M7 - Nenagh to Limerick

The Word Is Bor wrote: »

At the moment the houses are between a National Road and a slip road. When the motorway is built they will be between a a sliproad and a cul de sac. The road will be carrying the same amount of traffic.





Well that's nice.

It would be a lot more sense to design and build a bridge east of the interchange where the actual tie in of the C-N scheme and where the old alignment of the R445 goes. But it seems we want to keep the old layout for some strange reason. It is strange because the old layout wasn't a motorway and it tied into the existing layout. This interchange layout was not designed to be a motorway.

Its just a headache as the effort they put into to keeping this new layout. It's laughable if in a good humour.

The Word Is Bor wrote: »

A full junction to the east would require more land to be CPO'd.

I love how you put the word "full junction" They are building these interchanges all over the country at present. Nothing unusual may I add.

to oversize it like. King size. etc.:rolleyes:

There wouldn't be much extra land its basically right where the old R445 runs pre bypass. I know this area darn well. I've done a design. My bridge isn't fat "overflowing" or "over full" either.

MYOB wrote: »

You drew a map which, as with every map you ever draw, has no concept of the Z-Axis and was probably unbuildable or would have required insane earth works to construct.

Probably this, and probably that.

If you actually had common sense and looked at the map I provided you would know there would praticaly no earthworks. It's the mere bridge thats it. My alignment is the old N7 running east to west pre Nenagh bypass. The land is Flat. The only dulation and altitude changing is the trenches and verges that were raised as the Nenagh bypass was constructed.

In fact. The NRA redesign of the junction has phenomenal earth works. Building Slips ways each side, Three roundabouts, Modifications to the existings cul de sac and dig up of the old LILO etc. The WB nenagh R445 slip has to be de trenched now as this is been widened to give two way traffic so it can access the Arch bridge.


I'm pretty familar with the area. I have made good drawing and took all factors into consideration. I use this road quite regulary.

Just a quick update. I'm not impressed with the contractors of this scheme. I personally think the company should go to hell at this rate.

Get a bloody move on with this.

Though on a more positive note (ignoring the top) They have finished the Eastbound Carriegway on the Nenagh bypass. Though two traffic lanes are used to EB and WB movements while the new WB carriegway is getting its final layer. There are a few ganties up also. The HS is shown for most of it's lenght. The Dolla road bridge is ok to me. It's not as narrow as I thought. There is a small margin of HS there so It's acceptable to me.

The bridge before Dolla (at the hill where the climbling lane use to persist) Is wide enough for a full cross section motorway carriegway underneath, but I don't think they put in a full HS there. I'm not entirely sure.


The Nenagh bypass end at the Castletown tie in side have works well underway. How are they going to resolve the Arch bridge layout. It seems awfully narrow to me as the curved arch seems dangerously close to a possible 2nd Verge carriegway underneath. How will they treat this bridge? What is been done? Can they lower the Carriegway a metre or two to give more clearance from the arch??


Btw Traffic on the N7 was notorious.The bypass had a constant stream of traffic more than usual for a wednesday autumn evening.


I'm really sick o waiting for this route to finish.


(I was planting flowers at the N7 road sidetoday):D
Will be planting more daffodils and some roadside trees also. I'm getting off my arse to do some nature work.

Zoney wrote: »

mysterious, this is just a guess, but maybe, just maybe, that barrier that takes up space and prevents a full width hard shoulder is needed to protect the bridge supports. You know, so that if someone crashes off the hard shoulder they don't bring the whole bridge down?!

I don't understand this fixation with the hard shoulder under just one tight bridge. Would you really prefer we spent money replacing the whole bridge?

My annoyance was purely the fact that this bridge is wide. It's the widest bridge on the bypass. Its the reason why I can't understand why they didn't just continue the HS rather than just stopping it. This is the bridge on the top of the hill as your coming from Limerick.

Though onto the recent topic. I can't wait for the Nenagh bypass to open up. The Thurles interchange shall allow more people from Mid Tipp to access the N7 without having to pass through the town. The Thurles - Nenagh road is a busy R road. So this is very welcomed.

Furet wrote: »

mysterious, any chance you could post a few pictures of surfacing prgress in this thread?

I'm really sorry I haven't been doing so Furet. My camera is not working atm. But I do have at least 20 pics on my camera phone but I can't send it. I will pm you.