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

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 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

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.

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

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.

cantalach wrote: »

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.

Some places still do that crapp. From Maynooth interchange, you'd struggle to find Galway

https://goo.gl/maps/PHq3A2rdg3Vof3Rx7


No wonder the annonymous man looks confused

Deleted User wrote: »

Yeah, I walked as far as Osberstown Cottages along the canal and then turned back to head out the millennium ringroad. It's insane that in 2020/21, for an additional trivial cost, they didn't put in active travel provision for the future - Naas/Sallins is going to continue to grow (both in its own right and as a commuter suburb for Dublin) and the new ringroad is inevitably going to become part of the ribbon development.

Don't think there's much on the ringroad other than getting to your destination. If cycling-commuting, one would go through the town? Maybe there's some plan for Liffey Greenway, i'm speculating here.

With a bit of luck there will be some cop from the council not to build on the bypass. Defeats it's function.

WishUWereHere wrote: »

I have driven the opposite way in the mornings. Also excellent job done, with smooth tar laid, sure puts the inside lane between J9 & j10 SB to shame

Lane 1 between on the entire project was a simple resurface over a well used road.

The Naas ring road / bypass and local roads are probably better suited to the Kildare forum and a specific thread there.

Ideally a ring road should be for vehicles but with substantial new cycle/pedestrian priority given in the town centre.

Deleted User wrote: »

Why should ring roads only be for vehicles? As a cycle commuter in Dublin, I'd rather indirect roads with less junctions/interference than going a more 'direct' but busier route - I doubt it's any different elsewhere in towns across the country.


My brother cycle commutes from Rathcoole to Dublin 12, he'd much rather be able to cycle along the N7 safely, at high speed and without interference than go via citywest, tallaght, ballymount and walkinstown.


Again, this stuff is patently obvious so I don't really understand why people are being dimly argumentative about it.

If you're building new roads around existing settlements, include cycling&walking provision.

again, this is more suited to the naas thread.

It seems you didn't read the second half of my sentence that if its for vehicles only the town centre / more DIRECT routes should change to pedestrian/cycle priority. EG, town centre routes that gives priority to cyclists and pedestrians over vehicles effectively pushing cars to the ringroad and making it far safer.

Full road safety audit published by Cllr Bill Clear:

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=980584459437407&id=326703511492175

Darc19 wrote: »

Put this in context as Bill Clear loves to mouth off without context.

This was a "snagging" report for want of better word. It was commissioned by Siac Colas in March before the opening and after they completed the works to the designs set out.

And it is not designed for pedestrians - it is NOT a walking route for Bill Clear's mates - the idea is to take traffic from sallins to make sallins pedestrian and cycle friendly.

Many of the issues are minor and were corrected before opening. If you drive on the bypass you'll find that all of the urgent matters are completed and were completed at the time of opening. - Bill Clear won't say that as its does not suit his hysterical attention grabbing need for publicity.


Bill Clear is a hysterical mouthpiece - his ramblings are best avoided.

The 'Purpose' of the bypass is indeed to move traffic out of the village, that does not mean that you can simply ignore or make minimal effort with the provision of Pedestrian and cycling facilities on the route, as you say this is the 'snagging' report, and aspects relating to the carriageways were handled as required before opening, but not so with pedestrian and cycling issues, the biggest 'fix' I have seen was a cycling logo burned off the ground on approach to the railway underpass, making that section 'pedestrian only'. That section includes no barrier at a sharp corner in the pedestrian path, leaving maybe a metre gap of flat dirt between the pedestrian path and full dual carriageway traffic. The lack of walking and cycling provision along the remainder of the dual carriageway across the motorway junction, directly linking Sallins by foot and bike with the new Naas Community College is a big planning fail. And the exits onto the canal bank road for cyclists and pedestrians have poor visibility and no signage, still!

I'm not going to pass comment regarding Bill's agenda or social media handling, but the bypass is a modern Irish road and should therefore adequately serve ALL users, not just motorists.

BuzzFish wrote: »

Am I the only one to think they did the right thing not having cycle/walking lanes at a junction with multiple free flow lanes entering and leaving a motorway which bikes and walkers would have to cross? Seems like a recipe for disaster to me if they did. I think they were 100% right sending them an alternative route.

I'd be inclined to agree if the alternative was a well considered and high quality protected route, but its both haphazard and disjointed. Honestly there probably should have been a commitment to a pedestrian bridge across the motorway, similar to what would have been done in the Netherlands, but given this is Ireland the cycle/walking alternative route being safe and continuous would have been sensible.

I have the same issue further up at the Naas/Newbridge road junction. I wouldn't want or expect pedestrians and cyclists to traverse that junction, but the former junction (now just a bridge over from bundle of sticks roundabout) is perfect for an alternative route for Peds and cyclists, then a track along the side of the motorway and link in to the Newbridge road there. They are upgrading the floods cross junction soon to a roundabout with pedestrian and cycling facilities so its not like they don't expect cyclists and walkers along it, even though its currently a distinctly unpleasant environment for them.

Pete_Cavan wrote: »

What happened to the northbound off ramp, could it become part of a ped/cycling route?

Yeah it would be perfect as part of a Ped/Cycling link

Truckermal wrote: »

Any hope of getting an extension to the Sallins by pass that would extend beyond Clane to link the M4?

Based on the time line for this one, I suspect such a project would be due for completion in 2091

I doubt such a plan would work as it would bring far too much traffic in to the area.