M8 - Mitchelstown to Fermoy

Amtmann

http://www.nra.ie/RoadSchemeActivity/CorkCountyCouncil/N8MitchelstownFermoy/Map,15136,en.pdf

Attached are some photos of the work done so far on this scheme. It should open by next March or April.

AugustusMaximus

Great shots as usual Furet.

Is the NRA website giving unaccurate completion dates for these projects ?

NRA website says completion in Q1 2010.

Amtmann

AugustusMaximus wrote: »

Great shots as usual Furet.

Is the NRA website giving unaccurate completion dates for these projects ?

NRA website says completion in Q1 2010.

Ah yes, but the actual builders are telling me spring '09 - practically a year ahead of schedule.

Either the builders are working too hard, or the NRA is deliberately overestimating completion dates so that they look great when the projects finish up much earlier than expected.

Chris_533976

Probably a bit of both

They're flying along with this assuming it only really started in December 07.

DWCommuter

Passed by it today. Very well advanced.

E92

I've driven by it a few times and it really is flying along, it definately will be done early next year, which fantastic as we'll have continuous Motorway/HQDC all the way up to Cashel and perhaps even Cullahill by that stage.

Which is brilliant as at one stage it was supposed to be the last bit of the Cork-Dublin motorway to be done, and then there would have been the good road the whole way except for one small 10 mile stretch of bad road.

OP, keep up the good work with all your pics;)!

AugustusMaximus

E92 wrote: »

I've driven by it a few times and it really is flying along, it definately will be done early next year, which fantastic as we'll have continuous Motorway/HQDC all the way up to Cashel and perhaps even Cullahill by that stage.

Which is brilliant as at one stage it was supposed to be the last bit of the Cork-Dublin motorway to be done, and then there would have been the good road the whole way except for one small 10 mile stretch of bad road.

OP, keep up the good work with all your pics;)!

The Culahill to Cashel section should open up within 2 or 3 months. If this opens early next year, then it will only be Culahill to Portlaoise left.

I believe that last one may be finished late in 2009.

E92

AugustusMaximus wrote: »

The Culahill to Cashel section should open up within 2 or 3 months. If this opens early next year, then it will only be Culahill to Portlaoise left.

I believe that last one may be finished late in 2009.

I thought it was Cahel-Mitchelstown that was opening that soon? Oh well if Cahel-Cullahill will be done too so soon then that really is fantastic progress.

Amtmann

E92 wrote: »

I thought it was Cahel-Mitchelstown that was opening that soon? Oh well if Cahel-Cullahill will be done too so soon then that really is fantastic progress.

Cashel - Mitchelstown will open within the next 3 weeks; Cashel to Cullahill will open by the end of this year - and probably, as Augustus says, by September or October. So good news all round.

I'll take more photos next weekend of Cashel to Mitchelstown, to see if they're making progress with lining etc. I'll probably take more of Cashel to Cullahill in around a month's time.

Apologies for the poor quality of my Mitchelstown to Fermoy photos. The route is actually quite a bit off road for the most part, but once the flyovers are up and running, the pics will come!

spacetweek

Furet wrote: »

Cashel - Mitchelstown will open within the next 3 weeks; Cashel to Cullahill will open by the end of this year - and probably, as Augustus says, by September or October. So good news all round.

I'll take more photos next weekend of Cashel to Mitchelstown, to see if they're making progress with lining etc. I'll probably take more of Cashel to Cullahill in around a month's time.

Apologies for the poor quality of my Mitchelstown to Fermoy photos. The route is actually quite a bit off road for the most part, but once the flyovers are up and running, the pics will come!

Thanks for all the estimates there.

I think the only one that people are uncertain about is M7/M8 up at Portlaoise. Seemingly it's difficult to access the site to check it out. So maybe that will be the last section to finish in 2010.

Chris_533976

Yeah its just cos its so far offline and there doesnt happen to be anyone from Boards living nearby whos willing to go cross country for pics

Amtmann

Two more piss poor photos lads. The overbridges still aren't ready to walk on yet.

Junction 13 has been laid out. There were major roadworks there for a while, but all is in place now. The climbing lanes on the old N8 just south of Mitchelstown have been reduced slighly in length, but they're still perfectly good.

For anyone seeking to place this scheme in the overall M8 layout, see this excellent wikipedia page, replete with photos and junction grid. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N8_road_%28Ireland%29

E92

Haven't been out that way recently, so please don't kill me if this is not true, but I heard that from Junction 13 to the start of the Fermoy bypass has been done and you can now travel on it.

Like I said, I don't know how true this is but somebody who lives near Mitchelstown told me this during the week.

I could see it opening well before next April(I wouldn't be surprised if it was by the end of the year tbh); they're really flying along the last time I was up that neck of the woods, which was around 6 weeks ago.

Amtmann

E92 wrote: »

Haven't been out that way recently, so please don't kill me if this is not true, but I heard that from Junction 13 to the start of the Fermoy bypass has been done and you can now travel on it.

Like I said, I don't know how true this is but somebody who lives near Mitchelstown told me this during the week.

I could see it opening well before next April(I wouldn't be surprised if it was by the end of the year tbh); they're really flying along the last time I was up that neck of the woods, which was around 6 weeks ago.

No, I'm afraid that's completely untrue. They don't even have the overbridges built properly yet, there's no tar on any section, and the median isn't up on even the most advanced part. That said, they are progressing at an impressive rate. But there isn't a hope in hell that it'll be open any time before March '09.

When it opens, you'll hear about it. It'll be a media affair.

E92

Thought as much tbh, but said I'd ask here just to be sure:o

Amtmann

E92 wrote: »

Thought as much tbh, but said I'd ask here just to be sure:o

No problem. If anything happens, I'll post on it. Also, as soon as the overbridges are open I'll have much better photos and the posters who know about the tarring and surfacing phases of construction will be able to guess how long we'll have to wait for the opening.

Amtmann

The median foundation has been erected along most of the route now. It's clearly visible as you cross the new layout 2km south of Mitchelstown. Work along the scheme proceeds apace!

I hope to have photos towards the end of the week or over the weekend.

Amtmann

Folks I got some lovely shots today of the Mitchelstown to Fermoy scheme. The sun made the day perfect for a drive, so enjoy -- also, see the Cashel to Cullahill thread for some new photos of that (which include a few surprises, btw).

1huge1

Furet wrote: »

Folks I got some lovely shots today of the Mitchelstown to Fermoy scheme. The sun made the day perfect for a drive, so enjoy -- also, see the Cashel to Cullahill thread for some new photos of that (which include a few surprises, btw).

Haven't drove past this in about 2 months, progress is really coming along.

Amtmann

I've noticed how the builders are really motoring into the stretch between Exit 13 (about 2km south of Mitchelstown) and the Fermoy Bypass startpoint (which is really the future Exit 14). I mean, this section is much more advanced than the bit between Kilbeheny (Exit 12) and Exit 13.

This leads me to suspect -- and it's only a hunch -- that they'll open this bit early. The area between Exits 13 and 14 (aka the Fermoy Bypass tie-in) is dangerous. True, there are overtaking lanes. But a) there's very little hard shoulder; b) the road is bendy (you really feel the squeeze when passing out a large artic, for example); c) there are lots of farmyards and private houses; and d) don't forget, two dangerous pubs with carparks there too.

If the stretch between Exits 13 and 14 opened early, then the remainder (between Exits 12 and Exit 13) would be sort of catered for temporarily by the Mitchelstown Relief Road until the northern end of the Mitchelstown Fermoy Scheme is ready.

The photos I uploaded yesterday speak volumes: many sections between Exits 13 and 14 will be ready for tarring in a few weeks. The more I think about it, the likelier it seems.

Amtmann

See attached:

corktina

i was interested to spot a lone 100k speed limit sign on the Mitch bypass.....all the others say 80k....bit of a blooper methinks...hard to see why its 80 k on there anyway.....

BluntGuy

I'm curious. How are they going to merge the fermoy bypass with the new mitchelstown road at Exit 14?

The Fermoy start point looks very complicated and all the signage would need to be changed.

I particuarly hate the signage there saying M8 (Toll). I've seen several road maps calling it that. I hope it's removed after this is finished.

Amtmann

BluntGuy wrote: »

I'm curious. How are they going to merge the fermoy bypass with the new mitchelstown road at Exit 14?

The Fermoy start point looks very complicated and all the signage would need to be changed.

I particuarly hate the signage there saying M8 (Toll). I've seen several road maps calling it that. I hope it's removed after this is finished.

I'd imagine it'll be a protracted, messy affair, like the Cashel Bypass tie-in with the Cashel to Cullahill Scheme. It looks like they'll start it pretty soon.

BluntGuy

Furet wrote: »

I'd imagine it'll be a protracted, messy affair, like the Cashel Bypass tie-in with the Cashel to Cullahill Scheme. It looks like they'll start it pretty soon.

Yes, I'd say so too.

I remember the Cashel Bypass used to end and start at at-grade roundabouts - a totally ridiculous design decision, considering the work that had to be done to replace them.

Chris_533976

AFAIK there are two roundabouts at the northern end of the Fermoy bypass and the bridge connecting them is already there. If thats the case, then the junction is already there and is more or less built, its just a matter of chucking the carriageway under the bridge.

Amtmann

Chris_533976 wrote: »

AFAIK there are two roundabouts at the northern end of the Fermoy bypass and the bridge connecting them is already there. If thats the case, then the junction is already there and is more or less built, its just a matter of chucking the carriageway under the bridge.

True. There's a fair bit of re-levelling to do, however. The start (or is it the end?) of the Fermoy Bypass (just at J14) seems to be a good deal higher than it needs to be to merge with Mitchelstown Fermoy (which is quite low lying in comparison), so they'll have to take a chunk out of what was done in 2006 to blend it in smoothly I'd say, maybe 100m or so. I could be wrong though!

BluntGuy

Chris_533976 wrote: »

AFAIK there are two roundabouts at the northern end of the Fermoy bypass and the bridge connecting them is already there. If thats the case, then the junction is already there and is more or less built, its just a matter of chucking the carriageway under the bridge.

But it's not as well laid out as at Carrigane (Exit 12), for example. The way the carriageway splits and the concrete barriors on each slip road, plus the fact that they'll have a lot of earthworks to do to connect it to the fermoy-watergrasshill mainline make this one a bit of a mess.

It should've been done like at Carrigane, where the carriageway foundations have already been laid, and it's simply a matter of tarring them up.

Amtmann

Rapid progress continues to be made. Asphalt has been applied to some sections of the route now.

ipodrocker

could new pics be posted so we can see the updates to the road?

Dkettle

Furet

I noticed at the weekend that the southern half of the road seems to be further along, with a good deal of asphalt down. Do you know whether there is a plan to open from Moorepark to the crossover with the existing N8 earlier than the northern half? The junction at Moorepark is being cleaned up, with the tie in work progressing without disruption to the existing alignment (where possible)

Amtmann

Dkettle wrote: »

Furet

I noticed at the weekend that the southern half of the road seems to be further along, with a good deal of asphalt down. Do you know whether there is a plan to open from Moorepark to the crossover with the existing N8 earlier than the northern half? The junction at Moorepark is being cleaned up, with the tie in work progressing without disruption to the existing alignment (where possible)

I asked the NRA that question a while back, and they wouldn't give me an answer. It looks like 'yes', but I'm only guessing based on, like you said, the fact that asphalt has been laid there.

Amtmann

ipodrocker wrote: »

could new pics be posted so we can see the updates to the road?

I'll do my best to take a few photos over the weekend.
Much of the progress has been made offline, running at the far side of that steep valley ridge after you pass Corbett Court and head to the Teagasc farm. There are very few overbridges, so it's difficult to get along the route.

Amtmann

This scheme proceeds apace. Two photos are linked to below. I now believe the entire scheme will open at the same time, and by March/April next year.

Why?

Because many parts of the scheme are as advanced now as Cashel to Cullahill was last June. Also, because they are getting ready now at both ends to tie the scheme into the southern terminus of the Cashel to Mitchelstown project and the northern terminus of the Fermoy Bypass.

I'm very excited about this section opening. I think this is the bit where the most time saving will be made (relative to its length) and it will replace what is without doubt a very treacherous stretch of the N8 -- one where people die annually.

I also think this scheme will be very scenic when it opens. It passes through some lovely countryside and isn't sunk down too deeply everywhere.

BluntGuy

I didn't know work was proceeding so quickly!

They'll be painting lines on this stretch soon enough, possibly by January.

marmurr1916

Great pics! That's great progress. Looks like we'll have M8 all the way from Dunkettle to Cullahill by next Easter!

patrickc

yeh its great, hope its not a case of its done and then we wait ages for it to open

BluntGuy

patrickc wrote: »

yeh its great, hope its not a case of its done and then we wait ages for it to open

No. I think they'll open it as soon as it's ready...

Amtmann

Okay. I spoke to a builder today and was informed that there'll be a sectional opening of this scheme from 2km south of Mitchelstown to the Fermoy Bypass. When that opens, my guess is next March, they will put all their resources into the remaining part of the scheme, which will open next June.

BluntGuy

Great snaps Furet! (Although I drove past there two days ago, so it's nothing really that surprising!)

Unfortunately, your snaps have reminded me of an unfortunate little problem with the Fermoy bypass... the fact that all the 'motorway ahead' signs are on the actual slip roads leading to the motorway. What use are they there? Do they expect people to u-turn back up the slip roads?!!! Anyway, I'm sure that's been discussed before...

As for a sectional opening. Well, I wasn't really expecting it on such a short stretch of road, but hey... I'm not complaining! If there's a chunk of road done that's perfectly usable, why stop people from using it?

The official opening date is March 2010. If they can get a least a bit of it done by March 2009, that'll be outstanding progress! (Although, to be fair, the original opening date is grossly over-calculated).

Amtmann

BluntGuy wrote: »

Great snaps Furet! (Although I drove past there two days ago, so it's nothing really that surprising!)

Unfortunately, your snaps have reminded me of an unfortunate little problem with the Fermoy bypass... the fact that all the 'motorway ahead' signs are on the actual slip roads leading to the motorway. What use are they there? Do they expect people to u-turn back up the slip roads?!!! Anyway, I'm sure that's been discussed before...

As for a sectional opening. Well, I wasn't really expecting it on such a short stretch of road, but hey... I'm not complaining! If there's a chunk of road done that's perfectly usable, why stop people from using it?

The official opening date is March 2010. If they can get a least a bit of it done by March 2009, that'll be outstanding progress! (Although, to be fair, the original opening date is grossly over-calculated).

Actually Roadbridge has reassessed its completion date estimate and now reckons it'll be done by December 2009 -- which is a very conservative estimate (I link to it over on Infrastructure) on its part.

True that the sectional stretch due to be opened first is quite short; it is very dangerous though, what with no hard shoulder on one side, two dangerous pubs perched on hilltops, multiple farm and house entrances on both sides, the bendiness of the road, its tendency to fog up because of its altitude (the new M8 is much more low-lying), and three dangerous junctions. It's a lethal part of the N8 and desperately needs to be made redundant asap. A sectional opening will shave about 3 minutes off the journey time and make it far safer; but I think the real time saving will be made when Junction 12 to 13 opens: it's a much more direct route than the existing N8, and could take a further 6 minutes off the trip. I think it will be possible to do Cahir to Dunkettle in 40 minutes.

BluntGuy

Furet wrote: »

I think it will be possible to do Cahir to Dunkettle in 40 minutes.

That'll be good...

Amtmann

BluntGuy wrote: »

That'll be good...

I think a lot of people from South Tipperary, who wouldn't have before, will consider heading to Cork for shopping etc. My own neighbours were very surprised by the M8 (some had never heard of Transport 21 or the Mitchelstown to Fermoy scheme until they saw it (not everyone's a transport nerd like the crowd here)) and how it'll change the dynamic between south county Tipp and Cork City.

Now I just hope they build the service stations soon. And, I hope Apple gets the contract for both the one at Cashel and Kilworth. When those stations open it'll be another boon to the towns of Cashel and Cahir and the people in between in the sense that petrol will be cheaper (Apple are very good price-wise). While I don't think it'll be a very significant fact at all, it will nonetheless be a handy convenience to have in the vicinity, especially since the stations will be located at two toll-free sections of the M8.

rameire

Furet wrote: »

I think a lot of people from South Tipperary, who wouldn't have before, will consider heading to Cork for shopping etc. My own neighbours were very surprised by the M8 (some had never heard of Transport 21 or the Mitchelstown to Fermoy scheme until they saw it (not everyone's a transport nerd like the crowd here)) and how it'll change the dynamic between south county Tipp and Cork City.

Now I just hope they build the service stations soon. And, I hope Apple gets the contract for both the one at Cashel and Kilworth. When those stations open it'll be another boon to the towns of Cashel and Cahir and the people in between in the sense that petrol will be cheaper (Apple are very good price-wise). While I don't think it'll be a very significant fact at all, it will nonetheless be a handy convenience to have in the vicinity, especially since the stations will be located at two toll-free sections of the M8.

i hope apple dont get the job, have had sooooooo many problems with their fuel, would be good if they could give the stations to local station owners who would otherwise loose out on the passing trade.

BluntGuy

Furet wrote: »

I think a lot of people from South Tipperary, who wouldn't have before, will consider heading to Cork for shopping etc. My own neighbours were very surprised by the M8 (some had never heard of Transport 21 or the Mitchelstown to Fermoy scheme until they saw it (not everyone's a transport nerd like the crowd here)) and how it'll change the dynamic between south county Tipp and Cork City.

Now I just hope they build the service stations soon. And, I hope Apple gets the contract for both the one at Cashel and Kilworth. When those stations open it'll be another boon to the towns of Cashel and Cahir and the people in between in the sense that petrol will be cheaper (Apple are very good price-wise). While I don't think it'll be a very significant fact at all, it will nonetheless be a handy convenience to have in the vicinity, especially since the stations will be located at two toll-free sections of the M8.

Well, the service station I want built first on the Cork-Dublin route is the one near Monsteravin on the M7. I think that'll serve numerous people (Dublin-Limerick, Dublin-Cork traffic).

Then the Kilworth service area and then after that the Cashel one. Would it be reasonable to suggest that by 2015, we'd at least have two of those open?

ipodrocker

Furet, great pics of the updates on the road, keep it coming! I know from travelling to cork every month seeing the improvements is great. Have to agree the mitchelstown bit is so dangerous and I see why people are in accidents here, sooner the new stretch opens the better.

Amtmann

A Corkman newspaper article from 18 October on this scheme: http://www.corkman.ie/news/speedy-progress-on-motorway-reported-1501637.html

Take the opening dates with a pinch of salt.

BluntGuy

The end of 2009...

I think it'll be fully open by August 2009 (and that's still being quite conservative about the rate of construction).

Lennoxschips

When those stations open it'll be another boon to the towns of Cashel and Cahir

How so??

Amtmann

Lennoxschips wrote: »

How so??

A throw away comment from me; never mind it. The stations will be a convenience for some local people who wouldn't otherwise have access to 24-hr facilities or cheap petrol (assuming Apple gets the contract). In that sense I know that quite a few people are looking forward to them opening.

BluntGuy

Lennoxschips wrote: »

How so??

Hmmm... not quite sure 'boon' is the right word, but they will provide local job oppurtunities for people.

But I still think the M8 service stations are too close together. I think the Cashel one should be further north.