M9 motorway (general thread)

fricatus

They've been removing gorse all along the southbound carriageway between Knocktopher and Mullinavat (J10-J11), seems to be a big job.

Any idea why this is being done? I wouldn't have thought it's bothering anyone, and surely it's good to have it for insects, birds, etc?

road_high

fricatus wrote: »

They've been removing gorse all along the southbound carriageway between Knocktopher and Mullinavat (J10-J11), seems to be a big job.

Any idea why this is being done? I wouldn't have thought it's bothering anyone, and surely it's good to have it for insects, birds, etc?

They've been at this all along the M9 the past month or so. They seem to have a new toy/caterpillar machine for mulching it!
It's not particularly great for biodiversity as it blocks out all other plants and not particularly useful for food apart from at flowering I guess. (I'm no expert on Gorse though).
If they didn't take some measures to control it would take over- the M9 is only open what, 7-8 years and look how much gorse has taken over that short time.

iseegirls

Also, although not the M9 but is very much connected to it, saw signs today stating that the widening of the M7 will start in January 3rd. Further good news, as the traffic from naas and before that to the M9 has been crazy.

Sam Russell

road_high wrote: »

They've been at this all along the M9 the past month or so. They seem to have a new toy/caterpillar machine for mulching it!
It's not particularly great for biodiversity as it blocks out all other plants and not particularly useful for food apart from at flowering I guess. (I'm no expert on Gorse though).
If they didn't take some measures to control it would take over- the M9 is only open what, 7-8 years and look how much gorse has taken over that short time.

I think a gorse fire would make the M9 very dangerous. It needs to be cut back from time to time.

road_high

Sam Russell wrote: »

I think a gorse fire would make the M9 very dangerous. It needs to be cut back from time to time.

You’re right and there actually was a few in that really dry, warm weather we got last summer. Definitely on the N10 link road there was a gorse fire.

hi5

Why are these signs on both on ramps at the M9 Mullinavat junction 11 (it's the only junction I've ever seen them). The only people they could be aimed at is someone who has driven on the wrong side of the motorway from the last junction 10 (Knocktopher).
If they have made it that far and still alive then the most logical thing for them to do would be to get off the motorway as quickly as possible even if it means edging their way up the on ramp?
Or was there a persistent problem of people driving down the on ramp, realising the had taken a wrong turn, doing a U turn on the motorway and driving back up the on ramp?


https://www.google.ie/maps/@52.3711309,-7.1657484,3a,37.5y,348.79h,79.84t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1spEGbxAhKtUn6_71uVEuRmg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

D Trent

hi5 wrote: »

Why are these signs on both on ramps at the M9 Mullinavat junction 11 (it's the only junction I've ever seen them). The only people they could be aimed at is someone who has driven on the wrong side of the motorway from the last junction 10 (Knocktopher).
If they have made it that far and still alive then the most logical thing for them to do would be to get off the motorway as quickly as possible even if it means edging their way up the on ramp?
Or was there a persistent problem of people driving down the on ramp, realising the had taken a wrong turn, doing a U turn on the motorway and driving back up the on ramp?


https://www.google.ie/maps/@52.3711309,-7.1657484,3a,37.5y,348.79h,79.84t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1spEGbxAhKtUn6_71uVEuRmg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

That's an interesting one

Maybe a disgruntled council worker/ TII contractor who suffered a pay cut wanted to say a big "fucI< you" to the authorities

fricatus

Apparently the motorway is going to be closed in the evenings and overnight for a number of nights soon, just outside Waterford.

I checked AA Roadwatch and KK County Council, but couldn't find anything. Anyone got a link to the details, or any idea what work they're doing?

Pablod

Lads were out this morning laying cones on the southbound lane - just after where the new service station is due to go (between JN2 Kilcullen & JN 3 Athy)

JohnC.

fricatus wrote: »

Apparently the motorway is going to be closed in the evenings and overnight for a number of nights soon, just outside Waterford.

I checked AA Roadwatch and KK County Council, but couldn't find anything. Anyone got a link to the details, or any idea what work they're doing?

https://www.kilkennycoco.ie/eng/Services/Roads/Roads_General/Road_Closures_and_Road_Works_Information_Notices/Temp-Closure-of-Road-Surfacing-Works-on-Quarry-Roundabout-M9-Junction-12-at-Grannagh-Co-Kilkenny-Commencing-Monday-25th-June-2018.html

road_high

New Services ahead signs on M9 between Kilkenny and Paulstown....

CeilingFly

Kilcullen services works starting soon - open mid 2019

https://www.kildarenow.com/news/m9-service-station-open-near-kilcullen-mid-2019/238737

patrickc

They seem to be replacing all the railings on the M9 bridges certainly between Carlow and Waterford. Why would this be?

road_high

patrickc wrote: »

They seem to be replacing all the railings on the M9 bridges certainly between Carlow and Waterford. Why would this be?

Notice that on the Barrow bridge. May be a safety upgrade ?

Kevtherev1

road_high wrote: »

Yes but Mullinavat is the next junction up the M9. It's not on the N25 junction so won't necessarily get that traffic.

Looking at the map. There should be a new link road designed and later built to link the end of the New Ross bypass westwards to connect with M9 Junction 11 Mullinvat. Presumably the Mullinvat MSA will be open in 2019 sometime

road_high

Have they reduced junction lighting on J5, J7 and J8? Just noticed it earlier, less lights on.

L1011

The mainline at all rural motorway junctions is being un-lit. I think it'll still be lit at peak periods in late Autumn/Winter/early Spring but not 100% on that. Worst rush hour times are still daylight for about another week!

road_high

L1011 wrote: »

The mainline at all rural motorway junctions is being un-lit. I think it'll still be lit at peak periods in late Autumn/Winter/early Spring but not 100% on that. Worst rush hour times are still daylight for about another week!

So this is a country wide thing?

Charles Babbage

L1011 wrote: »

The mainline at all rural motorway junctions is being un-lit. I think it'll still be lit at peak periods in late Autumn/Winter/early Spring but not 100% on that. Worst rush hour times are still daylight for about another week!

This is a bit strange, people's eyesight has not improved since those roads were built.

road_high

Charles Babbage wrote: »

This is a bit strange, people's eyesight has not improved since those roads were built.

Energy saving thing. Global warming and all that!

Jamie2k9

Traveled full length tonight and its all junctions. There was always way to many lights there however I think the approach to turning off both slip approaches is wrong but the junctions are still well lighted.

They should have left one or two on each slip road and reduced the numbers at both roundabouts and overpass. I mean where is the logic in having 6 lights on an over bridge + another 8 or so on either roundabout and nothing in the area where the exit starts.

If they want to save money turn off every second light on the M50.

L1011

road_high wrote: »

So this is a country wide thing?

Yes, TII network wide

Charles Babbage wrote: »

This is a bit strange, people's eyesight has not improved since those roads were built.

Vehicle lighting improved hugely between one set of road design manuals and the next

CeilingFly

road_high wrote: »

So this is a country wide thing?

Not just here, its happening all over Europe and further afield as the evidence showed it did not reduce accidents.


It also found several crashes into the lighting poles - so the lighting itself was a hazard.

http://www.tii.ie/news/press-releases/Motorway-junction-lighting/InformationUpdateMotorwqay-Route-Lighting-Aug2018-(003).pdf

Roryhy

Looks like they're getting back to work around the new motorway service area near Kilcullen, anyone got news on this??

fricatus

J9 (Kilkenny south - Danesfort) is due to be closed overnight all next week according to electronic signs placed near the junction.

I searched KK Co Co and AA Roadwatch, but didn't seem to find anything.

Anyone got any further information?

road_high

Is it to do with those bridge railing repairs I wonder?

SoupyNorman

road_high wrote: »

Is it to do with those bridge railing repairs I wonder?

They have setup a site office (2-3 portacabins) Hardly do that just for railings?

SoupyNorman

SoupyNorman wrote: »

They have setup a site office (2-3 portacabins) Hardly do that just for railings?

I just realized you were referring to a different junctions to Kilcullen


Anyways, some serious site clearance has begun on the service station, anyone got any estimates on how long it might take?

fricatus

It's about time they put rumble strips and/or flashing lights at the Waterford end of the M9. Another car went straight across the roundabout at the end of the motorway (presumably) overnight and ended up buried in the fence at the top of the far embankment.

It's at least the third time I've seen the aftermath of such incidents and presumably there have been plenty over the years. You can say what you want about the need for drivers to be attentive, but that's not much use if there's a collision on the roundabout and someone is killed. In fairness to the driver, there's not a lot to warn you that the motorway is ending, and a lot of people mightn't register the big roundabout sign (or it mightn't be clearly visible in fog).

Jamie2k9

Has the M9 services opened where Applegreen were due to go. Notice CircleK have it so take it they won the court case?

Edit - Opened 25 Oct.

SoupyNorman

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

Has the M9 services opened where Applegreen were due to go. Notice CircleK have it so take it they won the court case?

Edit - Opened 25 Oct.

Sadly so, would have much preferred an Applegreen (due to Burger King)

Sully

Decent setup to be fair.

road_high

New services near Kilcullen are a boon- it’s almost effectively half way for me to Dublin from Kilkenny- Paulstown and Carlow were always too close for me to bother stopping at too often. Seemed very busy both evenings I’ve visited- especially full truck park. I think they’ll do well there

SoupyNorman

Sully wrote: »

Decent setup to be fair.

100% however my point is the country seems to be saturated with Circle K, an Applegreen would have been nice for some variety.

Sully

SoupyNorman wrote: »

100% however my point is the country seems to be saturated with Circle K, an Applegreen would have been nice for some variety.

Yeah well it didn't help they bought two petrol chains so they're that bit more widespread.

I actually prefer the traditional shops/hot counters from the likes of the ones you see in smaller stations or Texaco. Not overly a fan of Circkle K and Applegreen isn't overly better either

road_high

Sully wrote: »

Yeah well it didn't help they bought two petrol chains so they're that bit more widespread.

I actually prefer the traditional shops/hot counters from the likes of the ones you see in smaller stations or Texaco. Not overly a fan of Circkle K and Applegreen isn't overly better either

The food offering in both has a very mass produced pre packaged made factory feel to it - which is understandable I suppose but the prices are gourmet level!

silver2020

SoupyNorman wrote: »

100% however my point is the country seems to be saturated with Circle K, an Applegreen would have been nice for some variety.

some areas are saturated with applegreen - I've just moved to Carragh, have to drop herself off to sallins train station and work in Kilcullen and pass 4 different applegreens each day, 2 maxols and 1 circle k

But yes, they are many more sites that the other main players and the garish red stands out too.

365 Circle K in republic of Ireland (50 in NI)

190 applegreen

219 Top Oil (mostly independents)

130 Maxol in republic of Ireland (100 in NI)

coastwatch

Anyone know why the street lights are off at most of the junctions on the M9, from Jnct 4 Castledermot all the way to Waterford?

Sully

coastwatch wrote: »

Anyone know why the street lights are off at most of the junctions on the M9, from Jnct 4 Castledermot all the way to Waterford?

Same on most motorways now, there no longer lighting up every junction. Just some of the major ones

coastwatch

Sully wrote: »

Same on most motorways now, there no longer lighting up every junction. Just some of the major ones

Is it for energy saving?
Strange that some of the National roads at the M9 junctions are lit up, but not the M9 motorway iteslf, eg. Junctions 4&5 , Castledermot and Carlow
I think it would be safer if those junctions were lit up on the motorway.

Nuphor

Heard Applegreen have started work on the Mullinavat services station!

fricatus

Nuphor wrote: »

Heard Applegreen have started work on the Mullinavat services station!

That's good news, thanks for the update. Any indication of how long it will take before it's open?

road_high

Nuphor wrote: »

Heard Applegreen have started work on the Mullinavat services station!

Seriously ? Didn’t even know there was one planned to go ahead there? There’s a desperate need for services between Kilkenny and Waterford- there is nowhere literally- Bar offline to the Centra station in Knocktopher which is well off the motorway to bother and probably not open as early/late. Nothing much at the Waterford end either bar that one off the old road - is that even open still?
So this is very welcome and will do well.

road_high

fricatus wrote: »

That's good news, thanks for the update. Any indication of how long it will take before it's open?

They usually fly up as they’re Lego block kind of set designs. My guess would be late autumn next all going well?

tonc76

road_high wrote: »

They usually fly up as they’re Lego block kind of set designs. My guess would be late autumn next all going well?

Any idea where it'll be as the footprint for MSAs is quite big?

Darc19

tonc76 wrote: »

Any idea where it'll be as the footprint for MSAs is quite big?

It's literally on top of the flyover and about 50m down on the mullinavat side. Fairly big site. Probably same size as paulstown

JohnC.

It got permission in 2017, so it's been a while coming. It's the empty site in the middle of this, where I think they had some kind of site office or yard during motorway construction.



And this is what they are planning, or what they initially asked for back then anyway

Permission for the development of a 24 hour opening Motorway Service Area to include: 1. Vehicle fuelling station with 12 no. bays and a 2 bay HGV fuelling station with canopy; 2. A single storey services building with canopy including: convenience store (incorporation full off sales for the sale of alcohol) (100m2); food court with cafe and restaurant uses, including take away facilities; indoor play area; offices and reception with tourist information; public toilet changing and shower facilities; plant room; storage and associated services; 3. A single storey roofed enclosure attached to the rear of the services building and associated yard for storage and services; and 4. External facilities and works include picnic, play, amenity and rest areas; bicycle parking; car and HGV parking spaces, electrical vehicle charging points; upgrading of existing vehicular entrance from the R704, signage, on site waste water treatment system, including percolation area and all associated site development works

road_high

Anyone know whats going in there? Will it be like Paulstown services with Burger King, Costa, Subway etc?

JohnC.

Should be, yeah.

road_high

tonc76 wrote: »

Any idea where it'll be as the footprint for MSAs is quite big?

The site it’s on was used by Ascon (now BAM) as their site compound when building the road over a decade ago now.