M8 motorway (general thread)

Reenascreena · 31-07-2008 12:24pm

Cork County Council have approved increasing the speed limits on the Ballincollig city boundary - Ovens, N25 Dunkettle - Carrigtwohill and N8 Glanmire - Watergrasshill to 120 km/h.
No dates set yet.

Amtmann · 31-07-2008 9:11pm

Reenascreena wrote: »

Cork County Council have approved increasing the speed limits on the Ballincollig city boundary - Ovens, N25 Dunkettle - Carrigtwohill and N8 Glanmire - Watergrasshill to 120 km/h.
No dates set yet.

Excellent. Where did you hear that?

Chris_533976 · 31-07-2008 10:36pm

I hope not. 120kmh on those roads without motorway restrictions is daft.

As long as they apply for reclassification its good.

Amtmann · 31-07-2008 11:00pm

Chris_533976 wrote: »

I hope not. 120kmh on those roads without motorway restrictions is daft.

As long as they apply for reclassification its good.

It'll be redesignated soon. Not sure when, but soon. I agree that 120 without m/way restrictions would be bad btw.

Reenascreena · 01-08-2008 9:31am

Furet wrote: »

Excellent. Where did you hear that?

At Monday's council meeting

murphaph · 01-08-2008 10:49am

If I had a GPS receiver I'd contribute to OSM. It's a great collaboration. The mapping in places like Berlin is better in clarity than any professional or copyright maps I think.

turgon · 01-08-2008 2:02pm

Reenascreena wrote: »

Cork County Council have approved increasing the speed limits on the Ballincollig city boundary - Ovens, N25 Dunkettle - Carrigtwohill and N8 Glanmire - Watergrasshill to 120 km/h.
No dates set yet.

I live near Ballincollig. My boy-racer friends will be delighted.

They could not and would not upgrade the South Ring/Ballincollig Bypass to Motorway standards because of the restrictions involved. IMO, It would be unfair on slow motorists/ L-drivers as by its nature it is a ring road, which changes the matter considerably. People should not be forced to add 20 minutes to their journey by having to drive through the city.

Stark · 01-08-2008 2:16pm

turgon wrote: »

They could not and would not upgrade the South Ring/Ballincollig Bypass to Motorway standards because of the restrictions involved. IMO, It would be unfair on slow motorists/ L-drivers as by its nature it is a ring road, which changes the matter considerably. People should not be forced to add 20 minutes to their journey by having to drive through the city.

Well it's nowhere near motorway standard but I don't see why it being a ring road means you can't have restrictions. The L-drivers will learn more by driving through the city. As for the slow motorists, they're going to be just as much a hazard on the same road with green signs as with blue signs.

invincibleirish · 01-08-2008 3:10pm

The SR isnt near Motorway standards, it has no hard shoulders in parts, poor sightlines, sub standard junctions on others and lets not forget the two roundabouts plonked in the middle of it too!(which wont be replaced for many years to come).

Stark · 01-08-2008 3:19pm

sorry, typo, meant to say "nowhere near".

Reenascreena · 04-08-2008 9:16pm

turgon wrote: »

I live near Ballincollig. My boy-racer friends will be delighted.

They could not and would not upgrade the South Ring/Ballincollig Bypass to Motorway standards because of the restrictions involved. IMO, It would be unfair on slow motorists/ L-drivers as by its nature it is a ring road, which changes the matter considerably. People should not be forced to add 20 minutes to their journey by having to drive through the city.

It's a Cork County Council order, it doesn't affect roads in the city jurisdiction. It covers the Ballincollig Bypass from the Bandon Roundabout to Ovens.
It will not be a motorway, just an increased speed limit. It was passed by councillors last Monday. Will probably happen sometime next year.

cantalach · 08-08-2008 11:56am

Reenascreena wrote: »

It's a Cork County Council order, it doesn't affect roads in the city jurisdiction. It covers the Ballincollig Bypass from the Bandon Roundabout to Ovens.
It will not be a motorway, just an increased speed limit. It was passed by councillors last Monday. Will probably happen sometime next year.

So long as the road remains legally usable by pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders and slow moving vehicles, it would be insanity to increase the limit to 120 km/h. It would clearly be unwise for such classes of road user to continue using the road post-increase, but they would be quite within their rights. And remember that a motorist doing 120 km/h who takes out a cyclist riding legally along the left hand side of the slow lane would definitely come off worse legally speaking for failing to drive with due care and consideration for other road users and conditions.

And incidentally, any attempt to restrict the classes of road user in the absence of a motorway order would be of questionable legality. The legality of such restrictions in the Jack Lynch tunnel has never been tested to the best of my knowledge.

Reenascreena · 08-08-2008 12:33pm

cantalach wrote: »

So long as the road remains legally usable by pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders and slow moving vehicles, it would be insanity to increase the limit to 120 km/h. It would clearly be unwise for such classes of road user to continue using the road post-increase, but they would be quite within their rights. And remember that a motorist doing 120 km/h who takes out a cyclist riding legally along the left hand side of the slow lane would definitely come off worse legally speaking for failing to drive with due care and consideration for other road users and conditions.

And incidentally, any attempt to restrict the classes of road user in the absence of a motorway order would be of questionable legality. The legality of such restrictions in the Jack Lynch tunnel has never been tested to the best of my knowledge.[/quote

It has already been passed. I was at the council meeting. For what it's worth I don't think cyclists should be allowed on such roads anyway.

Nuttzz · 08-08-2008 12:36pm

cantalach wrote: »

So long as the road remains legally usable by pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders and slow moving vehicles, it would be insanity to increase the limit to 120 km/h. It would clearly be unwise for such classes of road user to continue using the road post-increase, but they would be quite within their rights. And remember that a motorist doing 120 km/h who takes out a cyclist riding legally along the left hand side of the slow lane would definitely come off worse legally speaking for failing to drive with due care and consideration for other road users and conditions.

The n2 has been 120 without much issue

cantalach · 08-08-2008 1:16pm

Reenascreena wrote: »

It has already been passed. I was at the council meeting. For what it's worth I don't think cyclists should be allowed on such roads anyway.

I would tend to agree with you but, with respect, you're missing my point. Whether or not cyclists should be allowed to use such roads is irrelevant. The fact is that they are allowed to use such roads. A HQDC such as the Ballincollig Bypass is no different from a legal perspective to a quiet country lane - they are unrestricted non-motorway roads. As such, drivers have a legal obligation to be cognisant of non-motorised slow moving users (including skittish horses, children on bicycles, etc.). Failing to do so will land them in a lot of trouble in the event of a serious injury or fatality.

mackerski · 08-08-2008 1:43pm

cantalach wrote: »

So long as the road remains legally usable by pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders and slow moving vehicles, it would be insanity to increase the limit to 120 km/h.

I really don't buy into this view. The UK has a general 112 limit on dual carriageways, even ones with no usage restrictions, no hard shoulders and priority junctions. Germany doesn't even have a general limit on duallers, though a posted 120 limit is usual.

I wouldn't much fancy my chances as a pedestrian, cyclist or horse rider against a driver doing 100km/h, so it's clear that the limit isn't set with regard to damage limitation of actual collisions. If it's safe to do 100 on an S1 it's certainly safe to do 120 on a D2HQ.

Amtmann · 08-08-2008 1:48pm

Lads, this thread is about the M8 upgrades. Can you move this discuission somewhere else?

Reenascreena · 08-08-2008 1:55pm

Furet wrote: »

Lads, this thread is about the M8 upgrades. Can you move this discuission somewhere else?

The N8 from Glanmire to Watergrasshill will also see its limit upped to 120. As I say these bylaws have been passed and debating the rights or wrongs wont change that the decisions have already been made.

Chris_533976 · 08-08-2008 5:33pm

Ive heard rumours they're going for motorway reclassification on the N8 to Watergrasshill in the next round of redesignations.

Lets hope they submit everything that they're giving the 120 limit to.

Steviemak · 08-08-2008 6:04pm

cantalach - I think you need to relax here. The Ballincollig bypass is as good a road as you get in this country and is of a much higher standard than the rest of the south link. I wouldn't walk or cycle over the flyover at Douglas with its lack of hard shoulder - would you?

The N1 and N2 are built to a similar standard as the Ballincollig by pass and both have a speed limit of 120K with out incident and have safety features surpassing anything on S1 roads.

Cycle or walk the N22 from Macroom to Ballyvourney some day and compare the experience!!

Furet - I agree. But I just had to make that point.

Lennoxschips · 12-08-2008 2:01pm

if anything, the cork south ring is a candidate for a reduction to 90 or 80 km/hr. this from a environmental point of view, to reduce noise pollution and emissions, seeing as parts of the south ring cut right through residential areas.

larryone · 13-08-2008 4:27pm

To return to being on-topic:

The newly sections that were opened up are great. I do the (M/N)(7/8) alot.
I've been driving this route since mid-late '06, the differences between then and now are huge.
The current road between Fermoy and Michelstown isn't that bad, there are a fair few overtaking opertunities on it.
Michelstown is sometimes easier to go through than around tho, the current by-pass goes out a bit too far.
Can't wait till Cashel-Cullahil opens and we get motorway status on the lot of it, it'll make the journey much easier, but I always get the cheapest diesel in the country in urlingford... will have to go fuel shopping elsewhere. Small price to pay for the time saving that'll be made.

However. Durrow and Abbeyliex and the roads on this section will have to be put up with till 2010 =0(. I dread hitting the queue at Abbeyliex. Sometimes I wonder if it'd be easier to bypass it on the back roads...

invincibleirish · 13-08-2008 4:39pm

larryone wrote: »

To return to being on-topic:

The current road between Fermoy and Michelstown isn't that bad, there are a fair few overtaking opertunities on it.

That there is, to be nit picky this section really didnt have to be replaced at the same time as the rest of N8. I would have had no problem having one gap in the M8 if it meant the money spent on Fermoy/Mitchelstown could have been spent
on something more urgent like oh i dont know the SRR upgrades at Sarsfield & Bandon or even replacing the part of the dirt track that is the N20.

When the M8 is complete traffic is just going to get worse on the SRR.

marmurr1916 · 13-08-2008 5:33pm

invincibleirish wrote: »

That there is, to be nit picky this section really didnt have to be replaced at the same time as the rest of N8. I would have had no problem having one gap in the M8 if it meant the money spent on Fermoy/Mitchelstown could have been spent
on something more urgent like oh i dont know the SRR upgrades at Sarsfield & Bandon or even replacing the part of the dirt track that is the N20.

When the M8 is complete traffic is just going to get worse on the SRR.

There wouldn't have been any point in leaving a gap since it would only have to be closed later at greater expense.

It wouldn't take too much to upgrade the N20 between Charleville and the start of the Croom bypass to a decent single-carriageway standard and the section between New Twopothouse and Buttevant should be done too.

That bit of road is dangerous and needs to be fixed asap even if it gets downgraded to a regional road after the M20 is finished.

invincibleirish · 13-08-2008 6:33pm

marmurr1916 wrote: »

There wouldn't have been any point in leaving a gap since it would only have to be closed later at greater expense.

As opposed to the costs that are incurred in both the congestion that the SRR Roundabouts & N20 cause now and the expense when/if they are constructed and knock on effects of traffic during their construction period.

As ive said im nit picking but building this section was a political priority not a needs based one, the money could be better spent elsewhere.

E92 · 13-08-2008 9:42pm

invincibleirish wrote: »

As ive said im nit picking but building this section was a political priority not a needs based one, the money could be better spent elsewhere.

It makes no sense to build continuous motorway all the way from Dublin to Cork but leave a 10 mile single carriageway between Fermoy and Mitchelstown alone.

It is also one of the most dangerous roads in the country, so I for one am damn glad that there will be a Motorway filling the current 10 mile gap from next year.

Lennoxschips wrote: »

if anything, the cork south ring is a candidate for a reduction to 90 or 80 km/hr. this from a environmental point of view, to reduce noise pollution and emissions, seeing as parts of the south ring cut right through residential areas.

The opportunities for travelling at 80 let alone 90 km/h are so rare on the South Ring I fail to see what this would achieve other than giving the anti car/pc/left wing nutter/greenie brigade some sort of symbolic gesture to inflict misery on the car user(which of course they love as is evident by some of the arguments made by people who want blanket speed limits on German Autobahns).

In any event trying to justify a mere 80 or 90 km/h on a dual carriageway when it is perfectly legal to do 100 km/h on some single carriageways with no hard shoulder is using seriously funny logic at best.

Amtmann · 27-08-2008 9:27pm

Cashel to Cullahill Scheme -- cantilever arms were erected along the route last week. All sections now have tar, though by no means the final coat. An opening before December 2008 looks extremely likely -- maybe even late October.

Mitchelstown to Fermoy -- the median foundation has been erected along almost the entire length of the scheme. No tar down yet, however.

Amtmann · 28-08-2008 7:40pm

Ok...

Green signage has been replaced with blue signage along most of the Cashel to Cahir stretch of the Cashel to Mitchelstown scheme which, as you know, opened last July. Blue signage is also replacing the green signage along the length of the Cashel Bypass tomorrow and next week from what I can see.

I also took many photos today of both Cashel to Cullahill and Mitchelstown to Fermoy. Cashel to Cullahill is actually complete between Urlingford and Turnpike -- lines, cats eyes in place. I hadn't expected this to be done, but there you go.

Mitchelstown to Fermoy photos first...

Amtmann · 28-08-2008 7:43pm

Cashel to Cullahill photos...

Amtmann · 28-08-2008 7:46pm

And some more...

Amtmann · 28-08-2008 7:48pm

Final few...

darkman2 · 28-08-2008 10:13pm

Thanks for the pics! Lookin good...

bill_ashmount · 29-08-2008 8:58am

Looks great

bawn79 · 29-08-2008 10:32am

How far in advance did people hear that the section from the end of the Cashel Bypass to Cahir was being opened in advance of the rest of that section?
Im just wondering would there be any hope of some of the Cashel to Cullahill being opened early?
Would be great to even open a bypass around Urlingford and Johnstown or something like that.

BluntGuy · 30-08-2008 1:30am

I doubt they'll open any of the Cashel to Cullahill early. It looks like work is complete on most of it at this stage anyway.

Ah... it's refreshing to think that in two months time we'll finally have 77 km of motorway between Mitchelstown and Cullahill. Parts of the old N8 between Cashel and Cullahill are horrible.

Oh, and please... somebody remind them to take down the signs for the old N8. They 'forgot' to do that when they built the Cashel to Mitchelstown scheme so I'm hoping they'll do it this time.

I'll probably be driving down the Cahir-Cashel straight tommorow so I may take some pictures to show you the upgrading works that are going on there. I can't wait for tractors/cyclists/pedestrians/other-annoying-things to be booted of that road and put back on the local roads where they belong.

Amtmann · 30-08-2008 1:49am

BluntGuy wrote: »

I doubt they'll open any of the Cashel to Cullahill early. It looks like work is complete on most of it at this stage anyway.

Ah... it's refreshing to think that in two months time we'll finally have 77 km of motorway between Mitchelstown and Cullahill. Parts of the old N8 between Cashel and Cullahill are horrible.

Oh, and please... somebody remind them to take down the signs for the old N8. They 'forgot' to do that when they built the Cashel to Mitchelstown scheme so I'm hoping they'll do it this time.

I'll probably be driving down the Cahir-Cashel straight tommorow so I may take some pictures to show you the upgrading works that are going on there. I can't wait for tractors/cyclists/pedestrians/other-annoying-things to be booted of that road and put back on the local roads where they belong.

Agreed! Let me know if they've managed to replace any of the green signs on the Cashel Bypass with blue signs (prob won't happen til next week but you never know), and also if the green Exit 9 cantilever signs have been replaced.

Amtmann · 30-08-2008 1:17pm

Although this thread (and the few over in the Commuting and Transport forum) remains probably the best place in Ireland to get information on the construction of the M8, a new page has been started on wikipedia dedicated to the motorway sections of the road. It can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M8_motorway_(Ireland)

I uploaded a few of my own photos to brighten the page up, and it is looking well.

BluntGuy · 30-08-2008 1:54pm

That Wikipedia page was created by me a few weeks ago...

I had a feeling you were the person that updated it!

Amtmann · 30-08-2008 3:17pm

BluntGuy wrote: »

That Wikipedia page was created by me a few weeks ago...

I had a feeling you were the person that updated it!

Ha that's gas, good move by the way, the page was needed.

Amtmann · 01-09-2008 1:43am

If you look at page 25 of the document linked to here: http://www.nra.ie/Publications/Servi...e,14391,en.pdf , proposed service areas for all the motorways are indicated. On the M8, one is proposed just south of Cashel (Junction 9), and another one is indeed planned for somewhere between Junctions 13 and 14 as childoforpheus said.

The question is, will the interurbans be busy enough to justify all of these?

Gatsby · 02-09-2008 1:57pm

Are they opening the southern section of the Fermoy to Mithclestown motorway first before the norhtern section of this project?

I drove from Fermoy to Dublin on Sunday and construction seemed much further advanced between junctions 13 & 14 than between junctions 12 & 13.

Amtmann · 02-09-2008 2:18pm

Gatsby wrote: »

Are they opening the southern section of the Fermoy to Mithclestown motorway first before the norhtern section of this project?

I drove from Fermoy to Dublin on Sunday and construction seemed much further advanced between junctions 13 & 14 than between junctions 12 & 13.

Too soon to say. The NRA won't comment. However, I have been told that "if a project is ready to open ahead of schedule, it will open ahead of schedule".

I'm betting too that J13-14 will open early.

Amtmann · 07-09-2008 10:42pm

larryone wrote: »

However. Durrow and Abbeyliex and the roads on this section will have to be put up with till 2010 =0(. I dread hitting the queue at Abbeyliex. Sometimes I wonder if it'd be easier to bypass it on the back roads...

Big time. Between Durrow and Abbeyleix yesterday at 6pm and I saw a farmer about to herd his cows (about 40) across the N8! I couldn't believe it! This must happen twice daily I take it?

Heroditas · 08-09-2008 10:59am

It was probably the same farmer who decided to bring his tractor and trailer onto the N8 at the same point last week and crawled up the road for a couple of miles at 10MPH refusing to pull over and let traffic by. :rolleyes:

Amtmann · 12-09-2008 5:24pm

"Motorway Ahead - No L Drivers" signs were erected at Junctions 12, 11, 10, and 9 this week.

A solid yellow line is being painted along both sides of the Cashel Bypass too.

marmurr1916 · 12-09-2008 7:14pm

Just over two weeks before our newest motorways open under full motorway regulations. The excitement! I had to get the bus up to Dublin last Sunday from Cork. Luckily the bus went non-stop (except for 10 minute break in Urlingford). We took 3 hours 25 minutes to get from the centre of Cork (Bus Station, Parnell Place) to O'Connell Bridge in Dublin.

Hopefully genuine non-stop services (with on-board toilets) will be introduced when the motorway is finished. I reckon they'll be able to do it in 3 hours if that happens.

That'll put pressure on Irish Rail. Currently Cork-Dublin Heuston takes at least 2 hours 45 minutes or longer. Add in at least 15 minutes to get from Heuston to Abbey Street, plus a ten minute walk from the centre of Cork to Kent station and the bus journey from centre to centre (Patrick's St to O'Connell St) will be quicker and cheaper.

BluntGuy · 12-09-2008 8:29pm

Furet wrote: »

"Motorway Ahead - No L Drivers" signs were erected at Junctions 12, 11, 10, and 9 this week.

A solid yellow line is being painted along the both sides of the Cashel Bypass too.

Excellent news.

I'm hoping that they've also put back the start of motorway and end of motorway 'chopsticks' that were removed. The road felt very incomplete without them.

If you have some pictures, particuarly of the Cashel Bypass, please post them here!

*** Note To Those Interested In The M8 ***

I've started doing 'Clear Scheme Layouts'. Basically, it lists the exits of motorways (when completed) in a nice, fresh, clear layout. So far I've done the M8 and the M9. I'm working on the M7 and the M50.

And keep your eye on the wikipedia page. All news posted here becomes available on the M8 wikipedia page. The 'clear scheme layout' mentioned above is available there.

Amtmann · 12-09-2008 8:33pm

BluntGuy wrote: »

Excellent news.

I'm hoping that they've also put back the start of motorway and end of motorway 'chopsticks' that were removed. The road felt very incomplete without them.

If you have some pictures, particuarly of the Cashel Bypass, please post them here!

*** Note To Those Interested In The M8 ***

I've started doing 'Clear Scheme Layouts'. Basically, it lists the exits of motorways (when completed) in a nice, fresh, clear layout. So far I've done the M8 and the M9. I'm working on the M7 and the M50.

And keep your eye on the wikipedia page. All news posted here becomes available on the M8 wikipedia page. The 'clear scheme layout' mentioned above is available there.

I won't be in the country again until after the 25th, but I'll take some snaps then. I'd like to wait for a sunny day for a change. The weather's been so foul this year that almost all my photos look dreary and dull. A bit of sunshine would improve the look!

BluntGuy · 12-09-2008 8:39pm

Furet wrote: »

I won't be in the country again until after the 25th, but I'll take some snaps then. I'd like to wait for a sunny day for a change. The weather's been so foul this year that almost all my photos look dreary and dull. A bit of sunshine would improve the look!

Well, I can probably take some photos myself. I might be driving around there soon, but not sure if it will be before the 24th.

Amtmann · 12-09-2008 10:36pm

marmurr1916 wrote: »

Hopefully genuine non-stop services (with on-board toilets) will be introduced when the motorway is finished. I reckon they'll be able to do it in 3 hours if that happens.

Absolutely. I wonder what Bus Eireann's plans are in relation to the interurbans. Certainly during tourist season you could run a fully boarded non-stop service between Dublin and any of the cities several times a day without difficulty.

M8 motorway (general thread)

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