane discipline.

[ardmacha]

This is not rocket science. Widen it to 3 lanes and setup a few cameras and ticket anyone acting the bollocks. Make sure that this is widely publicised, that way the new section will start off orderly from the beginning. Even if it doesn't the fines will provide useful revenue.

[Amtmann]

I think the M7 widening merits its own thread tbh

[ullickmagee]

Does anyone have info regarding the closure of the M7 between Birdhill and Annacotty last night and tonight.. anything to do with the bog of doom..

[Seasoft]

Originally Posted by ullickmagee

Does anyone have info regarding the closure of the M7 between Birdhill and Annacotty last night and tonight.. anything to do with the bog of doom..

from AA Road:

!AA Traffic Update
The M7 Dublin/Limerick Rd will close north and southbound for overnight works until Thurs 31st May
It will close between J27 Birdhill (Tipperary) and J28 Castletroy (Newport Rd Interchange) from 9pm to 6am the following day. Southbound traffic will divert at J27 through Birdhill to Newport R/A rejoining the M7 at J28. Northbound traffic diversions will be vice versa. Diversions will be signposted."

[ullickmagee]

Heard today that the closure was to allow inspection of the Sinking Bog of Doom section and that there are going to be remedial works at some point in the near future that will close that section of Motorway for 28 days... not sure about the quality of the information but it sounds plausible...

[popebenny16]

Originally Posted by ullickmagee

Heard today that the closure was to allow inspection of the Sinking Bog of Doom section and that there are going to be remedial works at some point in the near future that will close that section of Motorway for 28 days... not sure about the quality of the information but it sounds plausible...

i drove over it and back on saturday night, heading to limerick there are now noticable bumps at regular intervals, combined with a undulation. very very similar to a resurfaced bog road that is near me. the bumps reminded me of the concrete roads that used to be in dublin, from clontarf to kilbarrack for example, and the bumps you would get when you go from one slab to the next, only these were much further apart.

i was last on the road in March/April, and I do not remember this being there.

[Sponge Bob]

The Bog of Doom section would be up for a retention payment this year is my guess. The NRA got €600m for capital payments this year...and as they are building shag all new roads evidently most of this is retention payments...almots like snagging payments.

Whether any reasonable amount of money will ever fix the Bog of Doom is another matter. I should think it could easily swallow the guts of €100m all on its own and that it will take much longer than 28 days to remediate.

The Bog Of Doom is actually 2 bogs. 1 smaller bog east of Lisnagry named Drominboy bog and the biggie is east of Castleconnell in Annaholty which was the one that caused the most problems and which section was already partially rebuilt at its southern end prior to opening after it crumbled while under construction.

Is the surface issue affecting the road on one or on both of the bogs???