SoupyNorman wrote: » I’d say there were quite a few commuters avoiding the N7 during roadworks, they’re back on it now adding to volume. I’m extremely pleased with the upgrade. I come from Athy to Red Cow and my commute up is roughly the same (50-55mins) however there are days I can do it in 45 mins which was unheard of pre works. Going home, utterly transformed. 40mins now, every day including Fridays. Wife even says I’m coming home more relaxed and less cranky so there’s the litmus test. Longer term, Dublin bound is just going to get worse and worse because single occupancy car travel is the only option for the many. I would HAPPILY take public transport if it existed for me but a sustainable bus service is not available. I can take one bus in the morning and one in the evening but if I miss either ive no alternative. I believe the answer lies in car pooling, build car park hubs at on ramps and incentivise people. Make one lane of the N7 a carpool lane…there’d be huge take up in my opinion.
MaceFace wrote: » Having another look at the traffic volumes, it appears that since the opening of the 3 lanes, the Dublin bound traffic volume is up between 12%-20% on the N7 around the Kill junction between 6am and 7am. After 7am the volume is down on last year (looking at a couple of samples), so it suggests people are still leaving their homes at the same time as they always have, but the M7 isn't slowing down their arrival on the N7. The traffic jams are starting earlier and probably more acute due to this. Personally, I've noticed a significant increase in traffic between 6:10 and 6:30 around the Kill junction so was not surprised when I looked at the data. All in all, once it's complete I'd like to understand the overall journey times of people from say Kildare town or Kilcullen to Red Cow and back in the evening. A possible positive is that with the Dublin bound route likely deteriorating, finding a solution for the N7 to M50/City route will likely become a significant issue for the government as a lot of people are affected. Besides Dublin bound weekday mornings, and ignoring the temporary traffic works, I think it will be safe to say the works will produce tremendous benefits to the users of the road and the people of Sallins, Naas, and Newbridge and anyone needing to drive in these areas.
traco wrote: » Can't believe it has taken so long to get the junction open. Traffic on the Newbridge road out from naas through the roundabouts (Bundle of Sticks) was mental before anything started. It has be made worse by the new junction 9 only half done (directing all southbound traffic for Newbridge back towards Naas to do a U-turn and head back to Newbridge), I really hope the opening takes some of the load off down this end.
Pitch n Putt wrote: » Why waste millions then if the plan wasn’t to improve the situation ? What was the purpose of the project then? Have a nice shiny road for us all to look at while crawling along at 30km/hr and taking 50mins to travel 20km upon completion ???[/QUOTE The outbound leg (towards Nass) definitely needed to be upgraded, but I agree with the rest of your statement. This project is and was always going to be a waste of money with regards to improving the traffic congestion on the Dublin bound carriage way. As I said before the only way to improve this is to get people out of their cars by providing a high quality alternative public transport system, which the minister for transport has no interest in, and the nta (so far) are completely inept at.
Darc19 wrote: » I should have double checked. The new junction at kerry group will open a further land bank for construction creating up to 2500 jobs (lawless td website) As for the contribution, It was certainly mentioned several times - not cost of junction, but a contribution to it. If I can locate info, I'll post it.
BuzzFish wrote: » Complete and utter rubbish. Kerry do not plan to have 2500 staff on that site. Never mentioned, never rumoured. Would be completely out of sync with their Beloit site which is a sister site and in existence much longer than Naas. Also complete rubbish that they paid for the junction. I'd say they barely paid for the site they built on considering it was announced in recession times and millennium park badly needed a large tenant. Care to share your source????
Darc19 wrote: » Kerry group only chose Naas based on the upgrade and contributed a few million to it. Long term Kerry will have over 2500 staff.
Mantis Toboggan wrote: » Have you been on any of these so called rat runs lately? There's more people than ever using them.
prunudo wrote: » Somebody mentioned on this thread a long time ago that once this was completed that people who were rat running through villages, back roads and country lanes would move to the safer mainline and any improvement in journey times would be insignificant. Where the improvement will be is that the back roads will be safer, people will be able to walk cycle on roads without fear of maniac commuters trying to save 2 minutes to avoid roadworks and log jams. Improvements in infrastructure aren't only about time but ensuring safer alternatives and giving people back their communities.
Pitch n Putt wrote: » Why waste millions then if the plan wasn’t to improve the situation ? What was the purpose of the project then? Have a nice shiny road for us all to look at while crawling along at 30km/hr and taking 50mins to travel 20km upon completion ???
Pitch n Putt wrote: » It’ll be completed alright but it’s a car park now from Naas to the Redcow . Spent a year and a half sitting in traffic whilst the project was going on in the hope of a big improvement. Big improvement outgoing definitely but total disaster incoming from Johnstown. There will be no mention of this when all the back clapping happens on 9th December.
tom1ie wrote: » What did you expect? Upgrading a road inbound towards Dublin does not improve traffic levels. The only way you tackle that is by building a p+r and having top class public transport going from the p+r to key areas within Dublin. That's not on the agenda though.
Mrs Dempsey wrote: » Problem identified - mandatory swipe made @ "system". Now if you were in a pivotal position within the "system" what solutions might you have?
Pitch n Putt wrote: » ......Big improvement outgoing definitely but total disaster incoming from Johnstown. There will be no mention of this when all the back clapping happens on 9th December.
Darc19 wrote: M7 to be completed by Monday December 9th.
pad199207 wrote: » Kerry Group Junction will open in early December
Mantis Toboggan wrote: » Why the slip southbound at junction 9 isn't open is a mystery. Seems like it's ready to open, hasn't been touched in months just covered up in bollards. Absolute pain.
