M7 - Castletown to Nenagh

roosterman71 wrote: »

Got my first look at the junctions in Roscrea today. To say they are a joke doesn't do them justice. An absolute travesty in terms of design. 90 degree turn off a motorway, and then a 90 degree turn the opposite way - all up hill. Coming onto the motorway is worse. In the frosty conditions they'd be a nightmare, downhill and 2 sharp turns onto a motorway. Who the hell designed/signed off on that? Whoever it is shouldn't be let near any sort of design project again. :mad:

Speaking today Minister Dempsey welcomed the opening of the final 36 km of motorway on the M7 signalling the completion of the national motorway building programme.

“Today is an historic day. With the opening this afternoon of the final stretch of the M7 the national motorway building programme is now complete on time and in budget. I set out the plans for this programme x number of years ago when I was the then Minister for the Environment and Local Government. It gives me great pleasure to be the Minister responsible on the day this ambitious programme of work is officially completed. The national motorway programme took x number of years and €x billion to complete. We now have 750 km of world standard motorways linking Dublin to the Border, Galway, Limerick, Cork and Waterford. These motorways are saving lives, slashing journey times, facilitating business, improving the quality of life of those who use them and those who live in the bypassed villages on towns along their course. The NRA estimates the direct economic benefits of the motorway network at €24 billion, based on net present value, an estimate of all benefits now and into the future minus the cost.”

"In 2011 we will spend over €1.2 billion on upgrading and maintaining our important road infrastructure. This investment will continue to contribute significantly to supporting our national competitiveness, job creation and to the achievement of more balanced regional development well into the future."

"For the people of Toomevara, Moneygall, Roscrea and the surrounding area the opening today of this final 36 km of the M7 is long awaited and particularly welcome. This new stretch of motorway will take thousands of vehicles out of their town and village centres and it will cut 10 minutes off average journey times."

Peter Malone, Chairman of the National Roads Authority said;

"The opening of the M7 Castletown to Nenagh scheme completes the entire 180km Limerick to Dublin inter-urban motorway. It also completes the new national motorway network as outlined in the Government’s Transport 21 plan by connecting our nation’s capital to the five major urban centres of Belfast (M1/Border), Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford.　　As in all the recently completed motorways there are a number of direct and indirect　 benefits, those specifically associated with the completion of the M7 corridor include enhanced road safety, direct access to Shannon International Airport, improved quality of life, greater tourism opportunities and increased economic activity.　Additionally, this opening highlights an important accomplishment for the Government, the National Roads Authority and our local authority partners because collectively we have delivered on behalf of the taxpayer 738km of modern motorway that will be of significant benefit for generations to come."　　

Overview of the M7 Castletown to Nenagh Motorway

The M7 Castletown to Nenagh Motorway stretches from the townland of Derrinsallagh in County Laois, south of Borris-in-Ossory to the townland to Ballintotty, east of the Nenagh Bypass, in North Tipperary. It joins the existing M7 Dublin to Limerick Motorway at the northern end at the M7 Portlaoise to Cullahill Motorway, and the existing M7 Nenagh to Limerick Motorway at the most easterly junction of the Nenagh Bypass in North Tipperary.

There are 4 interchanges:-
• Junction 21, Borris-in-Ossory Interchange
• Junction 22, Roscrea Interchange
• Junction 23, Moneygall Interchange
• Junction 24, Nenagh Interchange

The M7 Castletown to Nenagh Motorway was delivered by Laois County Council on behalf of itself, Offaly and North Tipperary County Councils. Laois County Council, through the Kildare National Roads Design Office, carried out all of the preliminary phases of planning and designing for the project and managed it through the construction phase. The Design and Build Contract was awarded in February 2008 to Bowen Somague (BSV) a Portuguese–Irish joint venture with Atkins as Consultants. Construction commenced in February 2008 and was completed in December 2010. White Young Green were Consultants to Laois County Council.

Berty wrote: »

Maybe these LILOs will give more power to the argument that the N7 M50-Naas can be increased to 120kph.

If we can have LILO's on a 120kph stretch then the N7 should be increased to 120kph as well.

Surely the should consider this if the want to delude themselves telling people we have a Motorway from Dublin to Limerick/Cork/Kilkenny.