N8/N25/N40 - Dunkettle Interchange [open to traffic]

DylanQuestion

Putting this to bed - the roundabout is called Dunkettle Roundabout officially. There was a sign on the roundabout up until 2010 stating so

cork_south

Cones removed on Link K again this morning, hopefully this time permanently.

Traffic flowed well on Link L this morning for the first time on my commute since the link opened.

People off work a definite factor but the extra 500m of additional lane a huge help.

Chris_5339762

I dunno will they put the cones on K back in again - they seem to need them a little bit for work access at the moment - but hopefully they'll be gone for now anyway.

Agreed though, very hard to call it this week, traffic has dropped off noticeably as those lucky buggers who can take leave on Christmas week disappear from the commute.

hans aus dtschl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121515681#Comment_121515681

The latter is in design stage, thankfully!

The former is still only a discussion point. I fully agree it's needed but nobody is progressing it.

So traffic on the N8 will get worse, is the synopsis unfortunately.

niloc1951

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121515816#Comment_121515816

I think you missed my point. Different configurations of the three lanes into the one single lane into the tunnel isn't going to effect the overall queueing situation which is determined by the speed with which the queueing vehicles can transit through the single lane section.

FishOnABike

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121519997#Comment_121519997

Hopefully lifting the temporary 60kmh limit through the tunnel and half way to Jacob's Island will improve the capacity and allow traffic flow a bit better.

KrisW1001

The limit should be asymmetric. It would be very useful to slow northbound traffic to 60 before entering the tunnel given how close the first decision point (M8) is to the tunnel exit, but there's not much reason to keep southbound traffic at 60 once it has cleared the interchange.

bwdbwd

Would someone be able to tell me if southbound from M8 into the tunnel is free flow yet.

Have checked construction website and have been scanning these threads, but no joy.

Thanks in advance

AugustusMinimus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121525211#Comment_121525211

Yes.

When travelling south on the M8, just move into the right lane about 1km from the interchange.

just keep in that lane and you’ll end up going through the tunnel in the right lane. You can only moving back to the driving lane (left lane) once you have exited the tunnel in Mahon.

chooseusername

Why switch to the right lane?

Does the left lane not go through the tunnel?

Cookiemunster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121525368#Comment_121525368

No. The lanes diverge. The right heads to the tunnel. The left to the N25E.

chooseusername

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121525484#Comment_121525484

Thanks, didn’t realise that.

niloc1951

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121525484#Comment_121525484

In fairness, all routes from the southbound M8 are very well signposted, if you follow the signs you can't go wrong.

Hibernicis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuxF3POw_js

Retrospective by DroneHawk showing progress over the last three years as the project draws to a close.

niloc1951

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120962289#Comment_120962289

Those traffic lights are now looking very permanent. While they could be there for use in the event of an emergency tunnel closure, would they not be better placed at the beginning of the link roads to give traffic options to choose an alternative route? As it stands a lot of vehicles would end up trapped on the links with nowhere to go.

DylanQuestion

Are most of the 60s permanent? It's so slow, especially between the tunnel and Mahon

cantalach

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121554823#Comment_121554823

The 60 through the tunnel until you’re almost at Mahon is temporary. It will revert to 80 through the tunnel and 100 once out the other side.

_Kaiser_

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121555449#Comment_121555449

Sooner the better. Was heading for the M8 the other night and had some bell end up my arse in the right lane coming into it who then cut around me over the solid line only to then head for the N25 east anyway.

Nonsense like that really annoys me.

DylanQuestion

My brother was driving on the N40 to M8 today. He's an observant driver, and yet still managed to end up on the N25 instead of the M8. The sooner they fix that sign, the better

niloc1951

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121556211#Comment_121556211

The sign, as it is currently configured, definitely gives the impression that both lanes lead to the M8. Your brother did the safe thing in staying in his lane but if you watch the N40 North Of Tunnel camera it won't be long before you see a driver in Lane 1 making a last-minute dive across Lane 2 to get to the M8. Very unsafe.

Also, the gantry on the N25 westbound just after Jct.2 indicates that Lane 2 is to be used for Limerick, etc. and Lane 1 is for Cork. Why is such a sign positioned about 5km before the actual diverge at Silversprings, which is the other way around (Lane 1 in fact for Limerick and Lane 2 is for Cork City)? not to mention that there's the roundabout for Glanmire about halfway between.

chooseusername

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121556211#Comment_121556211

Sat-nav probably still telling him to use both lanes?

niloc1951

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121556828#Comment_121556828

The sign does too, so you can't blame the satnav alone.

DylanQuestion

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121556732#Comment_121556732

Don't get me started on the N25 sign lol, such as it being the wrong way as you said and them randomly using City Centre for both lanes.

He didn't use SatNav going through the interchange, but I don't think you should need to if you live in Cork and there is signage. I was also heading from N25 to N8 City Centre the other day. I have been paying attention to this entire project and even I got confused by how to get there given you go through one gantry sign saying City Centre both lanes, and then suddenly there is a big sign up to the left up a ramp saying Cork this way, making me think I went the wrong way. They're better off just re-doing all of the signage at this stage. None of the signs at Dunkettle Roundabout have been updated either, meaning people coming from City Centre/Glanmire to go to the South Ring are directed to the N25. You don't really have a way of knowing it's wrong too if you aren't clued into road namings since the N40 signage further east just says Westbound, not South Ring

niloc1951

Us locals quickly learn to compensate for the inconsistent and questionable signage, but pity the stranger or tourist trying to navigate through the area for the first time.

yagan

How hard can it be to simply show N25 for both lanes with the M8 spliting from the right lane only?

Instead they continue with the misleading M8 sign sitting over the N25 double lane sign.

niloc1951

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121272419#Comment_121272419

So why do the road markings clearly say N8 nearly as far as Fermoy?

AugustusMinimus

Are those legacy markings from before the Tunnel to Watergrasshill section was redesignated as motorway? The motorway order specifies the motorway starts 400m north of Dunkettle.

niloc1951

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121557626#Comment_121557626

It's over 14 years since the classification was changed from N to M. The current N8 markings look relatively recent, certainly not more 14 years old 🤔

pajoguy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121558495#Comment_121558495

Refreshed between July 19 and August 21 based on Google maps

niloc1951

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121564822#Comment_121564822

It appears that whoever is responsible for road marking in TII or Cork Co.Co. has forgotten to tell the road marking company to stop using the N template and use the M one instead because the classification changed over 14 years ago.

Maybe it's the same person responsible for the new crap signs on the N40 for the M8 and one after Jct2 westbound on the N25 signs on the Dunkettle Project.

Corkladddd!!

This weeks update has signage upgrades noted on links north of the tunnel, hoping these may help but as pointed out here I think the main issue is the large sign prior to the tunnel. A large sign at the Mahon flyover saying "Dublin - Right Lane Only" would sort the mess!

niloc1951

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121575163#Comment_121575163

Agreed, because the is no lane changing allowed in the tunnel there needs to be a clear and unambiguous sign between the slip from Mahon and the tunnel entrance indicating that M8 access is from the righthand lane only.

niloc1951

I'm currently in Murcia, Spain after driving from Santander. The trip involved dozens of junctions on the motorway system linking both cities and not once was I ever in doubt what lane I should be in.

Unlike TII's efforts on the N25/N8/N40 their Spanish equivalent provides clear and unambiguous signs with plenty of warning of which lane leads to exactly where.

KrisW1001

Not really much of a basis for comparison. Santander-Murcia is mostly open countryside, certainly they're are no tunnels with major junctions right afterwards. Rural motorways are well signposted here too, and yet this interchange is not. if you've got an example from Spain (or anywhere else) of how a similar situation should be signposted, that'd be good to see

The problem here is that a lot happens in very little space, and there's no room. The signage makes it worse, but it's always going to be a problem.

One quick fix, if you do miss the M8 Dublin turn and end up heading East, is that M8 Dublin should be re-signposted on the Little Island west exit, so that drivers for M8 can at least get back on track via that dumbell.

idi na khuy hai

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121641328#Comment_121641328

What has open countryside got to do with unclear and ambiguous signage?

Anyone?

Thought so....more $hite being spilt by the usual do-gooders and $hite-talkers.

I bet you've never even been to those parts of Spain, son.

niloc1951

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121641328#Comment_121641328

Open countryside the whole way, not totally.

There are major cities, including the capitol Madrid, with multiple intersections with multiple motorways and other roads, in densely built up areas along the route. Then add in local exit lanes.

No matter how tight a space may be, there is no excuse for poor or misleading signposting.

Motorway splits are also laid out and signposted properly, not like the M7/M8 southbound example.

Mushy

Do we think the last link will open in the next 2 weeks? Hoping it'll happen before heading away on 5th Feb.

cork_south

As predicted, and even with the DKI not yet fully opened, Bloomfield is causing tailbacks up the M8 and down the N25 every morning.

Chris_5339762

A teeny tiny sign has appeared southbound going into the tunnel - it is back to 80kmh in that direction now. Not that anyone cared about the 60kmh limit before, nor do they care about the 80kmh limit now.

AugustusMinimus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121688185#Comment_121688185

i can’t believe people were denying this would happen. It was as obvious as hell.

DylanQuestion

Has the M8 signage situation been improved?

KrisW1001

Traffic has risen dramatically on all routes into Cork in the last year. You always see big jumps in January when schools and students return, but the underlying rise is a knock-on effect of the ongoing accommodation crisis.. people are having to live much further away, and that's creating more traffic.

I've also heard a lot of employers ending or restricting Work From Home arrangements in the last six months, which is putting more commuters back on the roads.

I would imagine the situation would be just as bad, or worse, without the new interchange.

Leatra

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121688772#Comment_121688772

How teeny tiny are we talking? Nothing would make me happier than for it to be a speed limit repeater sign.

Chris_5339762

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121692976#Comment_121692976

Its one of those standard round roadside 80kmh signs attached to the wall just after the lanes merge going south into the tunnel.

niloc1951

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121688185#Comment_121688185

As said before, a third lane connecting the slip on at Jct 6 from the N28 to the exit to N27 is the only solution to the congestion on the westbound section of the Douglas flyover. A reasonably aesthetic solution should not be beyond the capability of competent road bridge designers.

Let's face the reality that personal transport in the form of fossil fuel or electric vehicles is not going to diminish in the future. Auto makers will continue to ply their trade in the form of EV's.

Active travel solutions are all very well, but the topography and climate of Cork City and it's environs are unlikely to tempt the majority to take to the bike.

The only real solution is a light rail network, similar to that which was ripped up from the 1930's onwards, (see below) connecting all the major dormitory towns serving the city. However, such a multi billion euro project is unlikely to ever see the light of day.

Thanks to years of miss management of our housing policy to cater for the increase in population and industrial activity combined with a lack of foresight in the provision and of connecting commuter infrastructure we will have to settle for the current mess, with various tweaks here and there.

confidentjosh

https://youtu.be/VZedum3LWl8

DroneHawk - The End Is Near

hans aus dtschl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121694436#Comment_121694436

Adding another lane at Douglas does nothing to resolve the fact that it's a single point of failure.

And topography and climate are not significant barriers to active travel in Cork, but that's also best kept for a different thread.

Edit: I'd prefer to see a focus on other modes and a Northern Bypass (and a distributor).

niloc1951

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121699065#Comment_121699065

Not sure what you mean by a single point of failure. If you mean if there's a crash along that stretch of road everything comes to a halt, that can apply anywhere, it's not exclusive to the Douglas flyover. However, a multi lane carriageway with directly connected on and off ramps lessons the amount of weaving and therefore would reduce the like hood of crashes.

Regarding active travel, what percentage of the current and future commuter population from East and South of the city could realistically be expected to leave their car at home and use a bicycle.

idi na khuy hai

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121702621#Comment_121702621

Bloody green brigade should try and deliver a 30 tonnes of produce on a bloody bicycle and see how they get on. Time to put these do gooders out at the next election people before they destroy the country completely, what with all these illegal immigrants as well as the bender brigade. Time to get our country back. And we can start by sorting the roads. PROPERLY.

Shedite27

What's the pool of water in that latest video? Is it flowing from a river or is it tidal?

Mark