M1 closed between Dunleer and Dundalk 15-17 April 8pm to 10am

cargo

Can't find any link to the closure notice but it's been advertised on VMS along the route. The CRG website has nothing on it either.

Random

does it say why?

cargo

No. Was wondering that also. I know there was some debate about the declining standard of the surface on a thread somewhere (roads I think) so maybe it's for resurfacing.

L1011

The surface is atrocious for a road of its age, so I would hope so. The older Dunleer BP has held up much better!

cargo

Looking at it travelling NB last night, dont think it's closing for a full resurface. Just not enough time to plane / resurface and re-line. even just a simple layer addition with lining wouldn't be done in just 2 nights.

Must be for something that they need both lanes closed for at the same time as otherwise they would do a contra-flow.

Surely someone on here knows whats going-on?

L1011

Could be what they did to the M4 Westbound about two years ago and just lane-patch (a patch the entire width of the lane) the worst bits. Cheap arse way of doing it and the NRA shouldn't accept it from a concessionaire.

Alun

Does anybody know the exact junction numbers at each end of the affected section? I'm heading for Newry early Saturday morning and would like to be able to plan my detour in advance rather than having it suddenly sprung on me. I'm hoping at least that the bit around Dundalk isn't affected.

Also what would be the best detour .. across to the N52 somehow depending on where exactly it starts, or R132?

L1011

I'll take a guess at 12 to 16, irrespective of that the R132 is the route to take, it reconnects to the M1 via the N52 DC south of Dundalk and for the section in question, is a wide, straight, 100km/h road.

amacachi

Aye, R132 all the way. Should only add 10-15 minutes to the journey if that.

Alun

Great .. thanks for that. So the R132 is 100km/h then? That's surprising.

amacachi

Alun wrote: »

Great .. thanks for that. So the R132 is 100km/h then? That's surprising.

Through Dunleer and Castlebellingham it won't be but most of it is. Wide and straight too. I have a feeling it's one of the areas covered by "safety cameras".

**Timbuk2**

I don't know how far it will be open to, but there's an exit at Dunleer North (not the one for Collon/Slane - the next one, heading towards Belfast), from there that brings you right onto the R132 avoiding Dunleer town. It's 100km/h except for Kilsaran/Castlebellingham which is 50km/h but you only go through it for about 3/4 mins. To get back onto the M1, turn left at Xerox/Carrolls crossroad lights, then go right at the big roundabout.

Hopefully it doesn't close before 8pm. Have to drive to the airport for 7.30 (from Dundalk), and time is already tight enough as it is!

L1011

Alun wrote: »

Great .. thanks for that. So the R132 is 100km/h then? That's surprising.

Louth CC (like Cork) upgrades suitable roads to the max possible speed, hence both have 120km/h N-road DCs and 100km/h R roads, including some that were never N roads to begin with.

**Timbuk2**

Actually, I think when the motorway between Dundalk - Dunleer opened, and the N1 was renamed the R132, the limit was initially 80km/h, at least between the Blackrock turnoff and Castlebellingham, but it was then changed to 100km/h

I could be wrong though, that's years ago now

Alun

Ah, I hadn't realized the R132 was the old N1, that would explain why it's a decent enough road alright. I'm just a fairly recent blow in you see I just hope I don't get a queue of dawdlers in front of me on the day.

cargo

Junctions 13 to 16 so you can get off at 13 so shouldn't add too much onto a journey.

Be aware between Castlebellingham and edge of Dundalk the Go-safe vans have been camped out fairly regularly including late at night so I imagine they'll be out these 2 nights with all the extra traffic on the route. Also just as you aproach the edge of Dundalk/Haggardstown/Blackrock there is a fixed camera heading NB. Not sure if it's still in use but it was up to a year or so ago as I spotted it flashing an ambulance one night!!

@**Timbuk2** you should be ok as they state 8pm on the VMS so you'd have a good argument to be allowed through.

Anyone find out yet whats going on?

**Timbuk2**

cargo wrote: »

Also just as you aproach the edge of Dundalk/Haggardstown/Blackrock there is a fixed camera heading NB. Not sure if it's still in use but it was up to a year or so ago as I spotted it flashing an ambulance one night!!

I've never seen it flashing, but have talked to people who have, so it must be in use. Note the camera is about 500m after the limit reduces from 100km/h to 80km/h

Alun

Coming back from the north on Sunday evening all it looked like they did was to put a few 1-lane wide patches on lane 1 here and there, no more than, say, 15-20m at a time. It looked like they'd made a bit of a mess of the yellow lines and reflective studs / cats eyes between the hard shoulder and lane 1 in the process too, although it wasn't dark at that time so couldn't tell if they'd actually been damaged.

Going up on Saturday morning, the detour hardly made any difference time wise luckily.

cargo

Actually forgot to keep an eye out coming SB this am to see what works went on. Was halfway through before I remembered it. Did see a few patches (full width of a carriageway type) and they did look pretty well integrated into the road. As I said I forgot about it initially so I'm not sure if they did the few bad spots around J16 (Dundalk South).