M8 - Cashel to Mitchelstown

Chris_533976

Ok Cashel to Cahir opened last October. The whole scheme officially is due to be finished in Q3 2008.

Now given the early opening of just about everything thesedays (due to speed or ludicrously long timescales), how close in reality is Mitchelstown - Cahir from opening?

ie: How long till the whole scheme is complete? Anyone in the area got more infos on this?

corktina

some way off...no road markings in places yet and connecting spur to N7 still being built....

corktina

oh and work on the Mitchelstown to Fermoy section has started btw...

Chris_533976

Thx. What do you mean by the connecting spur to the N7 BTW? Thats one hell of a spur

corktina

it will be the route to mallow eveNTUALLY i IMAGINE BUT INITIALLY WILL BE THE SOUTHERN END OF THE NEW ROAD WHILST THE SECTION TO fERMOY IS BEING BUILT....oops sorry to shout...:)

Theyve recently started work at the point it comes out on to the old road...this has meant closure of the climbing lane....

icdg

Chris_533976 wrote: »

Thx. What do you mean by the connecting spur to the N7 BTW? Thats one hell of a spur

Presumably the OP is referring to the under-construction M8 Portlaoise-Culahill project (joint project with M7 Portlaoise-Castletown). Even then, there's the whole 40km or so Culahill-Cashel project in between that and Cashel-Mitchelstown...

E92

Chris_533976 wrote: »

Ok Cashel to Cahir opened last October. The whole scheme officially is due to be finished in Q3 2008.

Now given the early opening of just about everything thesedays (due to speed or ludicrously long timescales), how close in reality is Mitchelstown - Cahir from opening?

ie: How long till the whole scheme is complete? Anyone in the area got more infos on this?

I remember reading on the NRA's website sometime back that it was Q2 2009 that this was supposed to be done, so I'd say this road will indeed be done according to what they are saying now(the having it done earlier has been taken account for now by the NRA evidently).

corktina

sorry n8 i meant obviously..

Stark

It may actually be the M8 Cashel to Mitchelstown with this new motorway order stuff

I remember 2009 being the original completion timeframe as well according to the NRA site. Good news on it being brought forward to Q3 2008, that's not too far away. I wonder will they open the section between the current end point and the Kilcoran Lodge before then...

Niall1234

Stark wrote: »

It may actually be the M8 Cashel to Mitchelstown with this new motorway order stuff

Almost certainly will be. I can't imagine that they would build a brand new HQDC section to link two sections of motorway.

Lennoxschips

motorway all the way from dublin to cork... i feel old

i can remember the motorway ending at naas

[/nostalgia]

1huge1

I dont really understand why the did all that big job with the mitchelstown ring road (for the fermoy bypass) and now there gonna make a motorway bypassing it, why did they build both

corktina

there is other traffic other than Cork to Dublin inolved...ie the N72 to Mallow/Killarney and the R road via Ballylanders which is quite busy with Cork to Tipperary traffic....

Zoney

There are various towns which have been bypassed by an interurban yet still could do with a relief road or indeed do have one. E.g. Portlaoise (still has a national road, N80, going through centre of town) and Nenagh (has a relief road for the N52 as well as the N7 bypass).

It is just as well Mitchelstown has the relief road on the north and western sides as the N73 and R513 have a fair bit of traffic.

mackerski

Lennoxschips wrote: »

motorway all the way from dublin to cork... i feel old

i can remember the motorway ending at naas

[/nostalgia]

That's nothing - I can remember the dualler ending at the Dublin side of Naas.

Victor

Lennoxschips wrote: »

i can remember the motorway ending at naas

It still does!

Niall1234

Lennoxschips wrote: »

motorway all the way from dublin to cork... i feel old

i can remember the motorway ending at naas

[/nostalgia]

Not quite, it will be motorway all the way from Watergrasshill to the end of the Naas bypass.

Hopefully the government will see sense and chance Glanmire to Watergrasshill to Motorway too. I can't see any reason why they wouldn't.

Chris_533976

Its not that bendy either. Though you'd have to end the motorway a few hundred metres before the Dunkettle roundabout due to local traffic not having a sane alternative.

Stick a 100kmh limit on it if its bad, I cant understand why they arent motorwaying this bit too

Niall1234

Chris, the Glanmire to Watergrasshill section is even better than the Fermoy bypass in my mind.

Dunkettle to the top of Glanmire is a bit twisty although as you say, Motorway with a 100 kph limit would be ideal.

Rowley Birkin QC

I work on that site, summer and weekends and from Cahir to well beyond Skeheenarinky is tarred, not marked yet. The end of that site is just the Mitchelstown of Kilbehenny, that section is still just haul road, i.e. just compacted 804 with no tar, bridgeworks still ongoing too.

The Mitchelstown site is beyond this and the big dig started there around 3 months ago AFAIK. As for completion date, I don't know but the fact they are going across the valley at Gloccamaura will probably slow things up a fair bit.

D.L.R.

Lennoxschips wrote: »

motorway all the way from dublin to cork... i feel old

i can remember the motorway ending at naas

[/nostalgia]

Its funny, you drive from Dublin to Naas on a 3 lane highway, but it doesn't become a motorway until it gets narrower! Ah Ireland

Chris_533976

Niall1234 wrote: »

Chris, the Glanmire to Watergrasshill section is even better than the Fermoy bypass in my mind.

Dunkettle to the top of Glanmire is a bit twisty although as you say, Motorway with a 100 kph limit would be ideal.

Haha yeah I agree. You come along the new style narrow median, narrow lane, jersey barrier 120kmh Fermoy bypass, then come to the wide median, wider lane, hedge barrier Watergrasshill bypass and the speed limit drops to 100!!

E92

Chris_533976 wrote: »

Haha yeah I agree. You come along the new style narrow median, narrow lane, jersey barrier 120kmh Fermoy bypass, then come to the wide median, wider lane, hedge barrier Watergrasshill bypass and the speed limit drops to 100!!

How come that road got called a Motorway, it seems very narrow compared to the N8 before the Motorway? It seems as narrow as the Cashel bypass(which is also due to be upgraded to Motorway, even though I remember seeing on the NRA's website that it is in fact a standard Dual Carriageway).

Will the rest of the road to Dublin due to be done be as narrow as the Fermoy bypass or will it be as wide as the road from Dunketttle-Fermoy bypass and the Port Laoise- Naas Motorway?

icdg

The Fermoy bypass is not actually narrower than normal for a motorway. Its' full motorway standard as far as the carriageways/road space/design speed is concerned. What is different compared to previous motorways is the median, there is only a crash barrier instead of a wide grass median as previously used. That's why it feels narrower. It is held to be a lot safer than the grass median. Many motorways throughout Europe use only barriers (usually steel rather than concrete in other countries though).

Most of the new motorways/HQDCs will only have narrow medians like this, the N6 Kinnegad-Kilbeggan is the same and (although its not strictly HQDC) the Gorey bypass.Wide medians will now only be used where it is necessary to future proof easy upgrade to D3M (ie near cities).

The Cashel Bypass is indeed only standard DC, as will the Nenagh bypass be once its retrofit. None theless motorway regulations are to apply to both if the orders under the Roads Act 2007 are met. It makes sense as they will only be short streches of standard DC in the middle of HQDCs and unlike Athlone/Mullingar bypasses and the N11/N18 there are no LILOs, private accesses, junctions nearly on top of each other, or any other difficulties that would stop them being motorways. I imagine a 100km/h will remain on both though.

Lennoxschips

mackerski wrote: »

That's nothing - I can remember the dualler ending at the Dublin side of Naas.

sisi, that's what i meant...

as much as these new roads are fast, i can't say i won't miss driving from town to town

1huge1

The barriers are safer than the grass medians? I sure wouldnt like to hit the wall on the fermoy bypass.

Stark

With the grass median you can cross over into the other carriageway and end up in a head on collision with a car/truck doing 80-120km/hr. The concrete barrier helps contain the carnage to one carriageway and helps avoid head on collisions.

Chris_533976

Difference is you'd bit the wall at a fairly small angle (giving you an effective sideways 'hitting speed' of 10-20mph) and slide along it, slowing down as you go.

You'll go through a hedge and smack into oncoming traffic.

I'd rather hit the wall.

Niall1234

Stark wrote: »

With the grass median you can cross over into the other carriageway and end up in a head on collision with a car/truck doing 80-120km/hr. The concrete barrier helps contain the carnage to one carriageway and helps avoid head on collisions.

Haven't all grass medians been retrofitted with torsioned wire ? Not saying that is much safer than concrete barrier or anything.

Chris_533976

That wire sucks, especially if you're on a motorbike. Wouldnt like to hit it in a car either, the car will get ripped to bits.

Walls ftw.

mysterious

D.L.R. wrote: »

Its funny, you drive from Dublin to Naas on a 3 lane highway, but it doesn't become a motorway until it gets narrower! Ah Ireland

just cause the naas road is 3 lanes doesn't for one second mean it should be a motorway just because its motorway further down..


God what a stupid point.

1huge1

Chris_533976 wrote: »

Difference is you'd bit the wall at a fairly small angle (giving you an effective sideways 'hitting speed' of 10-20mph) and slide along it, slowing down as you go.

You'll go through a hedge and smack into oncoming traffic.

I'd rather hit the wall.

Ah I see thanks for explaining that to me, ya you wouldnt really be able to go straight into the wall on the fermoy bypass

D.L.R.

mysterious wrote: »

just cause the naas road is 3 lanes doesn't for one second mean it should be a motorway just because its motorway further down..


God what a stupid point.

its called irony, dingus.

xabi

Anyone have an update on this section of the N8? It looks like i will need to travel Cork - Cashel quitre a bit in the next few months and would love if the Cashel - Mitchelstown section was open, NRA say Q3 2008.

X.

Steviemak

xabi wrote: »

Anyone have an update on this section of the N8? It looks like i will need to travel Cork - Cashel quitre a bit in the next few months and would love if the Cashel - Mitchelstown section was open, NRA say Q3 2008.

X.

Latest I heard was August

Bards

I have heard August been mentioned for the opening date

Stark

Thought they might open the section between junctions 10 and 11 (http://www.nra.ie/RoadSchemeActivity/SouthTipperaryCountyCouncil/N8CashelMitchelstown/Map,14567,en.pdf) before then. Ah well.

childoforpheus

I noticed that they've started painting the road markings. They don't have much left to do, no blue signs yet though.

xabi

I was on the newest section of this road the other day, the bit from Cashel to Cahir and thought the road wasnt as good as it should be. It seems a bit bumpy, not like a rough bump, more like a gradual up and down motion over longer distances, its not as 'flat' as the Cahel bypass or the M7. Anyone notice this?

X.

road_high

xabi wrote: »

I was on the newest section of this road the other day, the bit from Cashel to Cahir and thought the road wasnt as good as it should be. It seems a bit bumpy, not like a rough bump, more like a gradual up and down motion over longer distances, its not as 'flat' as the Cahel bypass or the M7. Anyone notice this?

X.

I thought that too!! Road seems to wallow up and down a bit in stretches..maybe it was a bit rushed in construction. Defo not dead level

childoforpheus

They've started putting up blue signs so it looks like its going to open as motorway. Should be open in the next couple of weeks by the looks of it.

ipodrocker

can people who live near the new road post pics of the blue signs? etc...

jd

mfitzy wrote: »

I thought that too!! Road seems to wallow up and down a bit in stretches..maybe it was a bit rushed in construction. Defo not dead level

Same on the Gorey Bypass. I think it was decided this was acceptable- I suppose ity reduces construction costs, and perhaps has a smaller environmental "footprint" than heavily excavated road schemes.

Irish and Proud

jd wrote: »

Same on the Gorey Bypass. I think it was decided this was acceptable- I suppose ity reduces construction costs, and perhaps has a smaller environmental "footprint" than heavily excavated road schemes.

Was on the Gorey By-pass earlier this year and IMO the quality of the road surface was good - that said, I thought a couple of turns were a bit on the tight side. Nice job though!

Regards!

Irish and Proud

jd wrote: »

Same on the Gorey Bypass. I think it was decided this was acceptable- I suppose ity reduces construction costs, and perhaps has a smaller environmental "footprint" than heavily excavated road schemes.

What do you mean? I was on the Gorey By-pass only yesterday and the surface was just about perfect. There were slight depressions at a couple of bridges, but apart from that...

That said, although it's a really nice job overall, the horizontal alignment could be better - it's generally OK for 100kph (though one bend was too tight for even that IMO). Though the ramps are nice and long, I can't see this road being a motorway - there's no way it would take 120kph. It's an awful pity as the Arklow By-pass would easily be capable of motorway speeds IMO.

In any case, if all our main national primaries were like the Gorey By-pass, I'd be dreading the rude awakening when the alarm clock goes off!

As I said, it's generally a very good job!

Well Done Wexford Co Co!

jd

The surface is very good, not bumpy at all. I think it does undulate a bit vertically, and some of the bends are pretty tight.

childoforpheus

I got some pictures of the road today. The picture quality isn't great because they were taken on my mobile phone. You can see in the pictures that most of the southbound carriageway has line markings and cats eyes in place. Between junctions 10 and 11 the northbound carriageway has markings and cats eyes aswell. There are blue signs up but none of the restrictions signs or speed limit signs yet. Looks like it will be open within a month.

L1011

Irish and Proud wrote: »

it's generally OK for 100kph (though one bend was too tight for even that IMO).

Try taking that corner above about 80 in a car that suffers body roll (like mine - a Panda) and its not a fun experience

I've only driven the N11 a few times since its opened, and always at night, so I can't remember which one it is at that!

childoforpheus

childoforpheus wrote: »

I got some pictures of the road today.

There are blue signs up but none of the restrictions signs or speed limit signs yet. Looks like it will be open within a month.

That sign in the second picture's a bit high up the embankment isn't it?? any further away from the road and no one would spot it.

Carrigman

childoforpheus wrote: »

I got some pictures of the road today. The picture quality isn't great because they were taken on my mobile phone. You can see in the pictures that most of the southbound carriageway has line markings and cats eyes in place. Between junctions 10 and 11 the northbound carriageway has markings and cats eyes aswell. There are blue signs up but none of the restrictions signs or speed limit signs yet. Looks like it will be open within a month.

Thanks for those pics childoforpheus. I was told today by someone who was speaking to an engineer on site that it will be opened in July.

childoforpheus

Carrigman wrote: »

Thanks for those pics childoforpheus. I was told today by someone who was speaking to an engineer on site that it will be opened in July.

No problem. That sounds right, can't wait to be able to use it.