M9 - Waterford motorway construction updates

Amtmann

A big thanks to all the lads who kept us informed of this section's progress over the past year or so is in order. Great photos and updates from everyone.

Chris_5339762

Excellent stuff. Shame they didnt get the End of Motorway signs in the right place though

alpha2zulu

Chris_5339762 wrote: »

Excellent stuff. Shame they didnt get the End of Motorway signs in the right place though

Yeah if its the one on the approach to Danesfort, it must be at least 1.5km from the actual motorway end. Hopefully there wont be any panic breaking there, especially at night.

mike65

An article in the Indo (I think) talked of 15 min being cut off the journey time!

flop

Looked like a nice day for a cycle. Great photos BTW

Flop

flop

alpha2zulu wrote: »

Until today I would have said via Thomastown but noticed that with Knocktopher being 2km from the Motorway junction you would probably easily be at Danesfort by the time you get back on the old N9. It seems such a more straightforward route via Kilkenny by avoiding the awful sections of old N9 between Jerpoint Abbey and Gowran too. It will be interesting to start hearing some timings from tomorrow of Waterford-Paulstown via Kilkenny.

I'll be heading up to Dublin on Wednesday the 24th. I'll probably head up Thomastown for the first journey then the following week i'll take the M9 as far as Danesfort and compare and contrast.

One thing i would say, with the M9 being open as far as Danefort the old N9 via Thomastown/Dungarvan/Gowran should be clear of all but local traffic.

Of course Tractors and Granny's in Nissan Micra's are another story.

Flop

wellbutty

Thanks all for the photos of this scheme. Only for the "poor weather" we would have had it 6 months ago :rolleyes:

http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0322/m9.html

A new 24-kilometre section of the M9 motorway is opening in Co Kilkenny today.

The section of motorway - which cost more than €10 million a kilometre - was completed six months later than expected due to difficult weather conditions during construction.

It will by-pass the villages of Knocktopher, Ballyhale and Mullinavat, and is expected to cut travel times between Dublin and Waterford by half an hour.

It leaves just one section of the M9 to be completed.

Amtmann

I presume it's more like 35 kilometres, not 24?

Anyway, here's the report from the Irish Times:

ANOTHER MILESTONE in the development of the Republic’s motorway network takes place this morning with the opening of the Knocktopher to Waterford section of the M9.
This new section of motorway allows for improved access to and from the city of Waterford via the new N25 Waterford city bypass at the southern end of the new road.
The opening leaves just one section, between Knocktopher and Carlow, of the M9 Dublin to Waterford motorway to be completed. This section is on schedule to open by the end of 2010.
However, the next inter-urban motorway to be completed is expected to be the M8, between Dublin and Cork. The final section of the M8, between Portlaoise and Cullahill, Co Laois, is ahead of schedule and expected to open in the third quarter of this year.
Today’s opening was initially expected some months ago but was delayed by inclement weather conditions.
The project came in on budget, at €274 million. The new road will link into the Waterford bypass road at Dunkitt, Co Kilkenny, and to the R699 at Knocktopher, also in Co Kilkenny. The road is expected to improve the road safety of, as well as enhance the quality of life for, residents of Knocktopher, Mullinavat and Ballyhale by eliminating through traffic. It is thought it will take about 20 minutes off the journey time between Dublin and Waterford, bringing the driving time to about two hours.
It will also improve the regional access to Kilkenny via the existing N10 and it is hoped it will act as a catalyst for investment in the southeast region.
Welcoming the opening, Peter Malone, chairman of the National Roads Authority, said the road would aid tourists in accessing “a full range of offerings from the Irish hospitality industry throughout the southeast”.
However, Opposition transport spokesman Fergus O’Dowd said Ireland still did not have a 21st century transport network “and now the money has run out”.
He said much of the Department of Transport’s responsibility had been devolved “to State agencies and quangos”, leaving the Minister for Transport with little more than a ceremonial role.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0322/1224266808892.html

GeneHunt

RTE Radio One's Morning Ireland Progamme had Peter Malone from NRA on this morning. He says the new road is expected to cut travel time between Dublin and Waterford by about 30 minutes

Link

http://www.rte.ie/news/morningireland/
New section of M9 opens
Peter Malone, National Roads Authority, says the new road is expected to cut travel time between Dublin and Waterford by about 30 minutes

Link
http://www.rte.ie/news/morningireland/player.html?20100322,2722748,2722748,real,209

kilkennykitten

Any maps doing the rounds of the new motorway thats opening today?

fresca

kilkennykitten wrote: »

Any maps doing the rounds of the new motorway thats opening today?

I have no doubt that some kind soul shall post the updated map on http://www.openstreetmap.org/

mike65

The amount of time saved depends on when one is travelling, I would suggest that 30 mins is the absolute minimum. Anyone who hits Carlow on a Friday afternoon will know how much time can be saved when the whole road is open.

Amtmann

Open yet?

Who'll be the first in with the photos and/or review?

Map from the new OSI atlas. The section opening today runs from junction 12 --> 9:

fresca

it seems that it is now open...

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/new-section-of-m9-motorway-opens-450934.html

The journey time from Dublin to Waterford will be cut by up to half an hour after section of the M9 motorway opened in Co Kilkenny today.

Transport Minister Noel Dempsey cut the ribbon on the 24km stretch of road, which cost an estimated €10mn per kilometre.

“This new section of motorway will carry up to 12,500 vehicles per day and as of today, nearly 84 kms of motorway on the M9 have been delivered," Minister Dempsey said.

"Today’s opening marks the penultimate milestone in the delivery of an entirely new route from Junction 11 on the M7 all the way to the Waterford city bypass. The final 40km section, from Carlow to Knocktopher is on target for delivery later this year.”

"When the final section is completed, it will be possible to travel from the M7/M50 Red Cow junction to Waterford City in approximately 90 minutes – an unheard of journey time just a few short years ago."

The extension of the motorway was delayed by several months because of poor weather conditions.

Motorists will now be able to bypass the Kilkenny villages of Knocktopher, Ballyhale and Mullinavat.

Amtmann

I don't think it's open yet Fresca... probably somewhere around 2pm or thereabouts.

IrlJidel

Furet wrote: »

Open yet?

Who'll be the first in with the photos and/or review?

Map from the new OSI atlas. The section opening today runs from junction 12 --> 9:

I thought it was only as far as J10 (R699 Knocktopher).

Can anyone confirm?

Amtmann

Waterford to junction 10 is the BAM-built Waterford-Knocktopher scheme. But Roadbridge, who are building the Knocktopher-Carlow scheme, have finished part of their section (junctions 10-9) early, and are opening it in tandem with BAM.

IrlJidel

fresca wrote: »

I have no doubt that some kind soul shall post the updated map on http://www.openstreetmap.org/

Looks like www.openstreetmap.org is updated. (You may have to do a SHIFT-Reload to force a fresh reload of old tiles in your browser cache)

http://osm.org/go/eszqVJI-

alpha2zulu

Northbound M9 from Waterford is now open!!:D

marmurr1916

Furet wrote: »

Open yet?

Who'll be the first in with the photos and/or review?

Map from the new OSI atlas. The section opening today runs from junction 12 --> 9:

Thanks for that! Roughly how far is it from junction 9 to Kilkenny? It looks like a Kilkenny - Waterford commute will now be feasible for many people.

RobitTV

RTE Have a small Video report on it and a picture of the idiot transport minster http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0322/m9.html

jimbojazz

Just back from driving it. On the way up it had just opened so there was a garda escort - took about 25mins. On the way back from Danesfort roundabout to the roundabout at the Grannagh exit took 18 minutes.:)

And I kept it a 120km/h

A round trip to Kilkenny (almost) on a lunch hour - good going.

medoc

Many thanks to all for all the photos and updates much appreciated. I drive to Waterford fairly often from Tullamore Via Kilkenny City so it will now be a better safer quicker drive. When the rest of the M9 opens I will probably head cross country to Killcullen and onto the M9 there. (stupid M7/M9 junction).

emfifty

GeneHunt wrote: »

RTE Radio One's Morning Ireland Progamme had Peter Malone from NRA on this morning. He says the new road is expected to cut travel time between Dublin and Waterford by about 30 minutes

Link


Link
http://www.rte.ie/news/morningireland/player.html?20100322,2722748,2722748,real,209

he was also saying that m8 will be complete by end of may!:) great progress.

alpha2zulu

marmurr1916 wrote: »

Thanks for that! Roughly how far is it from junction 9 to Kilkenny? It looks like a Kilkenny - Waterford commute will now be feasible for many people.

Its only about a 6-7minute drive to get as far as the Kilkenny ring road. Its practically a 100km/h very wide and straight road the whole way in.

JohnC.

Just used it coming home from Dublin. The missing bit in the middle (Powerstown-Danesfort) really stands out now. Can't wait for that to be completed. Like Jimbo, it took 18 minutes from end to end on the new section.

mike65

Are there many Garda ramps or fly overs exits they can lurk on?

Dymo

Kahless wrote: »

Just used it coming home from Dublin. The missing bit in the middle (Powerstown-Danesfort) really stands out now. Can't wait for that to be completed. Like Jimbo, it took 18 minutes from end to end on the new section.

is that 18 minutes from Junction 9 to Waterford 18 minutes ?

munchkin_utd

mike65 wrote: »

Are there many Garda ramps or fly overs exits they can lurk on?

Isnt the official policy that the Guards from now on are only targeting accident blackspots.
Seeing as these roads have had zero accidents, if they stick to their word then they will be nowhere to be seen!!!!
Or is that too logical??

To be honest, mobile patrols are needed for tailgating and bad driving more than speeding (if you were to ask me like!).

MissesMe

On the way back from Danesfort roundabout to the roundabout at the Grannagh exit took 18 minutes.

I commute from around mullinavat to kilkenny every day and thought it was only the waterford to knocktopher section that was opening? Someone please make my dreams come true and confirm its waterford to danesfort???

Another question, is there any kind of exit to come off the motorway between knocktopher and waterford?