Applegreen service area's, Lemybrien and NRA

foxcoverteddy

Well, at least we can keep to the thread hopefully without upsetting some folk.
Lemybrien Applegreen is far removed from an ordinary fuel point, one only has to walk up the road to see what was the norm, bringing in the NRA is not an option as there is not going to be a motorway from Rosslare to Cork and beyond in the next couple of decades.
After Applegreen the next service point is Garveys as you come into Dungarvan, it has fulfilled an empty spot albeit not to the same standard as Lemybrien.
We here all the talk of road safety and for drivers to rest from driving, which is all very good but the lack of service area's in this country is dire if not almost criminal.
I applaud any attempt to alleviate this situation whether it be the NRA or a private venture.
Foxy

munchkin_utd

have to agree that theres a need for a better standard of service station on the main non motorway/ dual carraigeway routes separate from the drive to get service areas on the motorway network.
By rights, just like the NRA can veto service development plans along the motorway corridors, the NRA should also have a remit to ensure that anything built on the major interurban (non motorway) national primary roads is of a certain standard with regard to layout/ parking/ toilet provision.

And possibly they should provide online signage for any offline stations of a high standard near a national primary route (say like Applegreen Ballincollig, 500m off the N22) - which only seasoned regular travellers with a local knowledge would know about - leaving the rest of us to stop at the side of the road to pee through an iron gate into some farmers field (or Quarry entrance, ahem).

ongarboy

But by their very nature, motorways are designed to and do carry more traffic so such dedicated, state of the art service stations/rest areas etc will be justified and financially viable as the volumes will be present to use them.

Building Enfield/Castlebellingham equivalents on national primary roads which obviously have not been earmarked for DC/M-way improvements due to insufficient traffic volumes would make such MSS unviable for the most part, would they not? Also, single lane roads pass through towns and villages generally where there will always be opportunities for fuel/rest/toilets etc.

eg -the N21 Tralee to Limerick which is a national primary route has 9 or 10 roadside petrol stations within a 60 mile journey (all with toilets and most with hot food offerings) as far as Adare. I'm not overly familar with the south east but apart from the M9 or M11, wouldn't you also be passing through similar towns, villages and rural areas on any route with similar equivalents to the N21 without having to drive "offline"/

flazio

Private companies are taking up the challenge of decent service stops, most notable in the West is Corrib Oil, some very high standard stations like the Ballinasloe station approx 750m away from the M6 and the Portlaoise station on the Tullamore Road.