M50 thread

ardmacha · 10-08-2012 2:07pm

This diversion onto the M50 is a once off thing. Future growth will come from general economic and traffic growth. Even the old M50 was only congested for 2 or 3 hours a day. One obvious step is to increase tolls at peak periods and reduce them at off peak periods. Another is express buses, for instance from Tallaght to Sandyford, as some trips take a small fraction of time driving that they would on public transport.

10-08-2012 3:50pm

Once the traffic management system is fully in place, the affects of congestion should be greatly reduced as if operated properly. Traffic approaching the congested area will be held up by reduced speed limits, this will reduce the bunching that currently occurs at certain times by spreading the traffic along more of the motorway.

It does NOT need extra tolls (unless you're looking into the greater economic situation).

Chris_5339762 · 10-08-2012 3:55pm

ardmacha wrote: »

This diversion onto the M50 is a once off thing. Future growth will come from general economic and traffic growth. Even the old M50 was only congested for 2 or 3 hours a day. One obvious step is to increase tolls at peak periods and reduce them at off peak periods. Another is express buses, for instance from Tallaght to Sandyford, as some trips take a small fraction of time driving that they would on public transport.

I'd scrap the toll altogether. The M50 should be free, and take as much traffic off the surrounding network as possible. If it starts to jam at peak hours at that stage, then so be it. Then in 50 years we can think of another upgrade!

10-08-2012 5:23pm

Chris_5339762 wrote: »

I'd scrap the toll altogether. The M50 should be free, and take as much traffic off the surrounding network as possible. If it starts to jam at peak hours at that stage, then so be it. Then in 50 years we can think of another upgrade!

50 years time, it'll probably have tram lines on it, trucks buses & cycle lanes and few cars!

Jayuu · 10-08-2012 6:29pm

Chris_5339762 wrote: »

I'd scrap the toll altogether. The M50 should be free, and take as much traffic off the surrounding network as possible. If it starts to jam at peak hours at that stage, then so be it. Then in 50 years we can think of another upgrade!

And I'd be of the other opinion completely. I think it should be tolled the full way round - to maximum of the current toll by the way. So it should be €3 (or lower if you've reigstered or have a tag) to go from the M1 to the N11 and a proportion depending on where you get on and get off.

At the moment I use the M50 once a week from the M1 to the N4 and back again. It irritates me no end that I have to pay the same toll as somebody who uses the full motorway or worse that I pay a toll when somebody else can get on at the N4 and go the whole way southbound without paying anything.

And yes I know it's my choice to use the M50 as opposed to an alternate route but it still is unfair that because you use one particular point on the motorway you get charged.

L1011 · 10-08-2012 7:23pm

The only section of the M50 (DPT excepted) that was built as PPP and had to be acquired by the state at great cost was the Westlink. Its unjustifiable to toll the rest of it.

Should people get irritated that you can go from Athlone to Kinnegad on the M6 without paying a toll?

10-08-2012 9:52pm

MYOB wrote: »

Should people get irritated that you can go from Athlone to Kinnegad on the M6 without paying a toll?

No, because I get off at Kinnegad and get back on at Kilcock when I go from Athlone to Dublin, then as I go so early in the morning I dodge the M50 toll by going through the city (it is only ten minutes longer @6AM

).

Tolling more of the M50 will cause extra congestion elsewhere, just look at the N4 around Enfield congested by M4 toll dodgers!

veryangryman · 10-08-2012 10:14pm

Jayuu wrote: »

Chris_5339762 wrote: »

I'd scrap the toll altogether. The M50 should be free, and take as much traffic off the surrounding network as possible. If it starts to jam at peak hours at that stage, then so be it. Then in 50 years we can think of another upgrade!

And I'd be of the other opinion completely. I think it should be tolled the full way round - to maximum of the current toll by the way. So it should be €3 (or lower if you've reigstered or have a tag) to go from the M1 to the N11 and a proportion depending on where you get on and get off.
At the moment I use the M50 once a week from the M1 to the N4 and back again. It irritates me no end that I have to pay the same toll as somebody who uses the full motorway or worse that I pay a toll when somebody else can get on at the N4 and go the whole way southbound without paying anything. And yes I know it's my choice to use the M50 as opposed to an alternate route but it still is unfair that because you use one particular point on the motorway you get charged.

Your paying for the bridge. Learn the alt routes if you don't want to pay. During non peak hours I sometimes go via clonee

MrDerp · 13-08-2012 12:11pm

Jayuu wrote: »

And I'd be of the other opinion completely. I think it should be tolled the full way round - to maximum of the current toll by the way. So it should be €3 (or lower if you've reigstered or have a tag) to go from the M1 to the N11 and a proportion depending on where you get on and get off.

At the moment I use the M50 once a week from the M1 to the N4 and back again. It irritates me no end that I have to pay the same toll as somebody who uses the full motorway or worse that I pay a toll when somebody else can get on at the N4 and go the whole way southbound without paying anything.

And yes I know it's my choice to use the M50 as opposed to an alternate route but it still is unfair that because you use one particular point on the motorway you get charged.

I'm very happy with the current system. I use the M50 daily from the N32 to the N3 and back again ... for free.

Thanks for your 4 euro/week contribution to keeping my commute toll-free

Heroditas · 14-08-2012 10:57am

veryangryman wrote: »

Your paying for the bridge. Learn the alt routes if you don't want to pay. During non peak hours I sometimes go via clonee

Lucan is completely congested for long periods during the day because it's used as a rat run by people avoiding the toll bridge.

Irish and Proud · 14-08-2012 3:37pm

Heroditas wrote: »

veryangryman wrote: »

Your paying for the bridge. Learn the alt routes if you don't want to pay. During non peak hours I sometimes go via clonee

Lucan is completely congested for long periods during the day because it's used as a rat run by people avoiding the toll bridge.

...and would I be right in guessing that many of those are actually losing more money burning fuel sitting in traffic than they would be paying the toll. Then there are the circuitous inferior roads they'd be using with many an engine rev.

In short 'Cent wise, Euro foolish!'

Chris_5339762 · 20-09-2012 8:17pm

Anyone any idea why, when the M50 was upgraded, J11 (Tallaght) and J12 (Firhouse) didn't get better upgrades? Tallaght I would have thought would get something more freeflow to get rid of the roundabout. The lights at J12 are absolutely woeful and getting onto the M50 is a pain here.

csd · 05-11-2012 11:28pm

Folks,

Some pictures taken around M50 J13/J14 interchange in Sandyford. Will be interesting to see how they squeeze a junction for the Eastern bypass in here (if it ever gets built!).

See here for location map.

1. The first few shots are taken from the R117 Sandyford Road overbridge. Looking east, exit 14 diverges to the left on the M50 southbound.

Untitled by csd75, on Flickr

2. Swinging the camera around to the west, this is the view of the M50 northbound. The Green Route (R113) runs outside the M50 mainline here, and forms part of exit 13's slip roads.

Untitled by csd75, on Flickr

3. The next few shots are taken from the roundabout in the middle of the map. This is taken from the SE corner of the roundabout, looking down at the N31 -> M50 northbound sliproad (exit 14).

Untitled by csd75, on Flickr

4. The view northeast from the same spot, looking over the M50 mainline and the J13 southbound sliproad.

Untitled by csd75, on Flickr

5. M50 mainline looking east (southbound).

Untitled by csd75, on Flickr

6. M50 J13 southbound sliproad (upper), J14 southbound offramp (towards the N31) (lower), and M50 mainline (right).

Untitled by csd75, on Flickr

7. M50 mainline looking west (northbound) from the NE corner of the roundabout.

Untitled by csd75, on Flickr

8. Looking west (northbound) from the SE corner of the roundabout.

Untitled by csd75, on Flickr

9. N31 -> M50 northbound slip merging with the M50 mainline. The view turned 180 degrees from photo 3.

Untitled by csd75, on Flickr

10. Now some shots taken from the western arm of the roundabout. M50 mainline looking east (southbound), exit 14 SB diverge to the right.

Untitled by csd75, on Flickr

11. Looking west, exit 14 NB slip merges to the left.

Untitled by csd75, on Flickr

12. The next two shots are taken from the R113 overbridge at the N31 end of the junction (the eastern side). Looking west at the diverge for J13 NB, with the bridge for J14's N31 -> M50 northbound flyover in the foreground.

Untitled by csd75, on Flickr

13. Looking east (southbound) from the same bridge, the M50 mainline has dropped to two lanes each way from J14 to J17 (the terminus).

IMG_5626 by csd75, on Flickr

14. A panorama of the roundabout at J13.

M50 J13 panorama by csd75, on Flickr

Hope you enjoy!

/csd

Carawaystick · 14-12-2012 3:40pm

I see the 50kmh limit on the slip from M50E->M1N has been removed, (signs removed, but poles still there) but still a 50 limit on M50E->M50S (port Tunnel)

chinchin · 19-12-2012 12:29am

I could be wrong but I think they have rearranged the lanes on the M1S -> M50S/N32 last night. I went through this morning and was getting ready to merge into the left lane to swing around onto the M50 and only then noticed that the second lane that used to run up to the N32 roundabout now also continues around onto the M50. The change didn't register in time for me to see how the lane gain for the N32 is arranged now.

L1011 · 19-12-2012 10:07am

There's been two lanes on to the m50 since day 1.

m0nsterie · 19-12-2012 1:25pm

chinchin wrote: »

I could be wrong but I think they have rearranged the lanes on the M1S -> M50S/N32 last night. I went through this morning and was getting ready to merge into the left lane to swing around onto the M50 and only then noticed that the second lane that used to run up to the N32 roundabout now also continues around onto the M50. The change didn't register in time for me to see how the lane gain for the N32 is arranged now.

Yeah I noticed this just this morning - makes good sense I think. The airport on-merge followed immediately by the M50 lane off-merge was always messy.

MYOB wrote: »

There's been two lanes on to the m50 since day 1.

I think you misunderstood. Until yesterday, there was one lane on the M1 southbound which split into two just before the freeflow onto the M50. Now, the inside lane on the M1 just continues straight ahead to be one of the freeflow lanes, the other being the original one coming down from the airport, so no split.

slinky2000 · 21-12-2012 2:12pm

Just noticed the change in markings last night, make it's much easier for the airport slip to merge.

21-12-2012 4:23pm

Hopefully they'll sort out the M50 to M1 north lanes now, there always appear to be a scramble into just the one lane on the left before the split before the roundabout.

Chris_5339762 · 21-12-2012 11:18pm

.. and the N7 to M50 N and S movements could do with a re-jig. All traffic for M50 N and S coming eastbound along the N7 has to be in one lane whereas two lanes go into the city.

Jayuu · 22-12-2012 1:50am

Chris_5339762 wrote: »

.. and the N7 to M50 N and S movements could do with a re-jig. All traffic for M50 N and S coming eastbound along the N7 has to be in one lane whereas two lanes go into the city.

One of the most ridiculous things that was done when the M50 was upgraded. The person who made this decision should never be allowed near a road project again! The problem now is that they way the lanes are structured it would be quite tricky to reorganise it properly.

Chris_5339762 · 22-12-2012 12:00pm

Nah its easy, simply sign it properly from Newlands onwards and make the left lane for M50N, middle lane for M50S and right lane for citybound. That will be easier to do when Newlands is built as you'll have more room to do it. You might waste a little bit of area close to the split but there is plenty of room to do it.

Also, block off the stupid left 'bus lane' completely, regardless of what the petrol station says. Very dangerous. Traffic from there could be routed further along.

Dirigent · 22-12-2012 6:45pm

Chris_5339762 wrote: »

Nah its easy, simply sign it properly from Newlands onwards and make the left lane for M50N, middle lane for M50S and right lane for citybound.

But the problem with that (and all Irish motorways) is the E-Class/SUV/Type-R/etc pilot who feels that their rightful place is in the "fast lane", and the only way to exit is to swerve across as many lanes as there are, regardless of other traffic.

klypso · 28-12-2012 1:33am

Is this in the process of being changed? Driving in on Wednesday there was a sign to alert traffic to a new road layout. New signage appears to have been erected to line M50 SB traffic in the middle lane after Newlands and M50 NB in the left. But then just before the exit you need to move from the middle to the M50 SB slip. Anyone noticed this?

Dirigent · 28-12-2012 12:30pm

klypso wrote: »

Is this in the process of being changed? Driving in on Wednesday there was a sign to alert traffic to a new road layout. New signage appears to have been erected to line M50 SB traffic in the middle lane after Newlands and M50 NB in the left. But then just before the exit you need to move from the middle to the M50 SB slip. Anyone noticed this?

Yeah, it's changed all right, drove in last night. Wasn't expecting the change! Maybe the useless prats in AA Wrongwatch will use their airtime to provide motorists with something helpful instead of repeating the good old reliable filler about delays between Merrion Gates and Vincent's Hospital, chaos won't ensue next Wed morning.

veryangryman · 30-12-2012 4:44pm

Anyone else think that the south bound and north bound signs on M50 are redundant now that its strictly a 3 quarter circle motorway with long term plans for full circle. Should they be talking clockwise and anti clockwise or is it too soon.

30-12-2012 4:59pm

veryangryman wrote: »

Anyone else think that the south bound and north bound signs on M50 are redundant now that its strictly a 3 quarter circle motorway with long term plans for full circle. Should they be talking clockwise and anti clockwise or is it too soon.

Probably confuse the hell out of many drivers, but I see your point.

Edit: Better off calling the section north of the tunnel the "city" direction as calling it north is daft!

As for completing the circle, no realistic chance of that, unless there is an even bigger boom than the Celtic tiger one!*

*Chances of which are in the order of Elvis being found alive.

KevR · 31-12-2012 10:43am

veryangryman wrote: »

Anyone else think that the south bound and north bound signs on M50 are redundant now that its strictly a 3 quarter circle motorway with long term plans for full circle. Should they be talking clockwise and anti clockwise or is it too soon.

During the upgrade works, I had hoped that they would have made this correction. Made sense to do it then as all the signs were being changed anyway. Would cost a lot to do it now..

It's ridiculous that it's still called north and south.

_Kaiser_ · 31-12-2012 10:02pm

KevR wrote: »

During the upgrade works, I had hoped that they would have made this correction. Made sense to do it then as all the signs were being changed anyway. Would cost a lot to do it now..

It's ridiculous that it's still called north and south.

Disagree.. 3-quarter circle or not, the direction is still generally north/south.. eg: the M1 interchange is most definitely north of the Blanch or Naas exits.

Clockwise/counter-clockwise is something that might look good on some architect's plans but would be ridiculous in real life IMO

KevR · 31-12-2012 11:14pm

You do realise the Port Tunnel is part of the M50?!

Jayuu · 01-01-2013 4:02pm

KevR wrote: »

You do realise the Port Tunnel is part of the M50?!

While it is part of the M50 I would suggest that most people still think the Port Tunnel is part of the M1 if they think about this at all.

This isn't helped by the lack of signage at the junction that definitively marks it as the M50. Even the exit signage at the M1/M50/N32 - Junction 3 interchange points in the wrong direction (pointing at the overbridge as the exit instead of the roundabout to the N32).

To be perfectly honest I don't think any reference (direction or clock) is necessary as I think most people are quite used to the junction numbers now.

Does anybody know how this issue is handled on the M25 in London or if it is even mentioned at all?

veryangryman · 01-01-2013 4:59pm

Jayuu wrote: »

Does anybody know how this issue is handled on the M25 in London or if it is even mentioned at all?

They say clockwise etc. Used to work in breakdown service and that's how you say what carriageway. Eg clockwise between exit 4 and 5

Chris_5339762 · 02-01-2013 12:01am

klypso wrote: »

Is this in the process of being changed? Driving in on Wednesday there was a sign to alert traffic to a new road layout. New signage appears to have been erected to line M50 SB traffic in the middle lane after Newlands and M50 NB in the left. But then just before the exit you need to move from the middle to the M50 SB slip. Anyone noticed this?

Any update on this?

Chris_5339762 · 02-01-2013 7:37pm

I came along there today, left lane is for M50north, middle is for M50south AND city, right lane is for city.

Signage is not all complete and the gantries contradict each other. Its also hard to switch lane coming from a standing start at Newlands. There was the natural chaos even late in the evening.

Enbee · 03-01-2013 11:35pm

Jayuu wrote: »

Does anybody know how this issue is handled on the M25 in London or if it is even mentioned at all?

I can't say I've noticed this on signs. (My current commute involves the M25.) The distinctions are made by referring to destinations and other motorways. So if you approach the M25 in Hertfordshire it tells you which way to go to Heathrow or the Dartford Crossing.

Live info tends to use the junction numbers to refer to congestion but the direction of travel is indicated by the direction of the numbers. e.g. 15 to 16 is northbound between the M4 and M40 but 16 to 15 is southbound.

Chris_5339762 · 03-01-2013 11:46pm

I reckon the Port Tunnel should have been left part of the M1 until (if) the eastern bypass is built. That way you still have the NB/SB now, and when the eastern bypass is done you can use anticlockwise and clockwise. As we stand, its a bit of a mess.

veryangryman · 04-01-2013 1:10pm

Chris_5339762 wrote: »

I reckon the Port Tunnel should have been left part of the M1 until (if) the eastern bypass is built. That way you still have the NB/SB now, and when the eastern bypass is done you can use anticlockwise and clockwise. As we stand, its a bit of a mess.

Im sure that the idea was that the truckers from foreign countries knew how to get the hell out of Dublin if needs be (using the common M50 marker and the relevant distributor roads for this purpose). M1 would assume that all traffic is either

a) Northbound (East coast or NI)
b) Somewhere else and knows where theyre going.

If you do the M1 idea, you have to somehow know to use the M50 for travel to the West. SatNavs and all that i know but not everyone has them. Combined with the truckers ban in the city, its good to make sure everyone is helped along their way. So "M50 anti-clockwise" signs for those leaving the port IMO :cool:

HydeRoad · 26-01-2013 12:21am

I have copied this post across from the Newlands X thread, where it may have been misplaced. I refer to the revised N7 northbound / M50 junction. The centre lane northbound has been redesignated for M50S as well as citybound. The left lane becomes the M50N lane.

This makes sense in terms of the greater volume of traffic bound for the M50. However the execution of it is simply awful. Basically, they have retained the alignment of the N7 traffic lanes all the way to the junction, and simply added in a hasty 'twitch' from the centre lane to the M50S lanes at the last minute, by painting in some angled white lines.

This is a disaster, and must go against every concept of good and safe road design. I drive buses on this road almost daily, and on every single occasion, I am being sideswiped by cars who fail to heed the new road markings. The result is that, as a safe driver, there is no safe lane for me to take for my chosen M50S route. If I take the old left lane alignment, I am in the wrong lane, and must cut up correctly positioned traffic to head southbound. If I take the marked centre lane, I have cars undertaking me and almost hitting me side on, as they barge from the left lane, in a straight line towards M50S.

This road alignment, I hope, is a temporary arrangement until the Newlands X works are finished. However, eighteen months to two years is too long a time frame for a road alignment which is simply undriveable, and must surely lead to regular accidents, and all the ensuing delay and frustration in what must be one of the most over-congested corridors in the country.

Please tell me others are complaining too, and that it will be revisited as soon as possible, with a view to safety and proper road design practice.

ACE_FGT · 04-02-2013 11:42am

HydeRoad wrote: »

I have copied this post across from the Newlands X thread, where it may have been misplaced. I refer to the revised N7 northbound / M50 junction. The centre lane northbound has been redesignated for M50S as well as citybound. The left lane becomes the M50N lane.

This makes sense in terms of the greater volume of traffic bound for the M50. However the execution of it is simply awful. Basically, they have retained the alignment of the N7 traffic lanes all the way to the junction, and simply added in a hasty 'twitch' from the centre lane to the M50S lanes at the last minute, by painting in some angled white lines.

This is a disaster, and must go against every concept of good and safe road design. I drive buses on this road almost daily, and on every single occasion, I am being sideswiped by cars who fail to heed the new road markings. The result is that, as a safe driver, there is no safe lane for me to take for my chosen M50S route. If I take the old left lane alignment, I am in the wrong lane, and must cut up correctly positioned traffic to head southbound. If I take the marked centre lane, I have cars undertaking me and almost hitting me side on, as they barge from the left lane, in a straight line towards M50S.

This road alignment, I hope, is a temporary arrangement until the Newlands X works are finished. However, eighteen months to two years is too long a time frame for a road alignment which is simply undriveable, and must surely lead to regular accidents, and all the ensuing delay and frustration in what must be one of the most over-congested corridors in the country.

Please tell me others are complaining too, and that it will be revisited as soon as possible, with a view to safety and proper road design practice.

Yes, this is an accident waiting to happen, it needs sorting out ASAP. Everytime I go through this junction now the same thing happens to me. I have emailed the NRA (info@nra.ie) and the M50 consulting engineers (<snip>@rod.ie of Roughan & O'Donovan) about it, they said they recognize the problem, but they seem to be saying its poor driver behaviour at fault, and the temporary road signs up near Newlands cross warning of lane marking changes is all they have mentioned so far as a fix. I am very concerned that they plan to do nothing else, which is ridiculous as it is clearly a very very poor road marking change which is the main issue at stake here. I have emailed them several times, perhaps if more people start emailing too, they might be forced to improve the new lane markings. Hopefully it wont take an accident and someone to get seriously hurt before they agree to improve the really poor lane markings change they've put in place.

Victor · 14-02-2013 10:13pm

Folks

There isn't a particular problem with publishing email addresses that are in the public domain like info@nra.ie

However, when it is person@organisation.ie and it isn't publicly available, it can be unfair on the individual involved.

Moderator

Chris_5339762 · 14-02-2013 10:48pm

I really cant understand why is isn't Left Lane = M50 north, middle lane = M50 south and right lane = City center.

Surely the N7 -> M50N/S slips should carry more traffic than the N7 -> Long Mile Road. Even if not, its far more logical to have two lanes for the M50.

Packet · 18-02-2013 2:17pm

Chris_5339762 wrote: »

I really cant understand why is isn't Left Lane = M50 north, middle lane = M50 south and right lane = City center.

Surely the N7 -> M50N/S slips should carry more traffic than the N7 -> Long Mile Road. Even if not, its far more logical to have two lanes for the M50.

That would be an improvement but still not perfect as drivers of the middle lane on the N7 still have to sharply turn into the lane heading for the M50 South. They need a much longer run to be able to get into the correct lane.

Mac-Chops · 19-02-2013 12:17pm

Another ranter re n7/m50 layout here..I take southbound every day and used to always get in to left lane early for this.

It's more of an experiment these days taking the middle lane and seeing who is looking at the road ahead of them in left lane. Majority drive straight over broken white lines not a bother so yes this is certainly an accident waiting to happen!

rameire · 19-02-2013 10:09pm

Mac-Chops wrote: »

Another ranter re n7/m50 layout here..I take southbound every day and used to always get in to left lane early for this.

It's more of an experiment these days taking the middle lane and seeing who is looking at the road ahead of them in left lane. Majority drive straight over broken white lines not a bother so yes this is certainly an accident waiting to happen!

you need to find a truck and sit along side of them, most of them will be going northbound, it works for me.

Defiler Of The Coffin · 22-02-2013 11:32pm

Can someone explain the following...?!

Stark · 22-02-2013 11:34pm

Is it being towed?

squrm · 22-02-2013 11:38pm

Defiler Of The Coffin wrote: »

Can someone explain the following...?!

Cab being towed?

Defiler Of The Coffin · 22-02-2013 11:39pm

Stark wrote: »

Is it being towed?

squrm wrote: »

Cab being towed?

You're both probably right. Unless this was the last picture the photographer ever took...

22-02-2013 11:42pm

Defiler Of The Coffin wrote: »

Can someone explain the following...?!

Prepare to meet the Duffy Express!

csd · 03-03-2013 8:03pm

West Link bridges at sunset this evening.

M50 pano by csd75, on Flickr

M50 thread

Comments