Porterstown road to roundabout connection under way

wildlifeman

I see they are starting to make that much needed connection. no more waiting for ages at the train station but this will no doubt put a load of traffic onto the porterstown road. anyone know when its due to be finished?

Zaph

I presume it'll put a lot of traffic onto Diswellstown Road as people will be able to avoid the level crossing on Porterstown Road, which will mean the traffic will be backing up from the roundabout on Clonsilla Road instead.

Justask

They have done alot in a short time so i'd say end of October.

The sooner the better to start on the new school

daymobrew

Zaph wrote: »

I presume it'll put a lot of traffic onto Diswellstown Road as people will be able to avoid the level crossing on Porterstown Road, which will mean the traffic will be backing up from the roundabout on Clonsilla Road instead.

The level crossing on Porterstown Road will be a dead end. I have emailed FCC Roads to ask for a copy of the PDF of the works.

Pat Dunne

Good to see the road upgrade underway.

Its is a pity to see the five mature Cedar trees at the corner just opposite the church will have to be cut down to make way for the up grade. I do hope that the Council will replace them with something suitable.

StrawDub

The rural feel to the area is now well and truly gone and when the school arrives I feel houses will follow in subsequent years. Its such a pity the trees have to go.

When the metro eventually arrives, this junction may have to change again completely?

"The years have made me bitter, the gargle dims my brain
'Cause Dublin keeps on changing & nothing stays the same
The Pillar & the Met have gone, the Royal long since pulled down
As the great unyielding concrete makes a city of my town"

annfield1978

http://www.kierandennison.com/2008/08/porterstown-link-road.html

oblivious

StrawDub wrote: »

When the metro eventually arrives, this junction may have to change again completely?

Can't see that happening for long, long time

daymobrew

StrawDub wrote: »

When the metro eventually arrives, this junction may have to change again completely?

The junctions will not have to change again, apart from some light sequence changes.

Bunnyhopper

daymobrew wrote: »

The level crossing on Porterstown Road will be a dead end. I have emailed FCC Roads to ask for a copy of the PDF of the works.

Will there by pedestrian and cycling access through that dead end on the Porterstown Road?

daymobrew

Bunnyhopper wrote: »

Will there by pedestrian and cycling access through that dead end on the Porterstown Road?

I think that I am wrong in saying that it will dead end - it looks like it will remain open and be accessible from a new leg at the roundabout.

daymobrew

I asked FCC some questions and just got the answers.

Q: Is Porterstown Road between the level crossing and halting site now served by a leg of the signalised junction (formerly a roundabout)?
A: It will be possible to access the section of the Porterstown Road , from the level crossing to the halting site, and the existing entrance to Scoil Choilm from the new signalized junction .

Q: On the same leg, at the bend, where does the cycle track go to? It and the path seem to end abruptly.
A: At this time there are no proposals to extend the cycle track or paths beyond the turn in question. This are being provided to facilitate future cycle/pedestrian plans for the area.

Q: Is the T junction between the signalised junction and Luttrellstown Road a direct link to Scoil Choilm (and the future Luttrellstown Community College )?
A: It is envisaged that the T junction will ultimately be the entrance to Scoil Choilm and the new Luttrellstown Community College.

Justask

daymobrew wrote: »

I asked FCC some questions and just got the answers.

Q: Is Porterstown Road between the level crossing and halting site now served by a leg of the signalised junction (formerly a roundabout)?
A: It will be possible to access the section of the Porterstown Road , from the level crossing to the halting site, and the existing entrance to Scoil Choilm from the new signalized junction .

Q: On the same leg, at the bend, where does the cycle track go to? It and the path seem to end abruptly.
A: At this time there are no proposals to extend the cycle track or paths beyond the turn in question. This are being provided to facilitate future cycle/pedestrian plans for the area.

Q: Is the T junction between the signalised junction and Luttrellstown Road a direct link to Scoil Choilm (and the future Luttrellstown Community College )?
A: It is envisaged that the T junction will ultimately be the entrance to Scoil Choilm and the new Luttrellstown Community College.

Did they say when they would be finished?

Jehuty42

So will this mean the decommissioning of the level crossing?

daymobrew

Justask wrote: »

Did they say when they would be finished?

I forgot to ask.

Jehuty42 wrote: »

So will this mean the decommissioning of the level crossing?

No. The road on either side of it remains open.

Justask

daymobrew wrote: »

I forgot to ask. No. The road on either side of it remains open.

Thanks for getting the info you have done

daymobrew

The construction works are scheduled to be completed in mid March 2012.

monument

For good reason, Irish Rail are looking to decommission as many of the level crossings as possible on the line.

The cycle tracks look like a joke, but that's to be expected given Fingal's standards.

Jehuty42

monument wrote: »

For good reason, Irish Rail are looking to decommission as many of the level crossings as possible on the line.

Yeah, that's why I wonder why they aren't going the whole way and closing that part of Porterstown Rd entirely(making two cul-de-sacs), seeing as under this plan all existing traffic has an alternative route. It's a bit inconvenient, but worth it for the rail benefits.

Bunnyhopper

monument wrote: »

The cycle tracks look like a joke, but that's to be expected given Fingal's standards.

Exactly, which is why I'm hoping I can still use the old Porterstown Road and avoid as much of it as possible.

Just between the signalized junction and the roundabout the northbound offroad cycle track passes five junctions/gateways. Staying on the road will be more comfortable, convenient and safe. I don't know why they bother :rolleyes:

BostonB

Bunnyhopper wrote: »

Exactly, which is why I'm hoping I can still use the old Porterstown Road and avoid as much of it as possible.

Just between the signalized junction and the roundabout the northbound offroad cycle track passes five junctions/gateways. Staying on the road will be more comfortable, convenient and safe. I don't know why they bother :rolleyes:

I agree with you.

Lord Nikon

I can't wait for this upgrade to complete.

I'm living close to Coolmine station, and the crossings here are an absolute joke. Traffic is just mayhem when the barriers go down, and in some cases I can't get out of my appartment block.

Then to add insult to injury, I get to the far side of Clonsilla and sit at that station for another 10 minutes waiting to get through to Lucan.

I can see a lot of traffic running down the Luttrelstown road in Kellystown, bypassing the Clonsilla village completely. That road could do with a resurfacing at least before winter sets in. It freezes pretty bad.

MrJoeSoap

Whilst I agree with the obvious benefits of these developments, it is very sad to see how the old stud farm and the Porterstown Road look at the moment. I've lived in the area all my life and I've seen some pretty major changes, but for some reason this one feels worse than any other. I just loved the narrow road and old stone walls, with the horses in the field.

Ah well.

BostonB

Same here. Always felt like you were out of the city into the countryside. I expect this will increase the volume on that road which will change the character of the road utterly.

StrawDub

I live on this road and my at least 5 generations of the family have lived in the Porterstown area. Sad isn't the word to see it changing, however at least the green belt for Liffey Valley will keep the changes from happening on the Liffey side of the road for a few more years to come.

A lot of people would be surprised at the extent of the history contained on this small area leading down to the Liffey.

BostonB

That book "Jim Lacey, A Candle in the Window" has a ton of info about the area.

MrJoeSoap

Justask wrote: »

They have done alot in a short time so i'd say end of October.

If only!

daymobrew wrote: »

The construction works are scheduled to be completed in mid March 2012.

Looking more realistic...

I have to say (primarily as a motorbiker, but I'm sure car drivers and the few cyclists who use the road regularly will agree) the state the road is in now while the works continue is a disgrace. Once you have passed the level crossing at Porterstown the road is covered in muck and dust, then there are about four or five different stages where you have to slow down to navigate some huge declines or inclines from the old road to the new road, with massive amounts of soil and pebbles to avoid to prevent sliding the bike on.

I appreciate that it is difficult to carry out works like this without making a bit of a mess but it honestly looks like they have just not bothered cleaning up after themselves at all yet because it isn't a "main" road. I hate driving the road now.

JoePie

Yeah, it's in bits. Car was skidding on the gravel turning at the junction from the Porterstown Road towards the level crossing there for a while. Did not feel safe. All this one lane rubbish at that junction is doing my head in as well. Wouldn't say no to some sort of widening of the bends near the level crossing, if possible. The amount of eejits who've nearly run me off the road there in the evening.

BostonB

That road will be cul de sac when they are finished. So no point widening it then.

JoePie

That annoys me. Everyone will be using the flyover road, and I can only assume traffic will be heavy on the flyover between the school and more people heading that way towards town.

BostonB

Thank the planners who allowed all the development that this traffic is generated from.

JoePie

Thank you, urban development planners.

spacetweek

Totally missed this development. Very good news.
As for cyclists, to continue to use the old road they would have to build a pedestrian bridge as I assume the level crossing will be removed. Could yis not use the flyover? It has cycle lanes and is a lot wider.

BostonB

The cycle lanes around there are just gibberish for cycle commuters. Just suited for kids or the odd meander to the shops for the paper. Anyone commuting would stay on the road.

Godge

BostonB wrote: »

The cycle lanes around there are just gibberish for cycle commuters. Just suited for kids or the odd meander to the shops for the paper. Anyone commuting would stay on the road.

Yes, but in this particular case, the new wide road with cycle lanes replaces an old narrow winding road with bad lighting and no cycle lanes - surely that is an improvement for cyclists?

Morag

It depend on the cyclelane, those which are part of paths are generally only suited to childern and not people cycling at 30 miles per hour. Some wander all over the place and have streetlamps and sign posts on them or suddenly curve arround bus stops.
Some which are a lane on the road are too narrow, or to slanted or end too abruptly.

BostonB

Godge wrote: »

Yes, but in this particular case, the new wide road with cycle lanes replaces an old narrow winding road with bad lighting and no cycle lanes - surely that is an improvement for cyclists?

I dunno why you introduced cyclists into the equation.

I makes no sense to stop cycling as you would for 40~50 mins of your journey to ride on the pavement for 5 mins on "cycle paths" which are wholly unsuitable for cycling on.

daymobrew

spacetweek wrote: »

As for cyclists, to continue to use the old road they would have to build a pedestrian bridge as I assume the level crossing will be removed.

I don't believe that it will be closed in the short term. Supposedly it would take some Government approval to close it, or something significant like that.

I have emailed FCC Roads and the person with the answer is out until March 12.

Pat Dunne

daymobrew wrote: »

I don't believe that it will be closed in the short term. Supposedly it would take some Government approval to close it, or something significant like that.

I have emailed FCC Roads and the person with the answer is out until March 12.

It is the local authority in this case Fingal County Council who issue "road closing" and "taking in charge

Pat Dunne

daymobrew wrote: »

I don't believe that it will be closed in the short term. Supposedly it would take some Government approval to close it, or something significant like that.

I have emailed FCC Roads and the person with the answer is out until March 12.

It is the local authority in this case Fingal County Council who issue "road closing" and "taking in charge" order's. These type of orders are issued on a very frequent basis and wouldn't involve national Government.

daymobrew

Pat Dunne wrote: »

It is the local authority in this case Fingal County Council who issue "road closing" and "taking in charge" order's. These type of orders are issued on a very frequent basis and wouldn't involve national Government.

True though it might be different with respect to the level crossing that is owned by Irish Rail.

I will clarify when the FCC Roads person is back next week.

Bunnyhopper

spacetweek wrote: »

Could yis not use the flyover? It has B]very poor quality[/B cycle lanes B]that are usually covered in grit and broken glass - and sometimes even pedestrians - and are poorly integrated at junctions,[/B and is a lot wider B]and steeper and more exposed to winds[/B.

The old Porterstown Road is a very pleasant cycle, and should be even nicer with less traffic. I hope the level crossing remains open for cyclists and pedestrians.

As BostonB suggested, the whole network of cycle lanes around the Diswellstown Road and through Riverwood is just not good enough for many cyclists. It might look perfectly good to someone glancing out a car window as they drive past but when I actually tried to use it on a bike I quickly realized how limited its usefulness is. Some cycle lanes are so bad that I go out of my way to avoid them, and the Porterstown Road is one such detour.

daymobrew

I got a reply from FCC about the level crossing and the new road opening date.

Q: Will the Porterstown Road level crossing remain open for pedestrians when the link road is completed?
A: The level crossing is due to close as part of Irish Rail proposals to upgrade the Maynooth line although the timing of this closure is not yet determined

Q: What is the estimated completion date for the link road?
A: The date for the completion of the road works is Mid April 2012

I assume the upgrade of the Maynooth line to mean electrification. That is a good way off.

Murt10

What's the betting that as soon as the road is closed that it doesn't become the latest place for every dumper and fly tipper in Dublin.

daymobrew

Murt10 wrote: »

What's the betting that as soon as the road is closed that it doesn't become the latest place for every dumper and fly tipper in Dublin.

As both sides of the road would be dead ends, a hidden camera should easily catch the culprits. I remember seeing such a camera in action on a programme on RTE a year or two back (in an episode featuring litter wardens).

daymobrew

FCC emailed me again with additional info about the Porterstown Road level crossing:

When the link road is opened the Porterstown level cross will remain open to vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Irish Rail are examining the possibility of closing a number of level crossing within the Fingal area however this is at a very early stage and will have to go through a full public consultation process before any decisions are made.

MrJoeSoap

Seems to have been completed and opened today, can anyone confirm?!

wxyz

Yes, went through junction this evening going home.
Traffic lights working and all feeder roads open.

MrJoeSoap

wxyz wrote: »

Yes, went through junction this evening going home.
Traffic lights working and all feeder roads open.

Is the old road now closed off, do you know?

daymobrew

wxyz wrote: »

Yes, went through junction this evening going home.
Traffic lights working and all feeder roads open.

The lights timing seems to be causing delays - they may need to be tweaked.

wxyz

Is the old road now closed off, do you know?

From what I seen coming from Clonsilla Rd and going thru railway crossing, after Scoil Choilm old rd is blocked and you come out instead at one arm of the new junction lights