nav[aria-label="Primary Navigation"] { padding: 0; & ul { list-style: none; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-direction: row; justify-content: start; align-items: start; gap: 30px; padding: 0; & li { margin: 0; } & ul li { list-style: none; } } }

Child Item

M8 motorway (general thread)

Amtmann

Cashel to Mitchelstown is nearly complete; it will open in July 2008. The section between Cashel and Cahir opened last October, with green gantry signage and a limit of 100km/h. The remainder - from Cahir to outside Mitchelstown - is not yet open, but blue motorway signage has been erected. http://www.nra.ie/RoadSchemeActivity/SouthTipperaryCountyCouncil/N8CashelMitchelstown/Map,14567,en.pdf

The N8 Cashel Bypass which opened in 2004 is to be redesignated a motorway, according to the Department of Transport.

Cashel to Cullahill (see: http://www.nra.ie/RoadSchemeActivity/KilkennyCountyCouncil/M8N8CullahilltoCashel/Map,14614,en.pdf ), which is 40km in length, isn't due to open until June 2009. However, a reliable source has told me that it could well be open as soon as September 2008 - and then the entire length of it will be given motorway status, along with the aforementioned Cashel Bypass and the Cashel to Cahir section of the Cashel to Mitchelstown scheme.

Does anyone posting here know when the Cashel to Cullahill section will be open? Will it be 2009 or, as my source indicated, September 2008?

The final two stretches of the M8 are underway. These are:

1) Mitchelstown to Fermoy http://www.nra.ie/RoadSchemeActivity/CorkCountyCouncil/N8MitchelstownFermoy/Map,14457,en.pdf

2) Cullahill to Portlaoise http://www.nra.ie/RoadSchemeActivity/LaoisCountyCouncil/N8PortlaoisetoCullahillCastletown/Map,14618,en.pdf

Both of the above projects commensed in late 2007, and aren't due to be finished until 2010. However, given how rapidly the other schemes have progressed, I think it's fully reasonable to expect them to be finished by mid- to late 2009.

If anyone has any news or updates, please post here!

Find more posts tagged with

cork

mitchelstown

motorway

laois

tipperary

fermoy

roadbridge

cashel

motorway service area

bypass

watergrasshill

urlingford

abbeyleix

rathcormac

cahir

nra

signage

durrow

glanmire

thurles

m8 motorway

littleton

Quick Links

Comments

invincibleirish

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.

larryone

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...

Lennoxschips

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.

Steviemak

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.

Chris_533976

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.

Reenascreena

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.

Amtmann

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

mackerski

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.

cantalach

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.

Nuttzz

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

Reenascreena

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.

cantalach

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

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.

Stark

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

invincibleirish

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

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.

turgon

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.

murphaph

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.

Reenascreena

Furet wrote: »

Excellent. Where did you hear that?

At Monday's council meeting

Amtmann

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.

Chris_533976

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

As long as they apply for reclassification its good.

Amtmann

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?

Reenascreena

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.

mackerski

bill_ashmount wrote: »

How does this work?
All I see is a standard map with a blue line for the M8, am I doing something wrong?

Try zooming in. It works very much like Google maps: drag to pan around, and use the zoom widget (or just double-click) to zoom in.

childoforpheus wrote:

Thanks for that transylman, I was waiting for them to update it.

Keep in mind that "they" is a very inclusive concept in OpenStreetMap. In this particular case, I mapped the road with data collected by a friend, who happened to drive the stretch last weekend. But the data is sketchy in places, in particular on the southern junction, where I've had to leave the northbound carriageway tie-in hanging because I don't know how it's really plumbed.

Therefore, a call out to those of you who are keen enough to drive new road schemes (or ones not yet mapped, or poorly mapped on OSM):

* If you have a GPS receiver, switch it on an log where you've been.
* Configure the device to log points as frequently as practical (your storage capacity will dictate how frequent this is)
* By all means map the stuff yourself, but if you prefer not to I'll gratefully accept your traces and see that they get on the map.
* If collecting traces, there are things you can do that will greatly assist in the subsequent mapping. Drive the full 360 around roundabouts and try to cover all carriageways and slip roads.
* The National Road Network is almost fully mapped. If you've got this far, please consider whether you can gather traces for the remaining gaps.

childoforpheus

transylman wrote: »

If you don't want to wait to see the new stretch of road between Mitchelstown and Cashel you can check it on the excellent openstreetmap.

http://www.openstreetmap.org/

Thanks for that transylman, I was waiting for them to update it.

bill_ashmount

transylman wrote: »

If you don't want to wait to see the new stretch of road between Mitchelstown and Cashel you can check it on the excellent openstreetmap.

http://www.openstreetmap.org/

How does this work?
All I see is a standard map with a blue line for the M8, am I doing something wrong?

transylman

If you don't want to wait to see the new stretch of road between Mitchelstown and Cashel you can check it on the excellent openstreetmap.

http://www.openstreetmap.org/

Carawaystick

bill_ashmount wrote: »

The N25 between Cork and Midelton must be one of the worst roads in the country at the moment (towards the Midelton side). It's like a rollercoaster.

not even close to the worst national primary route let alone national secondary route. it's a Dual Carriageway there, parts of the n25 south of Kilmeaden are worse, and there are sections of the N6 at Cappataggle, parts of the N5, the road from Lifford to Letterkenny ( N13 or 14 I think) are all way worse. the N18 from Barefield to Gort is pretty poor too.

actually to stray closer to the topic, some of the N8 between Portlaoise and Abbeyleix is pretty poor too.

childoforpheus

bill_ashmount wrote: »

The N25 between Cork and Midelton must be one of the worst roads in the country at the moment (towards the Midelton side). It's like a rollercoaster.

The stretch between the Dunkettle Interchange and Carrigtwohill is the only bit that can be designated as a Motorway as it is built to the standard and even already has the continous yellow line on the hard shoulder. I presume the bit between Carrigtwohill and Midleton is what your on about. That is not up to standard as also does not have an alternative route.

bill_ashmount

E92 wrote: »

Have you any idea Furet if they're going to bother trying to get roads like the Ballincollig bypass, N25 between Cork and Midelton, Limerick tunnel, Southern Ring Road etc re-designated and upgraded to 120 km/h?

The N25 between Cork and Midelton must be one of the worst roads in the country at the moment (towards the Midelton side). It's like a rollercoaster.