N25/N30 - New Ross Bypass [open to traffic]

Sam Russell

fricatus wrote: »

New Ross's problems don't stem from the opening of the bridge though. From my limited knowledge of the place, it was the Tesco opening up at the top of the hill that undermined the town centre.

I know it sounds counterintuitive, but taking the traffic out is the best thing that could happen. Cars passing through is not a business model for anyone except a petrol station or roadside diner. There's a huge opportunity to make the town more attractive, and there's loads of potential, with the lovely riverside location and narrow streets. You've a head start with the Dunbrody and JFK that other towns would kill for. I think the future is there if the community grabs it.

Both Athlone and Naas could be examples of what can be done when the major traffic congestion moves out of town, and locals are again allowed access to their town.

blackwhite

fricatus wrote: »

New Ross's problems don't stem from the opening of the bridge though. From my limited knowledge of the place, it was the Tesco opening up at the top of the hill that undermined the town centre.

I know it sounds counterintuitive, but taking the traffic out is the best thing that could happen. Cars passing through is not a business model for anyone except a petrol station or roadside diner. There's a huge opportunity to make the town more attractive, and there's loads of potential, with the lovely riverside location and narrow streets. You've a head start with the Dunbrody and JFK that other towns would kill for. I think the future is there if the community grabs it.

Anecdotally, family living near Enniscorthy say that the M11 extension has already given a boost to businesses in the town. No more fears of congestion deterring people from the hinterland from travelling into the town.

Conversely, I've heard that the few small shops in Ferns are really struggling due to the loss of passing trade.

I'd imagine there's some level of critical mass for a town, where it's big enough to sustain itself then removing the passing traffic becomes a boon rather than a hindrance.

I can certainly see an argument that Ross will become more attractive to people from Glenmore or Clonroche if they need to pick up a few small bits, instead of going into Waterford or Enniscorthy. Whether business in the town can capitalise on this remains to be seen

Andrew33

fricatus wrote: »

New Ross's problems don't stem from the opening of the bridge though. From my limited knowledge of the place, it was the Tesco opening up at the top of the hill that undermined the town centre.

It has been well proven in studies carried out in the UK that when Tesco move in to a town (creating 100 new jobs etc) there is s nett LOSS of jobs in the town of 10-15%.
Also, the greatest lie ever sold to people is that supermarkets are cheaper than the high street shops.
Tesco are a complete rip off with their constant price changes and pack size chicanery but people keep shopping there while moaning about their village dying.
The devils shop. Absolutely hate them.

Hibernicis

Sam Russell wrote: »

Both Athlone and Naas could be examples of what can be done when the major traffic congestion moves out of town, and locals are again allowed access to their town.

Midleton, Fermoy, Arklow, Gorey, Newbridge, Clonmel, Dungarvan and many others all improved to various extents once they were bypassed. And New Ross has more going for it than most of these. Macroom is another town which could and will probably improve significantly once the bypass is in place.

But it’s not a panacea as there other factors in play. Sadly Youghal is still a desolate depressed town seventeen years after the bypass opened. And it is very difficult to see Tipperary town ever recovering, this being an extreme example the point that Fractus makes about the life blood being sucked out by the transfer of dominant commercial activity from the town centre to the outskirts. (Tesco, Dunnes and the Tipperary Town Plaza being the key factors in this case)

But back to the case in point. Let’s be happy for New Ross that it has been given a shot in the arm and an opportunity to recover and perhaps become a tourist hub.

L1011

Sam Russell wrote: »

Both Athlone and Naas could be examples of what can be done when the major traffic congestion moves out of town, and locals are again allowed access to their town.

Except Naas is an example of what happens when the shops follow the major traffic out to the interchanges. Town centre is dead, even the pubs aren't keeping business at this stage!

Planning should never have allowed this but the old Naas UDC / KCC planning split caused severe issues and obviously both wanted dev levies. Naas UDC boundary was a perfect circle distance from the Town Hall rather than any logical one.

Victor

Does anyone have the new regional road number for the section of the old N30 ring road from the Wexford Road (nor R723) to the Enniscorthy Road (now R714)?

Hibernicis

Some snapshots from recent days

https://visitnewross.ie/community/22523/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-ross-bypass-bridge/

marno21

Victor wrote: »

Does anyone have the new regional road number for the section of the old N30 ring road from the Wexford Road (nor R723) to the Enniscorthy Road (now R714)?

The old N30 is signed as the R729 from the Corcoran’s Cross roundabout

Victor

marno21 wrote: »

The old N30 is signed as the R729 from the Corcoran’s Cross roundabout

Isn't part of it the R714?

Dunmoreroader

Just drove down from Waterford to take a spin over the NRB and it's a wild ride when it's windy! Good Jesus you're high over the river with only a little low barrier stopping you flipping over the side if a big gust catches your car/van/truck!
Kept visualising that bridge in Korea collapsing into the bay as I was driving back over from the Wexford side!:pac:
Fantastic feat of engineering, including all the work up to the N30 Enniscorthy road. Well done all responsible.

road_high

L1011 wrote: »

Except Naas is an example of what happens when the shops follow the major traffic out to the interchanges. Town centre is dead, even the pubs aren't keeping business at this stage!

Planning should never have allowed this but the old Naas UDC / KCC planning split caused severe issues and obviously both wanted dev levies. Naas UDC boundary was a perfect circle distance from the Town Hall rather than any logical one.

Nothing in Naas unfortunately compared to Newbridge or Dublin. And anything that is there is around the massive Tesco. New Dunnes lately might help a bit with footfall

road_high

New Ross has struggled for decades with unemployment (one of the worse black spots). The bypass can only help the town as very little traffic was stopping

marno21

Had a spin on the new road today, have to say BAM have done a superb job on both this and the Enniscorthy bypasses. The difference in the new road vs the old road in both cases is incredible, especially the New Ross road

It’ll be a very quick spin from Kilmeaden to New Ross east when the section between is complete

The Cork-Wexford journey is just over 2 hours now which is nice, most of the road is quite good single carriageway.

Removing Dungarvan from the route would be fantastic if it were prioritised, which unfortunately it won’t be

alta stare

marno21 wrote: »

Had a spin on the new road today, have to say BAM have done a superb job on both this and the Enniscorthy bypasses. The difference in the new road vs the old road in both cases is incredible, especially the New Ross road

It’ll be a very quick spin from Kilmeaden to New Ross east when the section between is complete

The Cork-Wexford journey is just over 2 hours now which is nice, most of the road is quite good single carriageway.

Removing Dungarvan from the route would be fantastic if it were prioritised, which unfortunately it won’t be

Is the Waterford and New Ross bypass link up looking likely? Iv read it could be completed by 2024??

josip

alta stare wrote: »

Is the Waterford and New Ross bypass link up looking likely? Iv read it could be completed by 2024??

It's not just looking likely, it's entered the pipeline.
Can't remember what the correct name of the phase is.

https://n25waterford2glenmore.ie/en/project-phases.html

marno21

josip wrote: »

It's not just looking likely, it's entered the pipeline.
Can't remember what the correct name of the phase is.

https://n25waterford2glenmore.ie/en/project-phases.html

It's the N25 Waterford-Glenmore scheme. 9km or so of dual carriageway. It should start construction around 2024.

The 6km or so between the Rhu Glenn and the tractor garage would be the main reason to upgrade it. The WS2 between the tractor garage and the New Ross bypass is monstrously wide single carriageway, but it has the issue of meeting the bypass roundabout at a 90 degree angle making grade separation difficult.

They could always have the mainline carry on to New Ross and exit for the bypass.

marno21

Victor wrote: »

Isn't part of it the R714?

Here's the statutory instrument

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2019/si/577/made/en/print

I had a look today and the signage from the N30 roundabout is R729. However, from the SI, it appears that the old N30 between the R700 and the N30 is now the R714.

alta stare

josip wrote: »

It's not just looking likely, it's entered the pipeline.
Can't remember what the correct name of the phase is.

https://n25waterford2glenmore.ie/en/project-phases.html

Ah yes thanks. Yeah i remember where i read it. It was something i was looking at regarding Atkins. The linking of both bypasses would be great.

m17

The barrow crossing 31/01/20 (pic fb)

Reuben1210

m17 wrote: »

The barrow crossing 31/01/20 (pic fb)

@M17 no chance you could do any occasional photo-documentation of the two big northwestern schemes at the moment - Westport-Castlebar bypass and Colloney-Castlebaldwin upgrades? Or even the recently started Macroom bypass?

Harry Palmr

So then what's it like this weekend? Full of rubbernecking? I think I'll wait until midweek before taking a spin.

NedNew2

Harry Palmr wrote: »

So then what's it like this weekend? Full of rubbernecking? I think I'll wait until midweek before taking a spin.

It's fine, no problems at all to see it this weekend. It's well able to handle the traffic.

What is noticeable is the high amount of traffic still on the approach road to New Ross from Wexford. Mostly local traffic I suppose but still surprising.

sideswipe

No sign of google maps updating, anybody know how long it usually take for them to pick up on road openings?

josip

sideswipe wrote: »

No sign of google maps updating, anybody know how long it usually take for them to pick up on road openings?

I think it was at least 4 days before they updated with the Enniscorthy bypass.

BelfastVanMan

josip wrote: »

I think it was at least 4 days before they updated with the Enniscorthy bypass.

Even at that, they still have the old N11 showing..

marno21

BelfastVanMan wrote: »

Even at that, they still have the old N11 showing..

They still have the N11 showing between Arklow and Rathnew even though it became the R772 in July 2015.

alta stare

Harry Palmr wrote: »

So then what's it like this weekend? Full of rubbernecking? I think I'll wait until midweek before taking a spin.

Iv just come back across it and it is fine.

allthedoyles

As you head down Glenmore hill from Waterford towards the Glenmore roundabout there is speed limit signs 100kmh.
As you head down the N25 from New Ross , towards the Glenmore roundabout, there is speed limit signs 80kmh.
No further speed limit signs as you join the bypass heading towards the bridge.
So which is it.

m17

The barrow crossing 01/02/20

JohnC.

Just back from a nighttime drive to see it lit up. Looked good enough from the Kilkenny side, but coming back from the Wexford side, when it comes into view you don't really see the Pink Rock in the darkness and it just looks like the lights are arcing into the darkness of the sky. Looks like it's going deceptively high. Amazing.

allthedoyles

My dashcam footage

Say my name

The bridge looks like three ships.

I'm not sure if it was part of the plan but three ships used to be on the Wexford and Waterford motif's.

m17

The barrow crossing 01/02/20

m17

The barrow crossing 01/02/20

swoofer

these are getting better and better. I have driven across it, ,, awesome

m17

swoofer wrote: »

these are getting better and better. I have driven across it, ,, awesome

It's the best 95 million this island as ever spent

alta stare

m17 wrote: »

It's the best 95 million this island as ever spent

If only we had the Glenmore to Waterford part done...oh and a new DC/Motorway to Wexford. Imagine a journey of about half an hour between WF and Wex. Pure bliss.

Cantona's Collars

Took a spin on the new road over the weekend,a lot of people parked up at either side of the bridge getting photos.
The bridge itself is not quite level as you drive across it with slight dips in it.
It's gas how people automatically slow down when crossing it,I did it myself just to take in the view.:)

josip

Lots of 'trippers' as the Famous Five would call them, around yesterday.
If anyone is going in the night time for a gawk, it's worth going
https://goo.gl/maps/AA1VDUjhRQv4AVBc7
to watch for a while.


You'll be far enough back to see the lights of the vehicles going across.
Maybe it's because I'm from the area and the bridge and traffic at that location is alien to me, but it's very surreal to watch these dots of light traversing the river so far above the water.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpySZ1qqBHE

Leo Demidov

Cantona's Collars wrote: »

The bridge itself is not quite level as you drive across it with slight dips in it.

It's up and down like a wh*res knickers.

There was a 400mm height differential when the longest spans met so they jemmied them together with a 10 metre rsj, poured the last bit of concrete and hoped for the best.

A truly Irish solution to an Irish problem!

Cookiemunster

Leo Demidov wrote: »

It's up and down like a wh*res knickers.

There was a 400mm height differential when the longest spans met so they jemmied them together with a 10 metre rsj, poured the last bit of concrete and hoped for the best.

A truly Irish solution to an Irish problem!

No, it was the standard solution to an engineering problem seen all over the world.

Sam Russell

Cookiemunster wrote: »

No, it was the standard solution to an engineering problem seen all over the world.

Is that the purpose of those towers and cables - to keep the bridge platform level? They are tensioned as needed to pull the platform as required.

Cookiemunster

Sam Russell wrote: »

Is that the purpose of those towers and cables - to keep the bridge platform level? They are tensioned as needed to pull the platform as required.

It was mentioned at the time that after they had leveled the bridge and poured the final sections that they would then do the final tensioning on the cables.

Leo Demidov

Cookiemunster wrote: »

No, it was the standard solution to an engineering problem seen all over the world.

I'm pretty sure the engineer said in the Engineering Channel documentary that they hadn't come across this problem before. If its a common problem, surely they could have planned and mitigated against it and avoided the bumps. I'm not knocking the overall project but it is a little rough around the edges.

vicwatson

Leo Demidov wrote: »

I'm pretty sure the engineer said in the Engineering Channel documentary that they hadn't come across this problem before. If its a common problem, surely they could have planned and mitigated against it and avoided the bumps. I'm not knocking the overall project but it is a little rough around the edges.

It's a seriously noticeable dip between the first upright and second upright from the wexford side, looks almost unconvincing its safe.


I assume that was a mess up somewhere, that does not look right

Azatadine

Yeah it's very noticeable on the Wexford side. Maybe it'll level out over time?

realflash1982

Great to finally travel the new road and bridge today after 20 years of Wexford - Waterford commuting and a few years following this thread.

Looks fantastic in low light with the cable and deck lights on. I agree with another poster that it resembles three ships. Intended or not it looks the part! The road is super smooth.

With regards to it not being level, well it is impossible not to notice it . It won't bother motorists but it is very obvious from the Wexford approach given how it was meant to be.

kneemos

The picture in this article is accurate then?

https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/new-ross-bypass-will-cater-for-up-to-20k-cars-a-day-978396.html

prunudo

Is it noticeable with the naked eye or are the photos taken with zoomed lenses making it look worse than it really is.

josip

kneemos wrote: »

The picture in this article is accurate then?

https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/new-ross-bypass-will-cater-for-up-to-20k-cars-a-day-978396.html

Completely