Roads are not the answer

sligoliner

they just are not...

M50 reaches 'crisis capacity'
From:The Irish Independent
Tuesday, 15th July, 2003



Motorway needs extra lane each way and bigger junctions to keep traffic flowing

THE biggest motorway in the country cannot cope with the volumes of traffic now using it.

And the gloomy outlook for the tens of thousands of motorists who use the M50 every day is that it is going to get much worse.

It will be at least five years - more likely ten - before the crisis can be eased, experts said yesterday.

It needs an extra lane added in each direction and massive construction of 'spaghetti' junctions at current intersections to make it possible for cars to join or leave the motorway without impeding the flow of traffic.

Such a major overhaul is estimated to cost an estimated €750m.

Given the extent of restraints on expenditure, the prospect of action is limited.

Even if work began in the morning, it would take years to complete such is the complexity of the work on the major junctions in particular.

Yesterday, a senior figure with National Toll Roads (NTR) revealed that the current two-lane M50 cannot cope.

Even additional lanes won't solve the problem, unless the critical access and exit junctions are radically restructured, according to NTR's Tony McClafferty.

The managing director of NTR's road division said the M50 is now at "crisis capacity".

And when the Port Tunnel is on stream it will add another 6,000 heavy goods vehicles each way each day on to the motorway.

Mr McClafferty's West-Link toll booths have been criticised for contributing to the gridlock with demands for the barriers to be lifted at peak times to reduce the tailbacks that occur.

But, with new lanes across the bridge now coming on stream, he was adamant the major problem lies with inadequate junctions and the overall traffic carrying capacity of the M50.

He said: "It is clear the two-lane M50 cannot cope. Intersections are the key problem. They are the source of the logjams. And the Red Cow is going to get worse with Luas."

Mr McClafferty was responding to questions at a briefing for motoring journalists on the extra lanes on the West-Link.

He said the decision to alleviate the current M50 crisis is a political one.

With "real vision" and around €750m, National Roads Authority plans could be implemented relatively quickly. But it would require "real political will".

But the underlying message for motorists was blunt: without immediate action they will have to endure the daily nightmare for years to come.

The situation is so critical that minor incidents are having major traffic repercussions along the length of the motorway.

While the complete upgrade of the M50 would take years, it may be possible to begin to work on sections in a piecemeal fashion.

If there is no upgrade, the NTR believes there is "absolutely no doubt" that M50 traffic will become an even bigger problem.

They base their predictions on a number of key factors.

Dublin Airport will attract an extra one million passengers a year, many of them using the M50 to get there and back.

The explosion of business and shopping centres means traffic is increasing at off-peak times, especially on Saturdays and Sundays.

The population of adjoining counties is increasing, car ownership in the Greater Dublin Area has increased by 70pc, and traffic on the M50/West-Link is up 65pc.

Eddie Cunningham Motoring Correspondent



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Sleipnir

well what is the answer then?

flav0rflav

Flying boats.

Ireland, a country of roundabouts - with traffic lights on them! An Irish solution to a problem everyone else solved with proper on-off ramps and bridges.

Sparks

Ireland, a country of roundabouts -

It's a country of roundabouts inhabited by those that don't know how to drive round them...

parasite

speaking of roundabouts, is the airport roundabout in Cork the worst in the country ?
:eek:

Victor

I really hate they way they complain about the extra traffic when they are taking in about €100,000 a day :rolleyes: (on and initial investment of about Ir£10M)

sceptre

Originally posted by parasite
speaking of roundabouts, is the airport roundabout in Cork the worst in the country ?
:eek:

I don't know about that to be honest - the Red Cow is pretty crazy. On the other hand the circle of death in Cork has lanes that just merge and disappear with no notice. I go around it occasionally (& obviously on the way to the airport) & had the joy of going round it in my ignition test.

We'll go with "yes" then, though an hour with a can of paint would sort it to some degree.

sceptre

Originally posted by sligoliner quoting NTR (lovely people)
Yesterday, a senior figure with National Toll Roads (NTR) revealed that the current two-lane M50 cannot cope.

Ooh, there's a shock. People using it have known that for some time. Let's use the word "agreed" rather than "revealed" than, shall we?

Mr McClafferty's West-Link toll booths have been criticised for contributing to the gridlock with demands for the barriers to be lifted at peak times to reduce the tailbacks that occur.

But, with new lanes across the bridge now coming on stream, he was adamant the major problem lies with inadequate junctions and the overall traffic carrying capacity of the M50.

I suppose he wouldn't complain if we spent 25 million building a new bridge parallel to his where the barriers are lifted during gridlock peak times then?

OK, I'm being silly - but he started it.

Sleipnir

roundabouts are cheap. Cheap and easy to build (then again, some contractors built ones that are quite round!)
Of course the NRA went with roundabouts with lights on them (which defeats the purpose of a roundabout in my view)
Flyovers are the only answer to keeping traffic flowing on the M50.

dmeehan

the M50 didnt have "proper" junctions from the start as the DTO (in their wisdom) thought that it would give too much emphasis on traffic going into town, and not promote use of public transport:rolleyes: