N77 after the M8 opens - Weird.

Danno

Hi guys - just looking at this map - http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e6/National_Roads_2007.JPG

It appears that the N77 will run from Kilkenny to Cullohill. What is the purpose of this? Why not extend the N77 to link Portlaoise (nearly the size of a city now) to Kilkenny City? Who plans these routes?

marmurr1916

The N77 goes from Kilkenny to Durrow at the moment; you're right it could be extended to Portlaoise (along line of what will be old N8 when M8 opens).

Better yet, the N77 could be upgraded to dual-carriageway from KK to the M8 (near Durrow) - combined with an up-grade to DC of the southern section of the N10 (to join the M9) and an up-grade to DC of the N80 from Portlaoise to the M6 between Moate and Kilbeggan you'd have a motorway/dual-carriageway from Waterford-Kilkenny-Portlaoise-Athlone-Galway.

This would provide an alternative route for traffic from Galway to Waterford, reducing congestion on the N18/N24 route, and would only be about 25km longer.

Danno

I seriously doubt they would ever do that, they can't even take bad bends off the N77 let alone widen it.

ipodrocker

why would would they extend the n77 to portlaoise if they are already building a new m8 from portlaoise to culahill

Danno

The M8 is going much further west than the existing N8 at Abbeyleix and Durrow. The N77 route will serve no purpose linking Cullohill to Kilkenny.

Danno

Why not rename the N8 from Portlaoise to Durrow as the N77 instead of downgrading it to regional status.

Irish and Proud

Danno wrote: »

Why not rename the N8 from Portlaoise to Durrow as the N77 instead of downgrading it to regional status.

Well, that would make sense!

Diverting the N77 towards the M8 junction near Rathdowney would be a complete waste of time. Firstly, one would have to go well out of his/her way to avail of the new M7-M8, and secondly, there's paying for the privilage. So yes! - redesignate the old N8 through Abbeyleix as the N77 ext - afterall, much of it is a pretty good road - and then there's a perfect excuse for building the Abbeyleix By-pass (N77).

Regards!

serfboard

Irish and Proud wrote: »

redesignate the old N8 through Abbeyleix as the N77 ext - afterall, much of it is a pretty good road - and then there's a perfect excuse for building the Abbeyleix By-pass (N77).

Yes, that does seem more sensible. However, if you do build an Abbeyleix bypass, then you make the 'old' N8 attractive again, resulting in less people using the new motorway - a situation that the company that has the PPP concession would presumably be unhappy with (and possibly could lead to legal action, since the government could then be seen to be undermining the contract).

Danno

Seemingly in Abbeyleix there are plans for an inner relief road but it is being met with stiff oposition locally!

Carawaystick

the n77 joins the n8 at Durrow. when the M8's built, instead of orphaning the Durrow end of the N77, it will be continued to the M/N8 at Cullahill, where'll there'll be a junction with the m/n8. this section of the current N8 has been improved recently. the N8 from Durrow to almost Portlaoise is pretty crap. it's also much longer and te NRA would have to pay something keep the road as it would be a national road than the short route to Culahill. Some might think this is the real reason...

Same thing is gonna happen at Loughrea N66/N65 will be re routed to the M6 along the new access route to the M6 and the existing N6 will be downgraded.

Victor

There will be a short bypass around Durrow, from the Kilkenny Road to the Cork Road.

spacetweek

If the intention here in a larger sense is to create a Waterford-Galway route that doesn't go via Limerick, then the most sensible option would be to upgrade the N80 from east of Athlone to Carlow. Existing roads can be used for the rest. This also takes in Portlaoise, a major midlands town.

In addition, a long-term project could be to upgrade the N52 from Tullamore to Dundalk, creating an N52-N80 Leinster bypass and linking all the major radials. The N80 section is more important in the short term though.

Victor

The N52 and N80 are indeed the mostly highly rated national secondary routes and are likely to be completely upgraded to S2 standard.

Irish and Proud

Victor wrote: »

The N52 and N80 are indeed the mostly highly rated national secondary routes and are likely to be completely upgraded to S2 standard.

...if we ride out the economic downturn that is!

After the interurbans (which are basically a done deal for 2010!), the AWC, N4, N5 and N11 would next up for consideration towards 2015. However, the N52 between Mullingar and Tullamore should be completed by then - though the N52 Carrickbridge to Dalystown and N52 Kilbeggan to Tullamore sections have yet to commence construction!

There's hoping though!

road_high

Is there not a junction (going to be) on the Durrow-Ballacolla road?
Would imagine KK traffic would naturally take that exit if possible.

Seems mad to go to Cullahill (in the wrong direction) unless ur Cork bound. Will just mean Traffic will go to Urlingford to join the M8 in future

Carawaystick

Ah but if you follow the money, it makes sense.
Why make it easy/safer/faster for people to turn right onto the existing N8 at Durrow, instead of sending them by the toll road M8?

Cian R

Portlaoise (nearly the size of a city now)



HARDLY visit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portlaoise


and then you will see that Portlaoise is 30% the size of Waterford: the Republic's smallest OFFICIAL city.