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

riddlinrussell · 08-04-2021 1:20pm

Golden Horde wrote: »

Seems strange though as the old part is in use anyways and we know they are closing it to re-surface and redo the paths next month.

I just don't get why the full link road won't open as part of the main scheme. It seems ready and is part of the solution for Millbank residents while the old part is being redone. So Kildare CoCo will have it open next month when the old part is closed - I suppose I'm wondering out loud why it's not ready to go tomorrow.

Possibly some legal advice on risk of lawsuits due to surface quality if the whole thing is open as a strategic road rather than a residential cul-de-sac? Maybe it will remain closed until the works happen, where it will be a rolling opening.

MYSTICA1 · 08-04-2021 2:00pm

We have all now learned what a "Soft" opening is!:D:D

BuzzFish · 09-04-2021 8:14am

Golden Horde wrote: »

Seems strange though as the old part is in use anyways and we know they are closing it to re-surface and redo the paths next month.

I just don't get why the full link road won't open as part of the main scheme. It seems ready and is part of the solution for Millbank residents while the old part is being redone. So Kildare CoCo will have it open next month when the old part is closed - I suppose I'm wondering out loud why it's not ready to go tomorrow.

Could be that while resurfacing they will also run services to the new link and so they need the road closed to dig it up. If they did this before the bypass was opened the residents of Millbank would have been stranded. I've nothing to back this up, just a thought.

SeeMoreBut · 09-04-2021 8:20am

Every TD and councilor etc will be making an non essential journey for the opening today with a photographer in tow for that important photo followed by a comment like they built the road themselves

yannakis · 09-04-2021 12:04pm

According to all the news sources and a couple of user reports, the bypass is open since 11:00 this morning!

You'll also see it mapped and routable in Waze:

Rulmeq · 09-04-2021 12:42pm

yannakis wrote: »

According to all the news sources and a couple of user reports, the bypass is open since 11:00 this morning!

You'll also see it mapped and routable in Waze:

Is R407 the correct label, the same as the other route into Naas?

NSAman · 09-04-2021 12:43pm

Is this thing not finished YET?

yannakis · 09-04-2021 1:13pm

Rulmeq wrote: »

Is R407 the correct label, the same as the other route into Naas?

According to the new signs, the bypass is R407, the part of R407 through Sallins is now L3014 (this change will be live in a few days).

NSAman wrote: »

Is this thing not finished YET?

Still no date for the link road to Sallins town centre :rolleyes:

Kevtherev1 · 09-04-2021 1:27pm

Confirm the bypass opened 11am this morning. Drove the new road shortly after. Then went to sallins Lidl. Walked up the Sallins link road. The paths and bike lane also connect to grand canal greenway going into Sallins.

Lots of people trying the walk and bike routes on the bypass. Drove back on bypass via naas ring road. Overall a excellent bypass lots of trucks going via bypass as well. It was worth the wait, still some engineers and construction staff pottering around observing how the opening is going.

The resurfacing and new paths on Millbank road are due to complete June 25th 2021 so the sallin link road will likely open shortly after.

ongarboy · 09-04-2021 1:44pm

RTE news : Sallins bypass in Kildare opens to traffic

http://www.rte.ie/news/2021/0409/1208730-kildare-road-opening/

jmkennedyie · 09-04-2021 3:38pm

yannakis wrote: »

According to the new signs, the bypass is R407, the part of R407 through Sallins is now L3014 (this change will be live in a few days).

Thank you. If that's what the signage says that's good enough for OpenStreetMap...might take some time for caches to update at all zoom levels.

Can anyone confirm from signage that Millennium Road section from new interchange to old Sallins/Naas Road roundabout becomes R407?

https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=53.2372&mlon=-6.6738#map=15/53.2372/-6.6738

If you spot probs with the map pls add them as notes.

We'll add the new pedestrian / cycle links over time, and update the Sallins Link Road when it opens.

NedNew2 · 09-04-2021 8:12pm

By the way, the speed limit on the new road is 80 km/h which is probably fair.

GPoint · 09-04-2021 8:43pm

Drove this new road today. New surface is so smooth! Wish all roads were like that. Access to Newbridge is so fast now. Long awaited!

spacetweek · 09-04-2021 11:16pm

What route exactly does the new cycling route take?

riddlinrussell · 10-04-2021 12:26am

spacetweek wrote: »

What route exactly does the new cycling route take?

https://imgur.com/a/JzyalPC

Took a few pictures today, mostly of the cycling and walking routes, the footpath/cycleway on the link road are currently open, only the road itself isn't, the path linking the North bank of the canal to the bypass is open, barriers at the bottom are well spaced apart to allow various bicycle types, not perfect but I've seen far worse.

South bank walking/cycling provision is a bit all over the place and not fully finished, I have detailed it on the pictures.

The associated works on the ramps from the canal road to millennium link road appear to be substantially complete and these are now fully open. The kerbing onto the canal road is not dished, but I believe this is a planned amendment. Similar barrier setup to the north canal bank.

I also took pictures of the signage at the end of the road, R407 shown on the sign directing across the motorway junction, but still covered by paint directing people towards the Sallins road roundabout.

WishUWereHere · 11-04-2021 7:50pm

I guess this thread is coming to it's conclusion....finally.

Many contributors have kept us informed especially those who took photos ( since first post almost exactly 9 years ago.

Without wanting to offend anyone I think it inappropriate to single out anyone in particular. So, may I take this opportunity to thank You one and all.

regedit · 11-04-2021 9:58pm

Drove there on Friday after work and they've done a good job wit the road. The tarmac is way smoother than on the M7.

https://vimeo.com/535611594

Victor · 12-04-2021 10:13am

Kevtherev1 wrote: »

Millbank road

Which road is this?

Kevtherev1 · 12-04-2021 10:51am

Victor wrote: »

Which road is this?

Road in Sallins, Lidl Store

dashcamdanny · 12-04-2021 6:30pm

Sallins traffic is flying now. Its actually too fast . Lots of school children going to school and pedestrian traffic from the train station..

I expect the residents will be pushing for ramps and a HGV ban soon.

Mantis Toboggan · 12-04-2021 8:33pm

Going from clane to Naas and now is probably quicker going through sallins now that everyone is using the bypass :pac::pac:

pad199207 · 12-04-2021 10:05pm

Were they a bit lazy with the signage? For such a major road all they give is directional/distance for two towns?
Thought they would have at least Maynooth and Celbridge listed as it’s the main road from the county town.

riddlinrussell · 12-04-2021 10:10pm

dashcamdanny wrote: »

Sallins traffic is flying now. Its actually too fast . Lots of school children going to school and pedestrian traffic from the train station..

I expect the residents will be pushing for ramps and a HGV ban soon.

I'm personally thinking tidal traffic control from the LIDL junction to the Station, would allow space for pedestrians and cyclists on the canal bridge and discourage people from driving through unless its their destination.

Darc19 · 12-04-2021 10:39pm

pad199207 wrote: »

Were they a bit lazy with the signage? For such a major road all they give is directional/distance for two towns?
Thought they would have at least Maynooth and Celbridge listed as it’s the main road from the county town.

The road number is clearly stated on the sign - R407.

The R407 goes to Kilcock via Clane. The R407 does not go to Celbridge or Maynooth.

pad199207 · 13-04-2021 7:03am

Darc19 wrote: »

The road number is clearly stated on the sign - R407.

The R407 goes to Kilcock via Clane. The R407 does not go to Celbridge or Maynooth.

Usually they would have names of towns in brackets that are not directly on that route

Darc19 · 13-04-2021 7:09am

pad199207 wrote: »

Usually they would have names of towns in brackets that are not directly on that route

Rarely do I see that and usually it's major towns

Sure add Leixlip, Lucan, straffan, Enfield and whatever else too. Signs would be enormous.

Maynooth is not even on a road off the 407.

pad199207 · 13-04-2021 7:37am

Darc19 wrote: »

Rarely do I see that and usually it's major towns

Sure add Leixlip, Lucan, straffan, Enfield and whatever else too. Signs would be enormous.

Maynooth is not even on a road off the 407.

I think they have Celbridge and prosperous in brackets on the road into sallins from monread. No just a query.

I mean everywhere you drive in Maynooth you see signs for Naas. Even on the motorway exit for Maynooth it has Naas.

Must be because it’s the county town or something I dunno.

dashcamdanny · 13-04-2021 12:13pm

On the Kerdiffstown road at Sallins primary school, there is now a sign for Clane. Pointing the wrong way.

veryangryman · 13-04-2021 2:18pm

pad199207 wrote: »

I think they have Celbridge and prosperous in brackets on the road into sallins from monread. No just a query.

I mean everywhere you drive in Maynooth you see signs for Naas. Even on the motorway exit for Maynooth it has Naas.

Must be because it’s the county town or something I dunno.

I think the logic is that because the Motorway has limited access on/off by design, they try to cover as much as possible regarding directions.

M4 Maynooth exit sign for Eastbound is silly. The Kilcock exit is the right one for any sane person coming from Galway, Athlone etc going to Naas. The Westbound i can understand. They likely did a copy/paste from the Eastbound for Westbound despite it defying common sense.

marno21 · 13-04-2021 4:03pm

veryangryman wrote: »

I think the logic is that because the Motorway has limited access on/off by design, they try to cover as much as possible regarding directions.

M4 Maynooth exit sign for Eastbound is silly. The Kilcock exit is the right one for any sane person coming from Galway, Athlone etc going to Naas. The Westbound i can understand. They likely did a copy/paste from the Eastbound for Westbound despite it defying common sense.

Same as the M6 at the Loughrea exit which is signed Portumna both ways. Eastbound sure but westbound you’d be mad not to exit at Ballinasloe.

Darc19 · 13-04-2021 7:29pm

dashcamdanny wrote: »

On the Kerdiffstown road at Sallins primary school, there is now a sign for Clane. Pointing the wrong way.

That sign has been there for quite a while (at least 2 years). Its to signify that you turn left into Church avenue as there's no right turn if you continue to the bridge

Hotblack Desiato · 13-04-2021 7:39pm

marno21 wrote: »

Same as the M6 at the Loughrea exit which is signed Portumna both ways. Eastbound sure but westbound you’d be mad not to exit at Ballinasloe.

Gets you to go through the tolled section though...

marno21 · 14-04-2021 1:29am

Hotblack Desiato wrote: »

Gets you to go through the tolled section though...

You wouldn't because Portumna is also signed from exit 15 at Ballinasloe. It's 30km from J15 to Portumna vs 65km J15-J16-Portumna. No one in their right mind would take that route.

Sam Russell · 14-04-2021 9:46am

There does appear to some effort to 'encourage' motorists onto tolled roads.

Ash.J.Williams · 14-04-2021 10:08am

Quickest way to Balitore from naas is still the old way

TnxM17 · 14-04-2021 7:24pm

marno21 wrote: »

Same as the M6 at the Loughrea exit which is signed Portumna both ways. Eastbound sure but westbound you’d be mad not to exit at Ballinasloe.

I know its OT - but its been getting traction, the Junction 16 Westbound does not have Portumna on it.

I would post a pic but I don't have enough posts here - but if you check the street view it shows Kiltullagh Loughrea.

14-04-2021 7:24pm

The bypass is now on Google Maps. The traffic feed will likely go live in the next couple of weeks.

BuzzFish · 14-04-2021 8:26pm

HabibiLibneni wrote: »

The bypass is now on Google Maps. The traffic feed will likely go live in the next couple of weeks.

Doesn't take them long to pick the updates up from Waze (a much better option than google maps). :cool:

traco · 15-04-2021 8:56am

I am sure waze had it the friday evening it opned as i went hom evia the applegreen at the Volvo commecrcials and had waze on.

BuzzFish · 16-04-2021 6:48am

traco wrote: »

I am sure waze had it the friday evening it opned as i went hom evia the applegreen at the Volvo commecrcials and had waze on.

Waze had it from 11am Friday. The volunteer editing community are on the ball.

Pete_Cavan · 16-04-2021 12:29pm

This may not be there right place to post this so Mods feel free to move but it is just up the road from M7 J10.

Consultation opened this week on putting another roundabout on the R445, doing away with the existing median crossing;

https://consult.kildarecoco.ie/en/consultation/proposed-improvements-newhall-junction-part-8-planning-ref-p8202105

riddlinrussell · 16-04-2021 1:15pm

Pete_Cavan wrote: »

This may not be there right place to post this so Mods feel free to move but it is just up the road from M7 J10.

Consultation opened this week on putting another roundabout on the R445, doing away with the existing median crossing;

https://consult.kildarecoco.ie/en/consultation/proposed-improvements-newhall-junction-part-8-planning-ref-p8202105

I had a look at the plans earlier in the week, I think this was awaiting the new road being finished before it got underway, possibly also informed by traffic using this junction coming from Floods Cross to avoid the Naas ring road, plenty of trucks coming out of that junction.

It includes a fair amount of walking and cycling provision, so I'm hopeful that this is just the start of a walking and cycling upgrade to the road. Bridges or underpasses of the main road should be considered instead of the crossing envisaged, but obviously outside the budget of such a scheme at present.

I've made suggestions for improvements to a local councillor, so we will see what comes of it.

Pete_Cavan · 16-04-2021 1:41pm

riddlinrussell wrote: »

It includes a fair amount of walking and cycling provision, so I'm hopeful that this is just the start of a walking and cycling upgrade to the road. Bridges or underpasses of the main road should be considered instead of the crossing envisaged, but obviously outside the budget of such a scheme at present.

The crossings of the local roads north and south of the roundabout are probably fine given the low traffic volumes but the uncontrolled crossings of the dual carriageway will be deathtraps.

silver2020 · 16-04-2021 2:33pm

Pete_Cavan wrote: »

This may not be there right place to post this so Mods feel free to move but it is just up the road from M7 J10.

Consultation opened this week on putting another roundabout on the R445, doing away with the existing median crossing;

https://consult.kildarecoco.ie/en/consultation/proposed-improvements-newhall-junction-part-8-planning-ref-p8202105

That was planned a long time ago. I had thought they were going to proceed with it before the newly located M7 junction, but must have been put on the long finger.

Far too many crashes and near misses at that junction especially with dangerous fools who turn from the sallins road onto lane two of the newbridge carriageway

BelfastVanMan · 18-04-2021 3:13pm

Is Millenium Link Road now part of the R407?

jmkennedyie · 18-04-2021 8:16pm

I understand we await official redesignation. This will trigger removing the remaining temporary paint on the road signage revealing the presumably R407 designation on the linking stretch of the Millennium Road.

BelfastVanMan · 18-04-2021 9:53pm

jmkennedyie wrote: »

I understand we await official redesignation. This will trigger removing the remaining temporary paint on the road signage revealing the presumably R407 designation on the linking stretch of the Millennium Road.

Thanks for that.

Stan27 · 19-04-2021 10:59pm

I drove the sallins bypass today. (Clane to waterford direction). It is excellent

21-04-2021 9:36pm

I walked as far as the applegreen (coming from Naas) last weekend - I had no idea that the vast majority of the ringroad had no cycling/walking provision whatsoever. That was hardly building/planning for the future!

cantalach · 22-04-2021 1:14am

Darc19 wrote: »

The road number is clearly stated on the sign - R407.

The R407 goes to Kilcock via Clane. The R407 does not go to Celbridge or Maynooth.

By that logic the signs on the M7 as you come out of Dublin wouldn't show the distance to Cork because the M7 goes to Limerick. Similarly, the M4 signs wouldn't show Galway because the M4/N4 goes to Sligo. There is provision in the road signage manual for destinations off the mainline route to be shown. The mandated format is to put those destinations in parentheses. He has a point.

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

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