NRA have this morning advertised for engineering consultancy to design medium to long term solution to the junction!
:):)
That is only one of their uses, and it is a use that isn't even applicable in the case of the signage on the N40 westbound, i.e. travelling away from the tunnel. I lived in Cork for many years before permanent VMS was installed and I don't think I was ever under any doubt that the tunnel was closed. Mobile VMS units were deployed in appropriate locations. This was arguably more effective because when they were in situ and flashing a message, you tended to notice it. And a fraction of the cost.
Sorry for being so ranty here but I think VMS is a classic example of solutionism.
Wasn't there a proposal along with Tivoli being developed to bring a cycle/running track along the waters edge and to cross the water to the tunnel management building? Think it was proposed along with the Eastern Gateway Bridge?
Or maybe I've been daydreaming about an integrated infrastructure plan that benefits everyone..
A lot of those overhead gantries immediately switch on when there is an overheight vehicle pootling towards the tunnel, so I'd say a good chunk of them are for that. Each slip road will need one then if thats the case, which seems to be what is happening. I do like the Travel Time ones, but they are too slow to react when traffic is clearing and at those times they are absolute fantasy compared to google.
Now that I've seen the latest dronehawk videos, its been confirmed pretty much that the two new lanes going along the N25W will BOTH go into the tunnel N40S. The M8S to N40S will have to merge into it, presumably into Lane 2 (Overtaking lane) just before the mouth of tunnel.
It'll be interesting to see how well this works. Assuming most traffic will stay in Lane 2 (yknow gotta be in the fast lane) and traffic from Dublin will be merging with this, and how poor the other merging distances have been on this project, it could be an interesting one.
I had long assumed that one lane would come from the N25W and one lane would come from the M8S with other bits merging into the two of them. It would be much neater.
I really hope you are not correct. Otherwise it means that both M8 mainline and City to Tunnel traffic have to merge together and then merge into the overtaking lane with N25 to Tunnel movement having priority. Sounds like a mess.
Agreed.
The idealised/proposed long-term routings for the West of Little Island are different: a cycleway from Tivoli across the causeway to the tunnel management building. Unlikely to be completed in my lifetime I suspect.
Your mindset is that the active transport routing through Dunkettle is of low quality. That mindset does NOT exist within the project team whatsoever. I had written a long post but have deleted it because I gave too much info. Let's just say that the design team DO NOT CARE about sustainable transport routing. It is a case of "dealing with the problem". Within the local authorities it's a mixed bag and some people doing their best.
You're absolutely right. It seems to me that this will be a very long time in the future though.
I had assumed same as you: one lane from N25, one from N8/M8, and no N25/M8 merging until after the tunnel.
Be very careful around there at the weekend when the new links are opened. I was approaching Little Island north roundabout last night and someone came up from the M8/N40 slip and proceeded to turn off anti clockwise and drive to the south roundabout on the wrong side of the road.
Has it been confirmed somewhere that new links are opening this weekend?
The YouTube Dunkettle page just has a new video about the loop opening. No other details yet.
There’s a burst of new videos on YouTube showing all the new to be movements.
Spotted that but no mention of opening dates?
Maybe tomorrows update will have the info.
Must be this weekend I suspect. Any big changes have always occurred on Sunday mornings.
Seen on a FB post that these links will be opened on the 9th. Let the chaos commence.
Cool. That will also mean the closure of the existing N8 to N40 slip at the roundabout, meaning 1 less set of traffic lights for those heading east/north from the tunnel.
These new slips should completely remove the lights at tunnel exit.
You're right!
I'm just going from https://youtu.be/S-2Ct42yYdE?t=139 so I'm not 100%, but it does look like 2 lanes into the tunnel from N25. Also the merge from Link P (I think) is insanely tight.
I guess at the end of the day we're just limited by the tunnel itself, but I do think its going to be a bit messy if it turns out as we think it will.
To me it looks like the N25 westbound to tunnel lanes merge into 1 lane just before merging with the M8 southbound lane.
I can't post a link, but it's at around 1:50 on the third YouTube video posted earlier.
Are they the only links opening up? Or is the dumbell to tunnel also opening? I assumed that would open at same time. Also, if the current slip is closing, does that mean the old diversion route is gone too (R623)?
All movements except for N25 West to M8 North are opening.
the tunnel to M8 north movement will also eventually need to be moved from the west bore under the N25 to the east bore. That’s to be done later this year.
All traffic lights will be gone by Sunday. Parts of the roundabout will also be demolished I would think.
Makes sense, just with the 3 videos posted I didn't see it as being done. Have waited a long time for this chaos, should be fun
They’ve added another 2 videos. One is just the obvious tunnel to city movement. The other is M8 South to City via the dumbbell.
The dumbbell links opening is great for traffic in the area. It grants Glounthaune full access to the tunnel and city again without having to go through Little Island.
The U-turn at the Dunkettle roundabout for vehicles from Midleton direction looking to go north could cause chaos alright. Credit to them, it's a good time of year to make the changes. Early next week should be fun. It's been amazing to witness the project progress over the last few years, with way less delays than I'd have expected. Credit to the planners and doers.
Yeah I'll be interested to see the impact on Eastgate (work there), hopefully it should help prevent too much traffic buildup, although that could be wishful thinking.
The mother-in-law probably…going around roundabouts the wrong way is her speciality.
Where are you getting Sunday from? Or have you gotten a newsletter a day early.
A TD and several councillors have posted an email from the Dunkettle team on Facebook noting the links are planned to be open on July 9th before 10AM.
Excellent. Reckon the Wednesday newsletter will have something.
I did notice while going N25E today that there are signs on the N25W that are currently turned around the wrong way. They were saying N40 head to the left, and Dublin head to the right towards the Tivoli roundabout.
:):)
