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M7 - Naas/Newbridge Bypass Upgrade [Junction 9a now open]

JupiterKid

Following on from the suggestion of a poster, this thread has been set up to discuss the need for widening the M7.

The section of the M7 IMO in immediate need (really a backlog need) for widening is the section from the Maudlins Interchange at Naas to the M9 interchange - basically the original 1983 Naas Bypass and half of the 1993 Newbridge Bypass. Is this likely to proceed in the near future?

Would the central median be wide enough for widening to D3M here? I'm pretty sure it is wide enough on the Newbridge bypass section but I'm not so sure in the case of the Naas Bypass.

Also, what bridges will need to be demolished and rebuilt? Or would it be more practical to drop the hard shoulder through the existing bridges?

What about the proposal a few years back to build a new junction at on the Naas Bypass at Osberstown? Will it still go ahead?

In the longer term, does anyone see a need to widen the M7 to the N7/M8 junction?

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Be well and win

WishUWereHere wrote: »

Really cannot see that happening - why? Because of the works going on around Kerry Group. Perhaps the road itself yes, but am certain that those works around KG will mean the 60KPH zone staying around there.

My understanding is that the 3 lanes will open in April but the 60kmh limit will remain in place until 2020 across most if not all of the road until all of the work is finally finished.

_Kaiser_

regedit wrote: »

It's from the exact same spot. Pictures were taken from the Sallins bridge looking in the direction of Newbridge (West). I'll try to take one every week and will post it if there's any update.

I pass through this stretch daily and while there's been some more changes in the last day (the lanes are now split inbound from exit 9 to the end of the roadworks), I really can't see this being ready on time - even allowing for the date slippage that has it now at the end of April.

More likely they'll open part of the mainline and call it a success. Ridiculous given the time that's been wasted over the lifetime of this project. The entire thing should have been finished long ago.

I'm still not convinced it'll make much difference anyway considering the traffic is often backed up to exit 7 inbound nowadays, and the nonsense that goes on at the Naas/Carlow exits (on either side) will be just one lane removed from where it is now.

KOR101

tom1ie wrote: »

Indeed. When will we ever learn to drive in the left hand lane, as the other lane is only an overtaking lane.

Yes, it's like the mods on here asking that people keep on topic.

tom1ie

WishUWereHere wrote: »

Assuming the 2 photos are of the same spot on the M7...not a lot happened in 6 days. Some pipes gone, but also I see that driving habits are still awful in Ireland...RH side inside lane practically empty, and some arsehole buried up some other's backside on the outside lane. Will we ever learn?

Indeed. When will we ever learn to drive in the left hand lane, as the other lane is only an overtaking lane.

regedit

WishUWereHere wrote: »

Assuming the 2 photos are of the same spot on the M7...not a lot happened in 6 days. Some pipes gone, but also I see that driving habits are still awful in Ireland...RH side inside lane practically empty, and some arsehole buried up some other's backside on the outside lane. Will we ever learn?

It's from the exact same spot. Pictures were taken from the Sallins bridge looking in the direction of Newbridge (West). I'll try to take one every week and will post it if there's any update.

WishUWereHere

regedit wrote: »

Taken on 17 Feb 2019

Taken on 23 Feb 2019

Assuming the 2 photos are of the same spot on the M7...not a lot happened in 6 days. Some pipes gone, but also I see that driving habits are still awful in Ireland...RH side inside lane practically empty, and some arsehole buried up some other's backside on the outside lane. Will we ever learn?

regedit

Taken on 17 Feb 2019

Taken on 23 Feb 2019

tom1ie

tom1ie wrote: »

Does anyone know what the idea is with cutting into and demolishing parts of the new concrete center also median barrier is?
Are they re tensioning the steel wire that runs through the centeral barrier?
Are they quality testing the concrete in certain places, and maybe sending the demolished concrete off for load testing?
Are they correcting mistakes with the pour?
Thanks.

Anyone find out about this?

WishUWereHere

Mantis Toboggan wrote: »

I'd expect out to Junction 10 to be completed in the next few weeks and open by Easter.

Really cannot see that happening - why? Because of the works going on around Kerry Group. Perhaps the road itself yes, but am certain that those works around KG will mean the 60KPH zone staying around there.

Mantis Toboggan

cargo wrote: »

Any further updates on timelines, lane moves etc?

It's starting to look in order on the mainline.

I'd expect out to Junction 10 to be completed in the next few weeks and open by Easter.

cargo

Any further updates on timelines, lane moves etc?

It's starting to look in order on the mainline.

KOR101

2) Look ahead & see the Dublin Coach in the outside lane. Yes, he has a right to be there, but I wonder just what speed he/she is doing. I have given up on counting the number of coaches that pass me every evening...not only DC I might add, The blue coaches and BE also...all guilty of speeding.

I noticed that to the extent that I wondered whether those guys communicated with each other about speed vans.

spacetweek

jmkennedyie wrote: »

I also thought the Pic 4 merge from two centreline barriers to one and back out to two a bit curious. Contraflow capability? (I thought that is discouraged now) Maybe some centreline drainage infrastructure located there? Or maybe just facility for construction access. Guess we will find out more if/when they fill in the gap.

They have to be wider when there's the support column for an overbridge nearby. The photo was taken from one. They are narrow everywhere else.

WishUWereHere

jmkennedyie wrote: »

I also thought the Pic 4 merge from two centreline barriers to one and back out to two a bit curious. Contraflow capability? (I thought that is discouraged now) Maybe some centreline drainage infrastructure located there? Or maybe just facility for construction access. Guess we will find out more if/when they fill in the gap.

I use the N/M 7 every Monday to Friday so try and avoid it as much as I can on weekends.

Looking at picture #4 again, I never realised just how busy this stretch of motorway is on weekends. Those 3 lanes cannot come soon enough. Certainly I would think that going south, the 3 lanes can only be of benefit to users. Now going north, I think we'll have to wait and see.

marno21

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

It's even wider on the M1 3 lane section.

About the only thing Irish road planners did right 40 years a go was make extra wide medians.

They don't do that anymore because who needs forward planning?

That is not correct. It is still done where it is merited, the M6 between the ramps at Rathmorrissey and the proposed split for the N6 Galway City Outer Bypass has a grass median to facilitate a future widening to 3 lanes in either direction.

The other motorways built since then, many of which are dual carriageways with motorway redesignations post planning have narrow medians because they will have sufficient capacity to deal with demand for 30+ years at least. The M7 at Nenagh is carrying 1/5th the volume of traffic that the M7 is carrying at Naas which is being widened. Building these motorways with grass medians to facilitate widening would be an obscene waste of money and would have the penalty of having to scrap other schemes due to the increased landtake costs.

If we are at a stage where the M7 at Nenagh is carrying 50k+ vehicles, then the M7 at Naas will be beyond overwhelmed with traffic. It's never going to be an issue.

Kermit.de.frog

WishUWereHere wrote: »

1) I never realised that there would be that much space between the 2 centre walls &

It's even wider on the M1 3 lane section.

About the only thing Irish road planners did right 40 years a go was make extra wide medians.

They don't do that anymore because who needs forward planning?

jmkennedyie

I also thought the Pic 4 merge from two centreline barriers to one and back out to two a bit curious. Contraflow capability? (I thought that is discouraged now) Maybe some centreline drainage infrastructure located there? Or maybe just facility for construction access. Guess we will find out more if/when they fill in the gap.

WishUWereHere

jmkennedyie wrote: »

Mainline :
- Kerry Group Bridge: North side shutterred. Concrete poured? South side rebar in. I was told beam install (+ removal?) expected in 3 weeks.
- Lot of barriers being removed at Dublin end (Dublin bound) today.
- A lot of Dublin bound drainage/landscaping seems complete
- A lot of central barrier complete
- Newhall interchange a lot of kerbing in for new roundabouts + on/off ramps.

Sallins Bypass:
- temporarily realigned Osberstown Road now open. OSM updated. First two photos taken from here
- piling continues on north side of canal

Last two photos of Mainline from Caragh Road bridge.

Interesting photos. I especially found the 3rd one interesting on 2 counts:

1) I never realised that there would be that much space between the 2 centre walls &

2) Look ahead & see the Dublin Coach in the outside lane. Yes, he has a right to be there, but I wonder just what speed he/she is doing. I have given up on counting the number of coaches that pass me every evening...not only DC I might add, The blue coaches and BE also...all guilty of speeding.

jmkennedyie

Mainline :
- Kerry Group Bridge: North side shutterred. Concrete poured? South side rebar in. I was told beam install (+ removal?) expected in 3 weeks.
- Lot of barriers being removed at Dublin end (Dublin bound) today.
- A lot of Dublin bound drainage/landscaping seems complete
- A lot of central barrier complete
- Newhall interchange a lot of kerbing in for new roundabouts + on/off ramps.

Sallins Bypass:
- temporarily realigned Osberstown Road now open. OSM updated. First two photos taken from here
- piling continues on north side of canal

Last two photos of Mainline from Caragh Road bridge.

WishUWereHere

speedfreak wrote: »

Saw some fool this evening 100m or so into the split, leave the left lane, cross through the cones in the middle to try to merge with the right which was moving at a decent pace! No wonder there are so many accidents with drivers like that.

I saw a white Merc do the exact same thing on Thursday evening...CRAZY!!!

And then people come on here and wonder why the 60KPH is the speed limit?

speedfreak

iseegirls wrote: »

Definitely try to take the right lane before the split happens at the start before Naas.

Took the left lane this evening, and it was a disaster compared to the guys on the right lane flying by.

Saw some fool this evening 100m or so into the split, leave the left lane, cross through the cones in the middle to try to merge with the right which was moving at a decent pace! No wonder there are so many accidents with drivers like that.

ongarboy

End of April opening? Hard to believe that is just under 10 weeks away!! If we get more sunny dry days like yesterday and today, maybe that could help progress it to an Easter weekend (April 19-22) opening which would be great. I've a trip to Kerry planned for that weekend and would love to avail of the improved road for that journey.

wheres me jumpa

toe_knee wrote: »

Yes 3 lanes on each side

Holy crap. Feels like there is a lot of surfacing to be done to achieve that but great news!

toe_knee

Yes 3 lanes on each side

wheres me jumpa

May I ask about the lane opening in April. The Irish Times article and other comments suggests three lanes. Is that three lanes both ways for the full stretch?

tom1ie

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

Making provision for gantries?

I’m not sure but I’m pretty sure I’ve seen them break down a piece of concrete and then that part gets rebuilt. I could be wrong though, I’d love to find out what’s the story with it.

Brasso

iseegirls wrote: »

Definitely try to take the right lane before the split happens at the start before Naas.

Took the left lane this evening, and it was a disaster compared to the guys on the right lane flying by.

Yeah I had the same experience. Although when they first introduced a spilt on the northbound side it was the right lane that was way slower, then they seem to even out after a few days as people get used to it.

iseegirls

Definitely try to take the right lane before the split happens at the start before Naas.

Took the left lane this evening, and it was a disaster compared to the guys on the right lane flying by.

Kermit.de.frog

Making provision for gantries?

tom1ie

Does anyone know what the idea is with cutting into and demolishing parts of the new concrete center also median barrier is?
Are they re tensioning the steel wire that runs through the centeral barrier?
Are they quality testing the concrete in certain places, and maybe sending the demolished concrete off for load testing?
Are they correcting mistakes with the pour?
Thanks.