IRL: MSA progress and signage

[IrlRon]

Supposedly the N69 upgrade is an EU-requirement due to Limerick - Foynes being designated a part of the Ten-T network. It is a national secondary route (mostly known as the "scenic route" to Tralee), though its many years since I travelled any sort of distance on it IIRC its of grand standard for the amount of traffic it carries (which in no one's book justifies a motorway). Even the NRA are saying they will only do this project because the EU is making them and it's at the bottom of their priority list...

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/st ... 87160.html

[nirs]

Interesting. There are a number of roads in NI that are part of the TEN-T network (core or comprehensive), but I'm not aware of any requirement on Roads Service to upgrade them for this reason.

[CrackersA361]

Surely if the EU are leaning on the NRA to get on with this project then they will be stumping up a sizeable (if not all) of the money required for this?

Also, I doubt they'd use an N/M3x number for the route because it follows the N69 so closely. They'd tie it in to the N18 Limerick ring road and run it straight out parallel to the N69, thus meeting, or passing close to, all of the settlements already served by the road.

Thinking about it further, I suspect the maximum we'd get is a HQDC N69 because for it to tie into the N18 at the Limerick end it would have to be all-purpose.

The only other solution (that might then involve an N/M3x number) would be to utilise the fancy spur at M20 J3 and run something past Raheen Business Park before turning westwards further north, closer to the N69. I think this would be more logical as it would save duplicating what is already a decent route along the M20 out of Limerick and prevent having to tamper with the Limerick ring road which would be pretty disruptive.

All speculation at the present though!

[AndyB]

Also, I doubt they'd use an N/M3x number for the route because it follows the N69 so closely.

That's the point - the N69 would be upgraded to a National Primary Route in the process as per the N30 (formerly N79) and N26 (formerly N57).

[CrackersA361]

Also, I doubt they'd use an N/M3x number for the route because it follows the N69 so closely.

That's the point - the N69 would be upgraded to a National Primary Route in the process as per the N30 (formerly N79) and N26 (formerly N57).

Ah yes good point! Hadn't thought of that!

[IrlRon]

The smart thing to would be to run it as an extension/spur of the M20 from west of Patrickswell and let it double as a bypass of Adare on the N21. The problem with that is that the powers that be have several times tried to plan an Adare bypass and twice it has got as far as the Planning Appeals Board only to be blocked. There is a section of the locality dead set against any bypass despite the fact that the town is now easily one of the biggest bottlenecks left in the country, even in the middle of a recession.

For that reason an upgrade of the N69 would be more likely.

The trouble with any upgrade is that it might increase traffic on the N69 exponentially as traffic whose ultimate destination is Tralee might begin to prefer it over the N21, though it is quite a bit longer in any event so this shouldn't really occur.

[si404]

Interesting. There are a number of roads in NI that are part of the TEN-T network (core or comprehensive), but I'm not aware of any requirement on Roads Service to upgrade them for this reason.

All NI's core network will be of Dual Carriageway standard (it's just the E01 corridor). However the European Commission view the Ayrshire A77, A40 (St Clears - Haverfordwest) and A4076 as completed pieces of the core road network.

The 'to be upgraded' sections of the comprehensive (inc core) network are as follows:

N4 Longford - Collooney
N5 Longford - Westport
N11 Wicklow - Wexford
N17 Baile Chlair - Collooney
N20 Patrickswell - Cork
N21 Patrickswell - Tralee
N69 Limerick - Foynes

nothing in the UK - I think the 'to be upgraded' is an opt in system - some motorways in parts of Europe are marked as such, because they are going to be refurbished/widened.

(see http://ec.europa.eu/transport/infrastru ... l/main.jsp for an interactive map of the Trans European Network - Transport)

[marmurr1916]

Foynes is a Core Port for TEN-T purposes, hence the requirement to upgrade the N69.

However, the regulations don't require it to be upgraded to motorway or even dual-carriageway standard.

Article 17 of the TEN-T Regulations describes the type of roads required:

3. High-quality roads shall be specially designed and built for motor traffic, and shall be either motorways, express roads or conventional strategic roads.
(a) A motorway is a road specially designed and built for motor traffic, which does not serve properties bordering on it and which:
(i) is provided, except at special points or temporarily, with separate carriageways for the two directions of traffic, separated from each other by a dividing strip not intended for traffic or, exceptionally, by other means;
(ii) does not cross at grade with any road, railway or tramway track, bicycle path or footpath; and
(iii) is specially sign-posted as a motorway.
(b) An express road is a road designed for motor traffic, which is accessible primarily from interchanges or controlled junctions and which:
(i) prohibits stopping and parking on the running carriageway; and
(ii) does not cross at grade with any railway or tramway track.
(c) A conventional strategic road is a road which is not a motorway or express road but which is still a high-quality road as referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2.

MSA news:

http://www.nenaghguardian.ie/news/round ... vice-area/

http://idocsweb.kilkennycoco.ie/ViewFil ... ormat=djvu

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthre ... 000&page=4

http://m.rte.ie/news/touch/2014/0621/625517-roads/

[marmurr1916]

The latest 'offline', non-official (i.e. not NRA built) MSA in Ireland opens tomorrow, 9th February, 2015.

http://www.independent.ie/business/iris ... 71229.html

It's located at junction 3 of the M8 (near Ballacolla, Co. Laois) close to the northern end of the M8.

[IrlRon]

A very good location - there's a long stretch between Portlaoise and Thurles when there's no service stations near the motorway. Even Urlingford is a bit off.