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M7 - Naas/Newbridge Bypass Upgrade [Junction 9a now open]

JupiterKid

Following on from the suggestion of a poster, this thread has been set up to discuss the need for widening the M7.

The section of the M7 IMO in immediate need (really a backlog need) for widening is the section from the Maudlins Interchange at Naas to the M9 interchange - basically the original 1983 Naas Bypass and half of the 1993 Newbridge Bypass. Is this likely to proceed in the near future?

Would the central median be wide enough for widening to D3M here? I'm pretty sure it is wide enough on the Newbridge bypass section but I'm not so sure in the case of the Naas Bypass.

Also, what bridges will need to be demolished and rebuilt? Or would it be more practical to drop the hard shoulder through the existing bridges?

What about the proposal a few years back to build a new junction at on the Naas Bypass at Osberstown? Will it still go ahead?

In the longer term, does anyone see a need to widen the M7 to the N7/M8 junction?

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richiek83

klairondavis wrote: »

http://www.kildare.ie/CountyCouncil/NationalRoadsOffice/M7OsberstownInterchangeR407SallinsBypassScheme2013/EIS-EIA/EISVolume1-NonTechnicalSummary/M7%20Osberstown%20-%20EIS%20Volume%201%20Non%20Technial%20Summary.pdf

Looks like funding is not forthcoming according to KFM.

http://www.kfmradio.com/news/16012015-0754/funding-m7-upgrades-not-forthcoming

klairondavis

http://www.kildare.ie/CountyCouncil/NationalRoadsOffice/M7OsberstownInterchangeR407SallinsBypassScheme2013/EIS-EIA/EISVolume1-NonTechnicalSummary/M7%20Osberstown%20-%20EIS%20Volume%201%20Non%20Technial%20Summary.pdf

BuzzFish

regedit wrote: »

Also, I was under the impression that one of the conditions for the Kerry Group to build their office at the Millenium Park/Osberstown was that the Kildare County Council builds an exit for them from the M7 close to their offices plus that the road gets widened to three lanes. It must have been rumours only

The interchange as well as an upgrade to the sallins road roundabout is included in the original planning permission. I'll try dig it out later but remember reading it.

regedit

Also, I was under the impression that one of the conditions for the Kerry Group to build their office at the Millenium Park/Osberstown was that the Kildare County Council builds an exit for them from the M7 close to their offices plus that the road gets widened to three lanes. It must have been rumours only

regedit

minister@dttas.ie

gilly0512

regedit wrote: »

Sent an email to Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport recently.
here is his response

To me, this reads that there's no immediate rush to upgrade the M7 from Naas ooutbound

For all the good it will do, I have also e-mailed the Minister, no harm I suppose in as many people as possible e-mailing him.

[Deleted User]

That to me sounds like it isn-t going to happen. Probably a 5-10 year time frame.

So the Newlands cross fly over was essentially worthless !

There isn't even a viable alternative route.

The main problem at the Nass North exit traffic merging in the south lane is the slip road is way too short and those on the slip roads end up on the motorway at 50-60 Kph which forces the traffic in the left lane to slow and/or hop into the fast lane at slow speeds, this is the issue. There really is no excuse for traffic to slow and back up as it does.

If people learned how to drive, on the motorways properly it might make people more aware of how to merge safely and properly on to a motorway.

People don't properly use the shoulder to build up speeds, as soon as the slip road ends they panic and feel they must enter the motorway and can't continue on the shoulder a few more meters until they build up speed to safely enter the motorway.

I just can't understand why someone who passes their test this day and age can then drive legally on the motorway after passing their test during the day at 50 Kph and less, just bewilders me , there should be night time testing also.

regedit

Sent an email to Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport recently.
here is his response

I am writing to thank you for your email of 5 December 2014 and I am pleased to hear that you welcome the opening of the upgraded N7 Newlands Cross Junction, one of the busiest junctions in the country.

As Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Because of the national financial position, there have been very large reductions in roads expenditure over the past number of years. The reality is that the available funds do not match the amount of work which could be undertaken. For this reason it is not possible to progress a range of worthwhile projects.

For now the NRA has to work within a reduced capital budget and assess and prioritise projects within that funding envelope. This means that the possiblity of progressing projects such as the Naas bypass widening will be very much dependent on the availability of funding in the future.
nd.

To me, this reads that there's no immediate rush to upgrade the M7 from Naas ooutbound

L1011

8 lanes = 2 4 lane motorways combine

JeffK88

Reading through the "Juncker" report as posted in the following thread http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057344085 (Which also contains some interesting information)
towards the bottom there is a description of the proposed widening of the M7. This is the quote
Bottleneck on the N7 with 6 lanes at northern end & 8
lanes at southern end feeding into 4 lanes on the TENT/CEF
Core Corridor. Positive benefit to cost ratio of 6

Correct me if i'm reading this wrong but does this mean the plan is to widen the road to 8 lanes between Naas North and the M9 or those the "8 Lanes at the southern end" mean the slip roads onto the M9.

gilly0512

Deleted User wrote: »

Yep crash reported at Rathcoole.

Jesus, is there no end to it, probably some muppet playing with the phone. These days I throw the phone on the back seat and use the bluetooth. I don't want the embarrassment of a crash , probably someone texting their mates to avoid the N7 !

Even before the crash though the Traffic was mental.

NRA website says the 3 lane upgrade from Naas to Newbridge is in "planning" so probably a few years before it's finished.

tomtom traffic live is great to check before you leave work. the M50 is a car park the whole way north !

Dublin seriously needs an underground and a decent rail network, that Luas is crap and too slow !

I have been pestering the NRA for an update on this scheme for sometime, and I'm afraid it's not good news, as while the scheme has been approved by An Bord Pleanala, no funds have been set aside for it by government. So basically it looks like we could be looking towards 2016 to even get work started on this (providing funding is made available) with I presume two years for construction? I attach the reply from the NRA below.

"The proposed M7 Naas Newbridge Bypass Upgrade, which involves the addition of a third lane in either direction, was approved by An Bord Pleanála in September 2014. I should explain that investment in transport infrastructure, including the national roads improvement programme, has been scaled back significantly under the Government’s capital investment plan “Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2012 – 2016”. In view of the funding being made available to the Authority for the coming years, there is no scope at present to undertake major improvement works on the network, other than those specified in the 2012 – 2016 investment plan. In view of this, further advancement of the Naas Newbridge Upgrade project cannot be accommodated in the national roads programme at present due to the funding constraints outlined above. However, the situation in relation to the scheme will be reviewed in the event of additional resources being made available to the Authority".

[Deleted User]

Deleted User wrote: »

The endpoints are not the real issue though, it's the fact that almost the entire population of all the towns near Dublin have to drive there to work!
Other cities in Europe would have a regional rail system to take much of this traffic.

Yes but all Public Transport, bus, rail ends up in the City, you can't get to the industrial areas if you're coming from the commuter towns, or it would probably add an hour or more to your journey.

JJ Kavanagh is stopping it's old N9 service through Castledermot, Moone and Timolin from January leaving those villages with 0 Public transport since CIE pulled out. More traffic on our roads, or forcing people who can't park in Dublin or afford a car on the Dole !

Trains from Carlow, Athy are a Joke. Too infrequent.

This country is unbelievable.

The only hope really is a lot more car pooling.

[Deleted User]

AugustusMinimus wrote: »

Virtually all of the towns on the M7 corridor have rail access though.

OK, so why isn't it used?
Could it be the fact that none of these rail links go anywhere near the places of work in Dublin and most people live a long way from the stations, so they are effectively useless!

AugustusMinimus

Deleted User wrote: »

The endpoints are not the real issue though, it's the fact that almost the entire population of all the towns near Dublin have to drive there to work!
Other cities in Europe would have a regional rail system to take much of this traffic.

Virtually all of the towns on the M7 corridor have rail access though.

[Deleted User]

AugustusMinimus wrote: »

Just a thought, but when the road network was being built day 1, the M9 should have been diverted to the N81 and dualled all the way into Dublin.

Having 3 national routes to regional cities all starting off on the N7 was madness in retrospect.

The endpoints are not the real issue though, it's the fact that almost the entire population of all the towns near Dublin have to drive there to work!
Other cities in Europe would have a regional rail system to take much of this traffic.

[Deleted User]

AugustusMinimus wrote: »

Just a thought, but when the road network was being built day 1, the M9 should have been diverted to the N81 and dualled all the way into Dublin.

Having 3 national routes to regional cities all starting off on the N7 was madness in retrospect.

Only creating jobs in Dublin was even crazier, the boom forced a lot of people out of Dublin and their only option was to drive back up to work, even crazier again.

AugustusMinimus

Just a thought, but when the road network was being built day 1, the M9 should have been diverted to the N81 and dualled all the way into Dublin.

Having 3 national routes to regional cities all starting off on the N7 was madness in retrospect.

nlgbbbblth

Agreed, awful again today. Finglas to Newbridge took 100 minutes, this morning's commute was 85 minutes due to incident near J5 Finglas exit.

This evening three Garda vehicles passed me on the N7 around J6 Castlewarden, sirens blaring. A crawl the whole way to J10. No sign of any accident.

regedit

I will be sending the Transport Minister an email. If anyone wants:
Paschal Donohoe
TD for Dublin Central & Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport
Phone: 01 618 3689
Email: paschal.donohoe@oireachtas.ie
or
Constituency Office:
Open 9.30 to 12.30 Monday to Friday
344 North Circular Road
Phibsborough
Dublin 7 (near St. Peter’s Church)

Ministerial Office:
Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport
44 Kildare Street
Dublin 2
Phone: 01 670 7444
Email: minister@dttas.ie

[Deleted User]

The traffic today was a disgrace, started crawling at Kingswood, backed all the way to Kilcullen, that's some serious traffic.

I diverted through Blessington, waste of time. Stuck in Blessington and behind assholes who won't (can't) drive above 50-60 Kph in the dark, absolutely sick of the traffic problem.

We need public transport badly, not buses !!!

We need more people to car pool.

tonc76

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/bailout-sought-for-five-government-agencies-30800696.html

taken from ^^^

Funding appears to be an issue so hopefully it will be made available for this asap

"It's been confirmed that the Department of Agriculture is seeking an additional €177m, while the Department of Transport is to receive a further €162m.

A spokeswoman for Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe said he will be bringing the reasons for the supplementary budget to the Oireachtas Committee for Transport and Communications next week".

regedit

Exactly. I thought they would make some announcement during in the budget but no.
Kerry Group must have opened their doors as a large flotilla of all sorts of cars can be sen in their car park from the M7. That could also be causing the traffic delays. But more important is that the M7 urgently needs upgrading.

This is what I found on wikipedia (nothing new).

It is proposed to widen 13 km of the existing two-lane dual carriageway to D3M standard between the Maudlin's interchange (J9) and the M7/M9 junction (J11).[19] The upgrade would include widening the existing carriageways to three lanes in each direction and modifying bridges and junctions on the route to accommodate the extra lane.

Timeliness would be very important to have

Deedsie

No press releases or comments in the media by politicians since Newlands opened is kind of worrying. I had hoped funding for this would be top priority.

regedit

Does anyone know what the timeliness are for the widening of the M7? I hope it does not take KCC/NRA 3 years to get their act together. It's a pity that the tarmac/asphalt will have to be destroyed when work is started as it is definitively in very good nick.
There should be no limitations on the M7 with houses nearby etc so they might be able to work round the clock and get it finished fast

NedNew2

Having read the An Bord Pleanala report, it is planned to keep the speed limit at 120 km/h on the M7, and 100 km/h on the N7, i.e. no change.

Also the new J10 interchange is being constructed because there are long delays at the current one - currently each side consists of a small roundabout which contain many exits (5).

BmCon

I wonder will the speed limit stay as is on the n7

to Dublin because it's not the M7; it's only a motorway to naas.

medoc

I know its not a major consideration but I think they need to make the M7/M9 junction full movement if not full free flow. If it's supposed to be a motorway network rather than a " getting to Dublin network" then movements like these should be catered for. Something like the M4/M6 would be better than nothing

regedit

AugustusMinimus wrote: »

While I want to see this scheme go ahead, I think more Garda presence on the Naas dual carriageway would be most welcome. The de facto capacity of this road would be raised significantly if Garda would come down hard on people with more lane discipline.

MLMs reduce this section of road effectively from 3 lane down to 2 lane with their antics. Very frustrating and for the most part, this behaviour is allowed to continue by the Gardaí who care for nothing less than doing speed checks.

I disagree that more Gardai on N7 would reduce the congestion, I drive from Newbridge to Dublin 5-6 days a week. Anytime there's a garda car on the N7, traffic slows down further as drivers sometimes slow down to 60 km/h (just in case) so they can try to ID the Garda sitting in the Avensis and drinking coffee

AugustusMinimus

NedNew2 wrote: »

That's correct, I read the An Bord Pleanala report only last night. A whole new interchange is to be built 700m further west from the existing Naas/Newbridge junction (Jn 10).

This pdf gives a good view of the proposed new junction.

http://kildare.ie/CountyCouncil/NationalRoadsOffice/M7NaastoNewbridgeBy-PassUpgradeScheme2013/EmergingPreferredRoute/PublicConsultation/M7%20Naas%20to%20Newbridge%20By-Pass%20Upgrade%20Scheme%20DRAWING.pdf

Is there really a new to build and move J10 ? Appears they simply want to move the junction so it will be in line with the old N7.

While I want to see this scheme go ahead, I think more Garda presence on the Naas dual carriageway would be most welcome. The de facto capacity of this road would be raised significantly if Garda would come down hard on people with more lane discipline.

MLMs reduce this section of road effectively from 3 lane down to 2 lane with their antics. Very frustrating and for the most part, this behaviour is allowed to continue by the Gardaí who care for nothing less than doing speed checks.

pad199207

It makes sense does it not to drop/gain the third lane at the M9? It wouldn't really at a minor junction eg Newbridge, Kildare...