M9 motorway (general thread)

road_high · 09-02-2013 2:27am

Have to say the Traffic counts for the M9 are more than interesting http://nraextra.nra.ie/CurrentTrafficCounterData/html/M08-4.htm. They certainly compare well with the M8 for instance, and I mean on the untolled sections. No evidence to suggest 3 years later it was the white elephant many predicted.

fricatus · 09-02-2013 4:32am

road_high wrote: »

Have to say the Traffic counts for the M9 are more than interesting http://nraextra.nra.ie/CurrentTrafficCounterData/html/M08-4.htm. They certainly compare well with the M8 for instance, and I mean on the untolled sections. No evidence to suggest 3 years later it was the white elephant many predicted.

Yeah, I remember the arguments at the time on this forum. I mean you'd swear they were building the motorway to fcuking Craggy Island the way some people went on.

Fact is, there are around 65,000 people in the Waterford/Tramore area, which compares well enough to the 75,000 in Galway. That's not to mention that there are some fairly big towns along the way (mainly Carlow and Kilkenny) which bolster the argument.

Nobody ever suggested not building a motorway from Dublin to Galway, because it seemed to be self-evidently necessary. However a motorway between Waterford and Dublin had to be a colossal waste of money. What a load of b0llocks - anyone making that argument had no idea of the population distribution in this country. Some people in this country really have to take the blinkers off.

Of course it probably would have made more economic sense to build a single M9-M8 to about Kilkenny or even beyond, and then split the Waterford and Cork traffic there, but that's a separate argument. A motorway link between Waterford and Dublin always made sense, and it's nice to see that vindicated!

road_high · 09-02-2013 12:22pm

fricatus wrote: »

Yeah, I remember the arguments at the time on this forum. I mean you'd swear they were building the motorway to fcuking Craggy Island the way some people went on.

Fact is, there are around 65,000 people in the Waterford/Tramore area, which compares well enough to the 75,000 in Galway. That's not to mention that there are some fairly big towns along the way (mainly Carlow and Kilkenny) which bolster the argument.

Nobody ever suggested not building a motorway from Dublin to Galway, because it seemed to be self-evidently necessary. However a motorway between Waterford and Dublin had to be a colossal waste of money. What a load of b0llocks - anyone making that argument had no idea of the population distribution in this country. Some people in this country really have to take the blinkers off.

Of course it probably would have made more economic sense to build a single M9-M8 to about Kilkenny or even beyond, and then split the Waterford and Cork traffic there, but that's a separate argument. A motorway link between Waterford and Dublin always made sense, and it's nice to see that vindicated!

I think people were (conveniently) taking the old atrocious N9 figures and translating them to the motorway. This was never going to be the case as it was far far worse than any other inter city N road of the day. Once the M9 opened a lot of other traffic has since transferred onto the motorway and trade has definitely increased between all the towns and cities of the region.
Example being I was talking to a truck driver in Portloaise that regularly transports between New Ross port and Laois/Kildare.
He now always uses the M9 via Waterford instead of the old R700. That's just one example. He says it's just as quick (despite being longer mileage) and the safety benefits are self explanatory.

Al Capwned · 09-02-2013 1:10pm

road_high wrote: »

Work to add an extra merging lane with the M7 is progressing nicely. Will be a big help to safety and traffic flows once finshed. Nice and long lane as well.

Be nice if they would unrestrict the junction too i.e. allow southerly flows off the M9 to M7 south vice versa. All roads do not need to lead to Dublin and there's quite a bit of traffic to/from M9 to Newbridge/Kildare that would use this rather than cross country through the Curragh or Athgarvan.

Couldnt agree more with your second paragraph - Kilcullen does be a nightmare at times for me heading to newbridge. So much so that the volume of traffic now going across by Sunnyhill must be considered dangerous.

road_high · 09-02-2013 1:44pm

Al Capwned wrote: »

Couldnt agree more with your second paragraph - Kilcullen does be a nightmare at times for me heading to newbridge. So much so that the volume of traffic now going across by Sunnyhill must be considered dangerous.

I always take the back road cross country from old n78 junction. Not the most convenient but find it quicker usually.

road_high · 10-02-2013 12:07am

Sorry, wrong link here to the NRA traffic counts page;
http://nraextra.nra.ie/CurrentTrafficCounterData/index.html

Trick of the Tail · 13-02-2013 11:05am

Who has responsibility for the day to day upkeep of this and other motorways? The NRA?

I ask because having driven the length of the M9 twice yesterday I was struck by the amount of debris all over the road. Bits of tyres, mostly, but I did spot a whole bumper at one point on the hard shoulder, and countless other bits and pieces, some on the verge byt a few on a carriageway.

I was driving a 4x4, but if I'd been in a small car this debris would not have been nice to hit, at night maybe when you can't see it to dodge it.

Its a mess.

I know in the UK the Highways Agency patrol the motorways looking for this type of thing, but I've never seen such a patrol here.

A

road_high · 13-02-2013 6:26pm

Think its the local council I remember Kildare did their part a year or two ago and it looked really obvious which part had been done post sweeping.
The M9 has a shocking amout of debris alright.

fricatus · 28-02-2013 10:02am

Great to see the Gardaí pulling over a tractor on the M9 near Stonyford this morning (between J10 and J9).

Hopefully they're cracking down on this.

road_high · 28-02-2013 10:09am

fricatus wrote: »

Great to see the Gardaí pulling over a tractor on the M9 near Stonyford this morning (between J10 and J9).

Hopefully they're cracking down on this.

The M9 is really bad for tractors. I know it cuts through some of the best land in Ireland but the old road is adequate for their needs. I think if they can go over 50 kmh they're allowed though.

antoobrien · 28-02-2013 11:44am

fricatus wrote: »

Great to see the Gardaí pulling over a tractor on the M9 near Stonyford this morning (between J10 and J9).

Hopefully they're cracking down on this.

There's nothing to say that a tractor can't go on a motorway - provided it can keep up a minimum speed of 50km/h.

Aidan1 · 28-02-2013 12:57pm

The law is going to change shortly to ban tractors from Motorways, along with a change in the allowed weights for trailers etc. Part of the issue with the M9 is the fact that there's a lot of tillage farming in the area so you get very wide equipment trundling along the driving lane, often without proper lighting. Trailed cultivators and drills are the main problems, but big square balers can be fun too..

That said, the same equipment can cause serious jams on N roads where there are few overtaking options. I hate to think of the lost minutes I cost people on the road between Carlow and Kilcullen over the years.

road_high · 28-02-2013 1:43pm

Aidan1 wrote: »

The law is going to change shortly to ban tractors from Motorways, along with a change in the allowed weights for trailers etc. Part of the issue with the M9 is the fact that there's a lot of tillage farming in the area so you get very wide equipment trundling along the driving lane, often without proper lighting. Trailed cultivators and drills are the main problems, but big square balers can be fun too..

That said, the same equipment can cause serious jams on N roads where there are few overtaking options. I hate to think of the lost minutes I cost people on the road between Carlow and Kilcullen over the years.

This is it....between KK and Kilcullen contains some of the best tillage land (and also livestock land, the marts/meat factories for instance generate a lot of traffic too). The M8 through Cork/Tipp is the same. Less of anissue say on the M6 as the land is not as good.

rameire · 30-03-2013 1:50pm

Gardai say they will re-open the M9 fully as soon as it is safe to do so.

An articulated lorry jack-knifed across the centre of the motorway early this morning, leading to disruption across both sides of the road.

The driver escaped uninjured and the road is currently closed from junction 3 Athy/Ballitore to junction 6 Leighlinbridge, north and southbound.

The clean up of an oil spillage is currently underway and diversions are in place.

road_high · 31-03-2013 8:04pm

Looked pretty nasty, must have spilled a lot of oil/chemical or watever the truck was carrying. Both sides of the carriageway are marked and the median barrier was damaged. Hopefully it will be ok in the rain.

Quickelles · 01-04-2013 8:07pm

antoobrien wrote: »

There's nothing to say that a tractor can't go on a motorway - provided it can keep up a minimum speed of 50km/h.

I would regard 50 kph as dangerously slow in free flowing motorway traffic.

If the road ahead is clear the legal minimum should be 80 kph.

Quickelles · 01-04-2013 8:09pm

Aidan1 wrote: »

The law is going to change shortly to ban tractors from Motorways, along with a change in the allowed weights for trailers etc.

Sounds good. Is this definite? Any links?

Jamie2k9 · 02-04-2013 8:09pm

I know it may of being discussed already but is there any updates for the 2 services areas on the M9 (between J2-3 and J7-8). I notice the M8 at Fermoy has had a planning application lodged. The M9 is the worst motorway for getting any sort of services in a near by town, in most cases you have to drive for miles off the motorway. NRA should have the M9 top of the list and is it cost that's delaying things or something else.

Edit just spotted the threat about it Mod move if you wish.

L1011 · 02-04-2013 9:48pm

The M9 doesn't have enough traffic to make one of the official scale viable.

The fact that when it was the N9, there wasn't a "proper" station online between Leighlinbridge and Waterford itself does rather show this. There was one of some scale in Thomastown, but accessible only in one direction; other than that there were tiny shops with two pumps in a few places.

road_high · 02-04-2013 10:05pm

MYOB wrote: »

The M9 doesn't have enough traffic to make one of the official scale viable.

The fact that when it was the N9, there wasn't a "proper" station online between Leighlinbridge and Waterford itself does rather show this. There was one of some scale in Thomastown, but accessible only in one direction; other than that there were tiny shops with two pumps in a few places.

Traffic figures are equivalent and/or above most sections of the M6/7/8/1 on the M9 especially north of Kilkenny. No reason why a service station like cashel or mayfield would not be viable at all.

Jamie2k9 · 02-04-2013 10:34pm

The M9 doesn't have enough traffic to make one of the official scale viable.

The fact that when it was the N9, there wasn't a "proper" station online between Leighlinbridge and Waterford itself does rather show this. There was one of some scale in Thomastown, but accessible only in one direction; other than that there were tiny shops with two pumps in a few places.

Have you looked at the traffic count data, where the Service Station is proposed covers around 20,000 cars per day. Where the application on the M8 only handles around 15,000 per day.

L1011 · 03-04-2013 3:36pm

road_high wrote: »

Traffic figures are equivalent and/or above most sections of the M6/7/8/1 on the M9 especially north of Kilkenny. No reason why a service station like cashel or mayfield would not be viable at all.

North of Kilkenny is likely too close to Dublin (and heavily commuter traffic too) for a station to live off 20k.

South of KK couldn't support a proper station when it was the N9, it definitely can't now that the journey is 50% quicker.

Aquarius34 · 03-04-2013 3:41pm

MYOB wrote: »

North of Kilkenny is likely too close to Dublin (and heavily commuter traffic too) for a station to live off 20k.

South of KK couldn't support a proper station when it was the N9, it definitely can't now that the journey is 50% quicker.

I agree, The M7 has traffic volumes way higher at Kildare and Newbridge for the same reason. In and around 36,000 vehicles a day pass south of the M7/M9 junction. That is because most of the traffic at this part is majorly commuter traffic.

Jamie2k9 · 03-04-2013 3:43pm

North of Kilkenny is likely too close to Dublin

Fermoy is to close to Cork anyway its the one at Kilcullan that is likely to happen first. Not everybody in the M9 starts off from Dublin. The same can be said for Waterford,

Aquarius34 · 03-04-2013 3:48pm

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

Fermoy is to close to Cork anyway its the one at Kilcullan that is likely to happen first. Not everybody in the M9 starts off from Dublin. The same can be said for Waterford,

A service station at Paulstown seems Ideal, since it's almost mid-way and it used to be the old intersection with the N9/N10.

L1011 · 03-04-2013 6:58pm

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

Fermoy is to close to Cork anyway its the one at Kilcullan that is likely to happen first. Not everybody in the M9 starts off from Dublin. The same can be said for Waterford,

Far more people start on M8 journeys far further from Cork than vice versa.

I think the fact that there hasn't even been a whisper of an attempt at one shows the commercial realities.

Chris_5339762 · 03-04-2013 7:07pm

One at the M9/N24 roundabout maybe? Then the next one can be on the Naas bypass; that will have to do it for the M9.

Jamie2k9 · 03-04-2013 7:34pm

MYOB wrote: »

Far more people start on M8 journeys far further from Cork than vice versa.

I think the fact that there hasn't even been a whisper of an attempt at one shows the commercial realities.

You don't know that, how what about people from other areas of Waterford, New Ross etc.

L1011 · 03-04-2013 7:50pm

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

You don't know that, how what about people from other areas of Waterford, New Ross etc.

Still far smaller.

Every other interurban has had private msa efforts - nobody deems the m9 viable yet clearly

Jamie2k9 · 03-04-2013 7:53pm

MYOB wrote: »

Still far smaller.

Every other interurban has had private msa efforts - nobody deems the m9 viable yet clearly

Of course it has nothing to do with the M9 being miles away from towns when people come off the motorway....people are not going to drive that far for services.

L1011 · 03-04-2013 7:59pm

Irrelevant - if it was viable someone would build at a junction just like on other roads

And north of Kilkenny it does run along towns

Jamie2k9 · 03-04-2013 8:01pm

MYOB wrote: »

Irrelevant - if it was viable someone would build at a junction just like on other roads

where else have they just being build besides J14 M7.

L1011 · 03-04-2013 8:10pm

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

where else have they just being build besides J14 M7.

Moneygall. M1 balbriggan. Cashel is outside a town. Kilbeggan is only a village

road_high · 03-04-2013 8:33pm

MYOB wrote: »

Still far smaller.

Every other interurban has had private msa efforts - nobody deems the m9 viable yet clearly

Give it a chance it's only open 2.5 years the last section! There is/was planning in for a service station like Cashel just off the N10 link road where it meets the Kilkenny ring road so that shows private sector interest even if it's off the mainline M9.

Aidan1 · 04-04-2013 9:41am

And north of Kilkenny it does run along towns

Thats an interesting point - there does seem to be less demand for services on the route. The N9 got a few reasonable petrol stations with services late in its life (the Esso north of Castledermot and at Crookstown for example), but never had the same density of services as the N7/8 or N4/6, particularly if you wanted hot food.

Al Capwned · 04-04-2013 9:53am

Aidan1 wrote: »

Thats an interesting point - there does seem to be less demand for services on the route. The N9 got a few reasonable petrol stations with services late in its life (the Esso north of Castledermot and at Crookstown for example), but never had the same density of services as the N7/8 or N4/6, particularly if you wanted hot food.

The Maxol at the other end of the town is twice the facility in fairness.

Aidan1 · 04-04-2013 2:01pm

That's Horan's place, right? That only got an upgrade even later I think (I stopped using that route heavily once the sections of the M7/8 started to open - so 2004/5). In any case, I used to use the one in Crookstown more - easier to park heavy machinery outside it.

Al Capwned · 04-04-2013 3:47pm

Aidan1 wrote: »

That's Horan's place, right? That only got an upgrade even later I think (I stopped using that route heavily once the sections of the M7/8 started to open - so 2004/5). In any case, I used to use the one in Crookstown more - easier to park heavy machinery outside it.

Yeah that's the one. Much better place, staff, products, service than the other spot.....

Parking is the only issue - anything with a trailer etc, you'd be struggling....

road_high · 04-04-2013 7:26pm

Crookstown is still mad busy most times I called in. I like it as it's very spacious and lots of pumps. If only it were a little closer to the M9.

rameire · 18-04-2013 9:57pm

they were removing the temp barriers and sweeping the road this evening as I was passing at the M9 to M7 merge.

Trick of the Tail · 21-04-2013 12:29pm

Very mangled barriers over a bridge section south of Mullinavat - the hard shoulder's coned off and some temporary Armco in place.

Whatever hit it must have done so violently, and very lucky not to go over!

A.

Al Capwned · 21-04-2013 1:54pm

rameire wrote: »

they were removing the temp barriers and sweeping the road this evening as I was passing at the M9 to M7 merge.

Up that way this morning, and it's sill coned off to one lane.

rameire · 21-04-2013 2:22pm

Al Capwned wrote: »

Up that way this morning, and it's sill coned off to one lane.

passed it again yesterday, all they need to do is complete the painting of the white lines and it is done.

Bards · 21-04-2013 4:47pm

alinton wrote: »

Very mangled barriers over a bridge section south of Mullinavat - the hard shoulder's coned off and some temporary Armco in place.

Whatever hit it must have done so violently, and very lucky not to go over!

A.

http://www.kilkennypeople.ie/news/local/man-badly-injured-in-m9-crash-1-4999858

fricatus · 22-04-2013 10:49am

Bards wrote: »

http://www.kilkennypeople.ie/news/local/man-badly-injured-in-m9-crash-1-4999858

Shiiiiiit...

rameire · 27-04-2013 9:46pm

the M9 to M7 merge has been completed and is open,
drove it today, its nice and long, surface isnt great, but it will do.
unfortunately the drivers are idiots and wont stick to the rules of the road and will cross the hatched lines when they need for some reason to get to the overtaking lane.

Rabidlamb · 01-05-2013 11:59am

rameire wrote: »

the M9 to M7 merge has been completed and is open,
drove it today, its nice and long, surface isnt great, but it will do.
unfortunately the drivers are idiots and wont stick to the rules of the road and will cross the hatched lines when they need for some reason to get to the overtaking lane.

It's an odd one, never seen a merge setup like it.
Stay in the right lane & you merge as before.
Stay in the left lane & you go half a km before you merge.

Having 2 merging points means traffic now gets stalled twice going north, Especially on a Monday when both lanes of the M7 are full.

I'm surprised they didn't resurface the Emergency Vehicle run through the trees while they were down there, that mystery road saved me on more than one occasion with crashes ahead or All-Ireland Final days.

Bards · 01-05-2013 12:16pm

Rabidlamb wrote: »

It's an odd one, never seen a merge setup like it.
Stay in the right lane & you merge as before.
Stay in the left lane & you go half a km before you merge.

Having 2 merging points means traffic now gets stalled twice going north, Especially on a Monday when both lanes of the M7 are full.

I'm surprised they didn't resurface the Emergency Vehicle run through the trees while they were down there, that mystery road saved me on more than one occasion with crashes ahead or All-Ireland Final days.

Sounds like the setup on the N7 -> M50 (N) merge

Alun · 01-05-2013 12:21pm

Bards wrote: »

Sounds like the setup on the N7 -> M50 (N) merge

.. and many, many others. Honestly it's not an unusual setup at all.

fricatus · 01-05-2013 4:50pm

Alun wrote: »

.. and many, many others. Honestly it's not an unusual setup at all.

Definitely seen this on the M25 around London.

M9 motorway (general thread)

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