M7 Nenagh Bypass

megapixel

What's the story with the nenagh bypass????

kman

it's being upgraded to dual carriageway as part of the new Limerick - Dublin interurban...link

megapixel

Had guessed that is what they were up to.
But have you seen the cut of the road in the last few weeks, bollards all down the whole length of the by-pass, narrowing the lanes and 60kph speed limit.

larchill

Aye! Was down that way a few weeks back. Bloody nusance too the whole length of the bypass.

culabula88

cant believe the number of cones on the bypass at the moment. it must be a record.

When will the motorway from Limerick to Nenagh be finished . Where will the toll booth be situated ?

icdg

There isn't a toll on this scheme, there will be tolls on the M7 Portlaoise - Castletown (really Borris-on-Ossery) and N7 Limerick Tunnel schemes however. The toll location on the M7 will be between junctions 18 (R445 for Portlaoise West / Mountrath - present M7 terminus) and 19 (M8 for Cork).

Its also a HQDC rather than a motorway (the Limerick-Nenagh scheme, that is) with the Nenagh bypass being standard D2AP.

culabula88

whats HQDC and D2AP mean ?

Irish and Proud

culabula88 wrote: »

whats HQDC and D2AP mean ?

HQDC = High Quality Dual Carriageway

This type of road is generally designed to motorway specs (120kph), and is usually segregated from the road it is replacing (off-line). A few deviations from motorway requirements would be: provision of lay-bys, omission of emergency phones, drastic reduction regarding lighting coverage at interchanges, plus allowing use of mainline by all traffic types.

D2AP - All Purpose Dual 2 Lane Carriageway (4 lanes in all)

This road type would generally be inferior to the HQDC, although it can be completely grade separated - the Naas dual carriageway would be a D3AP (six lanes) - this road is entirely grade separated (except Newlands Cross that is!), but there are many private access points opening directly onto the mainline, while some of the interchanges feature LILOs (Left In / Left Out) perpendicular slip roads, as well as very short parallel ramps at some locations. The mainline design speed is just 100kph, while a parallel alternative road is not maintained alongside the entire length of the scheme (steelstown etc). In short, a dual carriageway which does not meet motorway or HQDC requirements would be regarded as an All Purpose Dual Carriageway. Also, these roads can have at at-grade junctions or roundabouts.

Regards!

MDTyKe

HQDC's *are* essentially motorways except for the lines and signs; plus you may find a tractor on them.. though I see them on Motorways anyway so that hardly matters.. but they're usually nice enough to go onto the shoulder.

Most HQDC's are planned to be upgraded to motorway status; and one of the recent upgrades... N7 I think or N6 (can't remember) that's being built as had it changed to M status already, before it's been opened. They're saying most of the new HQDC's will be upgraded to M before the end of the year.. im just hoping the new bit of the N1 to the border with NI gets upgraded.. its stupid going from A1/N1/M1 to get to Dublin - makes it awkward to describe.


Matt

icdg

Irish and Proud wrote: »

HQDC = High Quality Dual Carriageway

This type of road is generally designed to motorway specs (120kph), and is usually segregated from the road it is replacing (off-line). A few deviations from motorway requirements would be: provision of lay-bys, omission of emergency phones, drastic reduction regarding lighting coverage at interchanges, plus allowing use of mainline by all traffic types.

D2AP - All Purpose Dual 2 Lane Carriageway (4 lanes in all)

This road type would generally be inferior to the HQDC, although it can be completely grade separated - the Naas dual carriageway would be a D3AP (six lanes) - this road is entirely grade separated (except Newlands Cross that is!), but there are many private access points opening directly onto the mainline, while some of the interchanges feature LILOs (Left In / Left Out) perpendicular slip roads, as well as very short parallel ramps at some locations. The mainline design speed is just 100kph, while a parallel alternative road is not maintained alongside the entire length of the scheme (steelstown etc). In short, a dual carriageway which does not meet motorway or HQDC requirements would be regarded as an All Purpose Dual Carriageway. Also, these roads can have at at-grade junctions or roundabouts.

Regards!

To kind of complicate the above, a HQDC is also a D2AP... the "all purpose" refers to the fact that the road is open to all vehicle traffic. Hence no "NO" signs at entrances restricting the traffic that can use it. A HQDC is essentially simply a motorway standard road with no restrictions.

The Roads Act 2007 allows any HQDC to be designated a motorway provided there is a public consultation. Problem with the cross-border N1/A1 is that Northern Ireland would also have to designate its section a motorway from the Jonesborough B113 junction southwards in order to allow non-motorway traffic an escape route.

spacetweek

MDTyKe wrote: »

plus you may find a tractor on them.. though I see them on Motorways anyway so that hardly matters.. but they're usually nice enough to go onto the shoulder.

What?? You should have called the police. This is EXTREMELY dangerous.

Irish and Proud

MDTyKe wrote: »

... im just hoping the new bit of the N1 to the border with NI gets upgraded.. its stupid going from A1/N1/M1 to get to Dublin - makes it awkward to describe.


Matt

Forget it mate! Yes, the N1 north of Dundalk is designed to motorway specs (including the 120kph limit), but as an alternative route is not provided throughout the length of the scheme, there's nowhere for non-motorway traffic to get through other than the mainline.

BTW, did you notice how badly laid one section of the northbound carriageway was - I hope the NRA make the contractors redo it - although most other parts of the road seemed nicely done, the part in question is disgraceful to say the least!

Regards!