M7 Motorway (general thread)

Any one know why the road is down to one lane around Roscrea and Mountrath? There doesn't seem to be any work taking place. The way the cones are laid out it means you only have about 20m before you merge on the moterway when joining from Roscrea in the Limerick direction.

How are the bog sections holding up, any sign of movement?

I see that the Roscrea LILOs now have physical barriers - i guess these are up ages but just to point out.

And yes, that exit is a proper hairpin! Started my "descent" speedwse about 300m short and stll had to brake pretty aggressively. Doing 120 all the way from Limerick and then almost having to stop is a bit off putting. Terribly cheaply designed junction.

veryangryman wrote: »

I see that the Roscrea LILOs now have physical barriers - i guess these are up ages but just to point out.

And yes, that exit is a proper hairpin! Started my "descent" speedwse about 300m short and stll had to brake pretty aggressively. Doing 120 all the way from Limerick and then almost having to stop is a bit off putting. Terribly cheaply designed junction.

it is now being raised by the local chanbers of commerce and local authorities with the NRA. There seems to be as you approach the junction from Limerick, draft markings in the hard shoulder to lenghten the exit lane. As it is you actually have to decelerate on the left lane of the motorway from three hundred or more metres out. Thats if you are familier with the junction. If you are not and you cruise into the slip at 120 kph you are left with a hell of a surprise coming up fast at you.

been another three bumps into the signs and the little orange sticks on this lilo since easter. Also, almost every day I see someone doing a u turn on the Roscrea-Templemore road because they missed the entry - signage is brutal.

The issue with these exits is more the short length of the deceleration / exit lane approaching them, which is completely non standard for the Irish motorway network (its more common on DC, i do appreciate).

The acceleration lanes to join the motorway are also much too short.

That is easy to fix, and simply requires a tin of paint.

lovelyhurler wrote: »

Just getting slightly off track here for a moment.
Came onto the M7 at Roscrea heading northbound toward Dublin the other day. The new distance sign after you join the Motorway says Dublin 110Km. Yet when you travel the 15 or so kilometers to Borris-in-Ossary, the next distance sign says Dublin 112Km.
So you've headed toward Dublin but gotten further away from it?????

Old roads distance may be less than or greater and the coco pops (county councillors) have not put down the old signs? If the signage offline is green then thats definitely the case.

Old road sign should be white with distances only to the next couple of towns over, not the long distance destinations.

veryangryman wrote: »

Brutal is stretching it a bit. The exit sign should perhaps be a bit more 90 degree etc

But TBH these 3 people are likely morons. Expect the unexpected should be the motto of any driver with half a brain.

Personally if im driving any Motorway and come to an unfamiliar exit, i assume its going to be that way and slow down accordingly.

It takes time for country dwellers to get used to a motorway/dc - its the same the world over. You dont see people on Athlone bypass hitting these signs even on the worst exits (J12 and J13)

sorry, i meant the sinage on the templemore-roscrea road onto the motorway is brutal, it can cause you to easily miss the entry.

lovelyhurler wrote: »

Just getting slightly off track here for a moment.
Came onto the M7 at Roscrea heading northbound toward Dublin the other day. The new distance sign after you join the Motorway says Dublin 110Km. Yet when you travel the 15 or so kilometers to Borris-in-Ossary, the next distance sign says Dublin 112Km.
So you've headed toward Dublin but gotten further away from it?????

i think what happened here is that you are a victim of two different contractors - from Borris in Ossory it was a different company who built it, and somehow this was missed. When the new sections of the Motorway opened from portloaise westwards they did change the distance signs on the old portlaoise bypass.

but they didnt on the Nass road

richiek83 wrote: »

Slightly off topic from the Roscrea section of the M7. I was just scanning the new Kildare County Development Plan which comes into effect tomorrow. Two interesting proposals from their Roads Objectives. These are

RP 4: To examine the feasibility of the provision of a connection between the M7 and the east side of Newbridge. This in my opinion would create a new Junction some one or two miles past the M7/M9 Junction.

RP 6: To provide for "all vehicle movements" at the M7 (Junction 11) / M9 (Junction 1) Interchange.


Whether they ever see the light of day is one thing but interesting objectives all the same. I also noted that the council has maintained its objective to have a third lane in each direction along the M7 as the need arises

RP4 will be fought tooth and nail by the NRA as they want to keep as few junctions as reasonable on the motorway.

RP6 should be provided if/when it becomes D3 from the Naas Road to the M7/9 split. Lump it in as one project [and do the M7/8 one while they're at it, that should never have been built limited access]

OhMeOhMy wrote: »

Every time I drive this part without fail, the car starts shaking slighty and vibrating. Anyone know why this is? I was thinking there could be some magnetic field explanation or something

I've noticed this too! My car has low suspension so notice pretty much everything! It's at one particular point along that scenic route, and I always grab the wheel thinking my tyre's after bursting! I presume it's just an eneven surface though... interesting someone else noticed that!!

As an aside, noticed a brood of ducklings (I think) by the central median, inside the while line, after the cork m8 exit today on way to LMK today. Two by two, waddling along - tiny things. Think the mother had been run over in hard shoulder. My icy heart melted for a brief moment...wanted to ring somebody, but who to contact in such circumstances? Seemed a bit devastating...

JupiterKid wrote: »

Those poor ducklings.:( I've seen a disturbing amount of road kill on some stretches of the M7 - particularly the section between Nenagh and Birdhill and the part between Portlaoise and the M7-M8 split. I think that the concrete central barrier is acting as an uncrossable wall to small animals who finds themselves on the carrigeways and thus they can't dart out of the traffic - making the barrier a death trap.

It was my understanding that "wildlife" tunnels were constructed under these roads? Perhaps not enough were provided?

The M6 between Athlone and Moate was pretty full of them for some time too. This is a fairly new road so maybe same story.

Takes the animals time to adapt i guess. Tragically in some cases

OhMeOhMy wrote: »

Yeah maybe it is uneven surface, although it reallys feels like the tremors are coming from the engine. It doesn't happen at the same place going in the opposite direction so maybe you're right................ (cue X-files music)

If we're all thinking about the same place (just before taking the gentle right before climbing the hills around the Birdhill exit?) I've only ever noticed it in the left lane.