Gallery:N9
Note Port Laoise is only written in Irish as the english name 'Portlaois' is so close that it is always omitted. This is allowed for in the TSM.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 17, 2006 by murphaph
Paulstown.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Feb 19, 2007 by csd
N9 and Waterford to the left, N10 and Kilkenny straight ahead!
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Feb 19, 2007 by csd
Low standard, 80km/h limit
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Feb 19, 2007 by csd
No hard shoulder, no overtaking, 80 km/h limit. Not due for bypass till 2010.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Feb 19, 2007 by csd
This cart track is actually the main road between Dublin and Waterford. It has been in the half-planed, half-resurfaced state for a few years now. A disgrace! Thankfully, by 2010 this should be bypassed.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Feb 19, 2007 by csd
North of Carlow, the N9 is in poor condition. The road is narrow, there are few overtaking opportunities, and long sections of 80 km/h limits abound. Here to the left is the northern tie-in of the 19km HQDC Carlow bypass, currently under construction. AADT at this point is 13,000. The bypass is due to open Q3 2008.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Feb 19, 2007 by csd
The N80 links Portloaoise with the N11 north of Enniscorthy, providing the midlands access to the RoRo port at Rosslare. Here we see the junction for the southern N80 section, for Rosslare. The N80 the multiplexes with the N9 for a short section until the junction with the Portloaise half, about a km south of here.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Feb 19, 2007 by csd
A HQDC western bypass of the N9 around Carlow town is currently under construction, but at present only the N80 gets a bypass, an S2 to the north of the town, which also links the N9 to the N80. This shot shows the junction of the two roads, approached from the north.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Feb 19, 2007 by csd
South of Carlow, the N9 has a few improved sections. This includes the S2 bypass of Leighlinbridge, shown here. The bypass was opened in the mid-1980s, and currently sees an AADT of 15,000.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Feb 19, 2007 by csd
South of Carlow, the N9 has a few improved sections. This includes the S2 bypass of Leighlinbridge, shown here. The bypass was opened in the mid-1980s, and currently sees an AADT of 15,000.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Feb 19, 2007 by csd
Heading southbound, we approach the TOTSO for the N9/N10 split at Paulstown. Trucks for Waterford are directed via Kilkenny and the N10, presumably to avoid the narrow streets of Thomastown, which lies further south on the N9. Since February 2012 the roads concerned have been reclassified as the R448 (pictured here, about to TOTSO left) and the R712.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on 19 February 2007 by csd
Most of the N9 looks like this or worse once you pass Kilkenny. It's a total cart track in places and the motorway is badly needed.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 23, 2006 by murphaph
This is what WS2 is all about! the ability to pass (legally) with double white lines and maintain 100km/h. Who needs motorways? (joke!)
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 23, 2006 by murphaph
Note the temporary lane signage. The motorway ends at a roundabout which is part of a dumbbell interchange.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Jun 02, 2008 by csd
Straight ahead for Dublin! I don't think you can turn right ahead ;-) The Waterford-Dublin railway line is visible also.
Originally uploaded to Coppermine on Apr 17, 2006 by murphaph