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Roadworks N7 Rathcoole

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Comments

  • #32
    pclive
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 453 ✭✭pclive


    I understand the frustration etc with the long delays outbound on the n7yesterday evening but did any of the previous posters not hear it on the traffic reports advising that outbound was down to 1 lane and to take an alternative route? I heard it from about 4pm.
    Did you hear it and think oh well it might not be that bad etc or is this the only viable route home for you?
    I believe a lot of motorists are unwilling or incapable of leaving their usual route home.
    Any thoughts on this?


  • #33
    manufanu
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12 ✭manufanu


    Well I did here the news and turned off the M50 at Tallaght and got home 15 mins later than usual which was fine, but I know people who were parked at the Luas at the Red Cow and they have to turn on to the N7 to get home. Took 25 mins to get from Luas to Green Isle Hotel, which is about 200m.


  • #34
    Triangla
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 818 ✭✭✭Triangla


    pclive wrote: »
    I understand the frustration etc with the long delays outbound on the n7yesterday evening but did any of the previous posters not hear it on the traffic reports advising that outbound was down to 1 lane and to take an alternative route? I heard it from about 4pm.
    Did you hear it and think oh well it might not be that bad etc or is this the only viable route home for you?
    I believe a lot of motorists are unwilling or incapable of leaving their usual route home.
    Any thoughts on this?

    Eh - It's not like we can just magic up a new road.

    I've taken alternate routes before and they are usually worse. You end up taking a detour that everyone else is taking, get caught up in traffic and can get lost.

    Also, if you're going from Dublin to Naas, you may not have any option but to take the Naas road.

    I drove from Dublin to Kilkenny yesterday. It took 2hrs 30mins to get the 10 miles to the road works. There were cars with parents & kids and buses full of people around and you could see them going mental inside. I myself was bursting for a pi$$ and had to hold it until I could actually pull in and do it legally.

    The issue isn't the roadworks, they need to occur. The issue is how it was managed.

    There's delays and there's utter madness, the radio alert yesterday said it was down to two lanes until 7pm, and would go down to one lane from then.

    I passed the actual roadworks at around half 6 and it was down to one lane and there was no sign of actual construction work going on, just machinery.

    These works should have been planned for summer when traffic is lighter and there is more daylight.

    The actual work should have occurred, as in a previous post, from 8pm to 6am. Basically when the road is not being used as much.

    There was absolutlely no regard at all given for the road user. No detours or contraflows in inbound lane arranged.

    Also, the barriers up there are lethal, grey concrete that is difficult to see in bad weather - at all speeds. No reflective material at all on them. When they are wet and it's dark they look like the actual road.

    Whoever signed off on these works should go away and learn how to do their job before making more stupid decisions.

    Letter of complaint and phonecall going to SDCC this morning.


  • #35
    pclive
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 453 ✭✭pclive


    The extra lanes were closed due to road subsidence, it was not planned works


  • #36
    smokingman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,793 ✭✭✭smokingman


    I heard that it was due to be down to one lane from 8pm-3am just before the 5pm news - this was on the AA Roadwatch report so whatever mess actually happened, it doesn't look like it was planned.

    Either that or the clowns in charge just decided to deliberately mess with peoples evenings (took me two and a half hours to get home compared to 50 mins...)


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  • #37
    pclive
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 453 ✭✭pclive


    Emergency roadworks dont tend to be planned hence the name


  • #38
    MaceFace
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,647 ✭✭✭MaceFace


    It actually was a disaster yesterday - no doubt about it.

    I was there about 3.20 and here is what I found:

    Everything slowed to a crawl two or three miles before the roadworks.
    I switched to the overtaking lane as it was moving much faster. The inside lane was very very slow - almost not moving.
    When I got to the roadworks, it went from 3 lanes to 2 (overtaking lane merged into middle lane), and then middle lane merged into inside lane).
    After maybe 300m or so of one lane with absolutely nothing in the coned off 2 outer lanes, it opened up again to two lanes.
    I took the outside lane which went on to the Northbound carriageway.
    I think I saw why it was down to two lanes - there was a hole in one of the lanes (the normal overtaking lane of the Northbound carriageway). It was maybe 1 foot in diameter and maybe 3-5 inches deep. It looked to me like a digger damaged the road.
    There were a few guys talking maybe 20m past this with very little action.

    Anway, the reason it was a disaster:
    1. It went from 3 lanes to 1 and back to 2. No obvious reason to not keep two lanes open.
    2. All traffic updates from this time (including Dublin City FM) mentioned that the road was down to two lanes, not one. I got home about 4.15 and nothing I heard up to this time mentioned one lane.


  • #39
    Mers1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1 ✭Mers1


    It was absolutely ridiculous, fine if there was an emergency, but dont close the lanes where they really did not need to be closed! It took me 75 mins to get from Newlands Cross to Avoca, at this stage the guys were well and truly packing up! A colleague left at 9pm and it too took him just over an hour to reach the same point, however, there was no one to be seen at this time, road clear but lanes still closed!

    Who is the idiot in charge of the project, and why weren't the Guards out trying to sort out the chaos?

    Unbelievable!


  • #40
    rameire
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,339 ✭✭✭rameire


    pclive wrote: »
    I understand the frustration etc with the long delays outbound on the n7yesterday evening but did any of the previous posters not hear it on the traffic reports advising that outbound was down to 1 lane and to take an alternative route? I heard it from about 4pm.
    Did you hear it and think oh well it might not be that bad etc or is this the only viable route home for you?
    I believe a lot of motorists are unwilling or incapable of leaving their usual route home.
    Any thoughts on this?

    i didnt hear it no.
    i drive a motorbike so dont have radio.
    but id say alot of people are like that, they cannot change as they may end up lost.
    if i was driving the car i would have heard it and changed my route, as i know alot of the rat runs and other roads to get passed the N7.

    🌞 3.8kwp, 🌞 Clonee, Dub.🌞



  • #41
    AlekSmart
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,002 ✭✭✭✭AlekSmart


    Who is the idiot in charge of the project, and why weren't the Guards out trying to sort out the chaos?

    Unbelievable!

    Mers1,you will find a great deal of difficulty in conatcting the "Individual" idiot responsible for this scenario as the Local Authorities have a substantial reserve of such people.

    You may well have to wait until the project finishes and a large Sign is erected with a list of fine-fellows who were involved in whatever project is ongoing here.

    The essence of ALL such projects in Ireland is the "Office Hours" ethos.

    This,for example was most publicly seen on the long running (!) O Connell St upgrade project when long balmy summer days went past with no work being attempted.

    Then usually around the Winter Equinox we would see a sudden emergence of labourers attempting to perform their tasks in driving rain,frost and even snow totally oblivious to the productive elements which had existed during the summer.

    Added to this is the 0800-1600 time frame caused by an unwillingness to pay workers shift premia which might increase the tender price.

    At no point in the traditional Irish Civic Administration physche does the "Just Get it Done " principle feature.....

    As to the second point....
    why weren't the Guards out trying to sort out the chaos?

    They most likely were`nt told and had to rely on after the event reports....at that stage it`s waaaay too late.

    Worse still Mers1,it`s Totally believable and in the Irish context even Predictable !!


    Men, it has been well said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, and one by one.

    Charles Mackay (1812-1889)



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  • #42
    Mul75
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2 ✭Mul75


    Does anyone know if this has now been cleared and we're back to "normality" or are we going to be down to 1 lane for the foreseeable future?

    BTW, in response to PCLIVE:
    1) My wife gets the bus home and that took her 3 hours from Inchicore to Saggart...no way that she can take an alternative route.
    2) I have often (and when I say often, I mean over 20 or 30 times) listened to a traffic report on a radio station telling me that a certain road is chocabloc (or even completely clear) when actually, it's the complete opposite, so there are no guarantees there either. You might think that a texter is the most relevant and realtime update as well but you are sorely mistaken. By the time they read those out, the situation has usually changed.
    3) What if you happen to be listening to your own music, rather than the muck on the radio and don't hear the traffic report?!

    In short...there are various reasons why people were travelling on the N7 yesterday and it's not necessarily down to stupidy, laziness or unwillingness to take a different route, so less of the sarcasm and just make your point.


  • #43
    foggy_lad
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,373 ✭✭✭✭foggy_lad


    to avoid this heading to naas or southeast take the N4 onto the M4 and torn off at maynooth and head into straffan or clane on to naas or take the blessington road from citywest and turn off onto the naas road, there are plenty of longer routes which may be a few miles longer but will not involve delays of over 90 minutes.


  • #44
    Pablod
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 490 ✭✭Pablod


    Was about to head home yesterday, and got a call from a work colleague who was stuck at rathcoole, left kylemore road at 4:45 got to rathcoole an hour later !!!!

    No thanks- took a nice detour, ended up going through clondalkin, throgh newcastle out the back road towards celbridge, take a quick left and your out at the castlewarden turn off at the N7 (just past the jonston logistics)
    The back road is lethal as you can just about squeeze two cars down it
    But beats sitting on the N7

    Saying that took the usual route home today and it was flowing ok-ish past rathcoole


  • #45
    foggy_lad
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,373 ✭✭✭✭foggy_lad


    The major hassles were caused by closing off the lanes outbound and moving that traffic onto two lanes on the inbound carriageway. And the miserable weather won't have helped.


  • #46
    Redsoxfan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,510 ✭✭✭Redsoxfan


    Mul75 wrote: »
    3) What if you happen to be listening to your own music, rather than the muck on the radio and don't hear the traffic report?!

    And this is why we need Traffic Advice re-installed on broadcast system!


  • #47
    ThisRegard
    Closed Accounts Posts: 27,833 ✭✭✭✭ThisRegard


    Mul75 wrote: »
    2) I have often (and when I say often, I mean over 20 or 30 times) listened to a traffic report on a radio station telling me that a certain road is chocabloc (or even completely clear) when actually, it's the complete opposite, so there are no guarantees there either. You might think that a texter is the most relevant and realtime update as well but you are sorely mistaken. By the time they read those out, the situation has usually changed.


    That's usually the AA Roadwatch, very rare are they accurate and spout the same guff everyday. You need to listen to Live Drive on Dublin City FM, they're always bang on and were flagging the issues on the N7 from 4 o'clock, the reports I heard all mentioned it was down to one lane and back to the Red Cow.


  • #48
    flop
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 197 ✭✭flop


    So what is the status of the road today? AA roadwatch says the following below but i would rather hear from first hand experience.

    Cheers
    Flop



    *N7/RATHCOOLE* The N7/Naas Rd inbound is down to two lanes at J4 Rathcoole. Morning commuters should allow for 20 minute delays as major works continue here until December. Alternative routes: the N81 Baltinglass Rd or the N4 Lucan Rd. Outbound traffic was just affected on Wednesday 3rd but is back to 3 lanes now.


  • #49
    Vic_08
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,107 ✭✭✭Vic_08


    flop wrote: »
    So what is the status of the road today? AA roadwatch says the following below but i would rather hear from first hand experience.

    Cheers
    Flop



    *N7/RATHCOOLE* The N7/Naas Rd inbound is down to two lanes at J4 Rathcoole. Morning commuters should allow for 20 minute delays as major works continue here until December. Alternative routes: the N81 Baltinglass Rd or the N4 Lucan Rd. Outbound traffic was just affected on Wednesday 3rd but is back to 3 lanes now.

    Should be OK. Passed earlier this afternoon and it was 3 lanes outbound as above.

    From what I have been told what happened on Wednesday was that the 2 contraflow lanes heading outbound had to be closed in the afternoon for emergency works. This was due to the temporary surface laid across the central reservation breaking up and becoming dangerous. I drove down there that morning and there was a large hole forming, it gave the bus wheel a good bang. A few hours later and I would say it was capable of ripping car wheel off.


  • #50
    wellbutty
    Closed Accounts Posts: 478 ✭✭wellbutty


    Havent been up in Dublin at peak morning time for a few years, if I have to be in the airport at 8.30 on Thursday, what's the latest I'd have to be passing Naas at??? Thanks


  • #51
    rameire
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,339 ✭✭✭rameire


    4.30 its really bad.

    only joking
    id say 7.30 at naas
    should be no more than an hour from there.

    🌞 3.8kwp, 🌞 Clonee, Dub.🌞



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  • #52
    Mr Magners
    Closed Accounts Posts: 817 ✭✭✭Mr Magners


    Signs on the lead into these works advising they'll be finished tomorrow, a week earlier than advertised.

    Praise the Lord:)


  • #53
    foggy_lad
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,373 ✭✭✭✭foggy_lad


    Mr Magners wrote: »
    Signs on the lead into these works advising they'll be finished tomorrow, a week earlier than advertised.

    Praise the Lord:)
    They are finished the work but need to put the road and lanes back to how they were before which will most likely cause very long delays today!


  • #54
    Mr Magners
    Closed Accounts Posts: 817 ✭✭✭Mr Magners


    foggy_lad wrote: »
    They are finished the work but need to put the road and lanes back to how they were before which will most likely cause very long delays today!

    Please let them have some sense and do the lane reinstatement tomorrow please please


  • #55
    rameire
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,339 ✭✭✭rameire


    they had started to put the central barrier back in place last night.
    When i passed this morning they had a good bit of workdone.
    They will be doing more tonight and hopefully by the time i pass tomorrow about 3pm it should all be back together.
    i was dissapointed that they were using the original barrier and they were not using concrete.
    I was also disappointed that they did not encorporate the works to include the damaged barrier opposite the Esso station.

    🌞 3.8kwp, 🌞 Clonee, Dub.🌞



  • #56
    foggy_lad
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,373 ✭✭✭✭foggy_lad


    Mr Magners wrote: »
    Please let them have some sense and do the lane reinstatement tomorrow please please
    roadworks rarely cause serious delays, most delays are caused by people not knowing where they are supposed to be because they are not paying attention to the road!

    If there were no "rubberneckers" there would be very little delay!


  • #57
    kdoherty79
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2 ✭kdoherty79


    Can anyone advise as to why the council have decided to close Tay Lane permanently from the N7?

    It is such a pain having to go up to the roundabout and adding on way more time in the morning.


    Kev


  • #58
    thebiglad
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,733 ✭✭✭thebiglad


    kdoherty79 wrote: »
    Can anyone advise as to why the council have decided to close Tay Lane permanently from the N7?

    It is such a pain having to go up to the roundabout and adding on way more time in the morning.


    Kev

    Tay Lane is near to me and was constantly in the TD's and wanabe TD's newsletters about how dangerous it was and that they were lobbying the coco to close it off. The 1st mention I saw of it was from the Greens so blame them

    I would have thought way more dangerous coming out of it into the traffic leaving N7 at 100kph than to be leaving N7 into Tay lane but then I am not a road planner.

    I agree though, serious annoyance.


  • #59
    kdoherty79
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2 ✭kdoherty79


    thebiglad wrote: »
    Tay Lane is near to me and was constantly in the TD's and wanabe TD's newsletters about how dangerous it was and that they were lobbying the coco to close it off. The 1st mention I saw of it was from the Greens so blame them

    I would have thought way more dangerous coming out of it into the traffic leaving N7 at 100kph than to be leaving N7 into Tay lane but then I am not a road planner.

    I agree though, serious annoyance.


    Cheers Big Lad

    It makes no sense as you are hitting more traffic at the roundabout and Tay Lane was never that bad in my eyes.


    Thanks again.


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