M50 - Junction 5 whats going to happen?

Davy

Junction 5 finglas/N2 on the m50 seems to be the narrowest section of the m50. Are they going to have to rebuild the whole junction to get the 3lanes in? It just seems so tight, the concrete median is separated at least 2 meters apart, but looking at the picture this isn't the case?


Anyone have more info on it?

samhail

that picture is at least 2 years old.
ive never seen that design. most likely artists impression?

isnt the M50/N2-M50/N1 split into 2 lanes right now ? as in if your not in the left lane you wont be able to get off the M50 ?

Davy

samhail wrote: »

that picture is at least 2 years old.
ive never seen that design. most likely artists impression?

isnt the M50/N2-M50/N1 split into 2 lanes right now ? as in if your not in the left lane you wont be able to get off the M50 ?

Yes its to resurface the middle lane which is happening at the mo till Nov 12th i think. Just have to stay left if want to leave at junction 5 in both directions.

Thats not my point though, when on the m50 going over the n2 the road is quite narrow i think due to the old flyover design. Also think this the reason for the gap in the concrete barrier, i think their used to be a gap between north and southbound carriageways

rameire

samhail wrote: »

that picture is at least 2 years old.
ive never seen that design. most likely artists impression?

isnt the M50/N2-M50/N1 split into 2 lanes right now ? as in if your not in the left lane you wont be able to get off the M50 ?

i believe that design is the way it will turn out, have seen many design and photos of the same layout

Davy

rameire wrote: »

i believe that design is the way it will turn out, have seen many design and photos of the same layout

What about the concrete barrier divide then? Afaik its the only time its divided like that apart the usual at bridges and height differences from the carriageways

rameire

davton wrote: »

What about the concrete barrier divide then? Afaik its the only time its divided like that apart the usual at bridges and height differences from the carriageways

there does seem to be space for a third lane, but as you have pointed out the lack of space, maybe they wont be building a normal hard shoulder for only the bridge section.

L1011

rameire wrote: »

there does seem to be space for a third lane, but as you have pointed out the lack of space, maybe they wont be building a normal hard shoulder for only the bridge section.

Theres no H/S on the 3+1 lane sections of the M50 as it is; and there won't be the +1 lane over the bridge - this should give them the space surely?

Davy

MYOB wrote: »

Theres no H/S on the 3+1 lane sections of the M50 as it is; and there won't be the +1 lane over the bridge - this should give them the space surely?

Very tight squeeze me thinks

Wishbone Ash

Apologies for going off topic lads but for a long time I have been wondering what is the purpose of the two gated tunnels under the existing roundabout there? They appear much too small for vehicular use.

(See yellow box).

Davy

Wishbone im only guessing but i think its just of access for cleaning or something like that, because the n2 flyover is 2 bridges with a gap between so if they didnt have these tunnels it would be like a well.

This is why the new concrete barrier separates over the flyover and re joins again at the other side.

Ste.phen

I always thought those 2 tunnels were the original routing of the N2, and were used for traffic during construction of the junction...

But now that I think about it, they are rather small...

Wishbone Ash

davton wrote: »

Wishbone im only guessing but i think its just of access for cleaning or something like that, because the n2 flyover is 2 bridges with a gap between so if they didnt have these tunnels it would be like a well.

This is why the new concrete barrier separates over the flyover and re joins again at the other side.

Thanks davton.

L1011

I'm nearly sure I was told they were for some never-to-happen blue sky plan for light rail, I'll have to ask the person who told me that. They look too small for that even!

mysterious

You also have to remember the orignal cross section of the M50

Is 2x 3.75m running lanes and a 3m HS.

New widths, are 3x 3.5m lanes and a 2.5 metre HS

So even though the Median is narrow here, with the remainding few metres of median to be used and the new additional narrower running lanes, I'm sure there will be enough room to get the full capacity width needed. If there isn't, Its no big deal to widen the bridge embankments by a metre or two each side???!!!

It was done recently on the Nenagh bypass, I really think it's no big deal. I'm sure the M50 road engineers would know what to do in order to get 3 lanes in there, I mean it would be well silly if it wasn't done, and I don't think that's in question anyway.

In other countries, they wouldn't see this as a problem, it's minor and can be easily resoveled! In this country we always seems to

"do first think later"
"build first plan later"
"Easiest method is the best solution"
"short term solution to every long term problem"

And if none of these rock your boat, the famous one is

Ah sure it's grand!!! (do nothing scenario)

Victor

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Apologies for going off topic lads but for a long time I have been wondering what is the purpose of the two gated tunnels under the existing roundabout there? They appear much too small for vehicular use.

(See yellow box).

People have long wondered and the concensus seems to be that they are probably service ducts connected to the ESB site.

ipodrocker

exactly the guys building the roads will know if the stretch is wide enough, also on the current m50 when you go over bridges the m50 HS get narrower for the bridge bit and then restores to the proper HS width, for example is like that on the cherrywood bit.

Davy

Victor wrote: »

People have long wondered and the concensus seems to be that they are probably service ducts connected to the ESB site.

Dont think this is correct, the cables follow the course of the road at Dennis Mahony and along the roundabout, they don't cross the N2 afaik