Annacotty to Finnegans Roadworks

turbbo

Berty wrote: »

I was in UL Wednesday and the place was hopping and traffic was light enough that morning also.

Weird.

Cookiemunster

turbbo wrote: »

They managed to build a belfield(ucd exit) on the stillorgan bypass back in 1974 over 40 years ago.
They will eventually cop it in Limerick not before serious pain and suffering on the part of the motorist that UL and surrounds will need it's own exit also. They have their head firmly stuck up their arse on this motorway business - downgrade it, and get on with the badly needed exits.

Down grade the M7? Are you mad? It's a national motorway, owned and operated by TII. The council have nothing to do with it, so couldn't downgrade it or add a junction even if they wanted to. Besides there isn't enough room between the current junctions to safely add another full junction for UL.

turbbo

Cookiemunster wrote: »

Down grade the M7? Are you mad? It's a national motorway, owned and operated by TII. The council have nothing to do with it, so couldn't downgrade it or add a junction even if they wanted to. Besides there isn't enough room between the current junctions to safely add another full junction for UL.

Boll0cks - lower the speed limit to 100. TII hand it over and stop calling the ring road around limerick a motorway as it isn't used as one.

dashoonage

turbbo wrote: »

Boll0cks - lower the speed limit to 100.

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhhhahahahahahaha

Cookiemunster

turbbo wrote: »

Boll0cks - lower the speed limit to 100. TII hand it over and stop calling the ring road around limerick a motorway as it isn't used as one.

There's no 'bollocks'. TII own every N road in the country. So even it it was downgraded to the N7, the council still wouldn't own it. And it's not a ring road around Limerick, it's part of the national motorway network, connecting Limerick with Dublin, Galway and (eventually) Cork.

Berty

So there's two inbound lane from after Finnegan's right the way to the daughters of charity where the bus lane starts again as normal.

That will help except for the fact those in the right lane will likely block those on the left thinking they're undertaking them.

Also the lights will need to change. If you're in the left today the filter to go left will come on and you will hold everyone up because you're not green to go straight.

Sometimes they don't fix the lights. Example. William Street where it crosses Gerald Griffin streets. The red man comes on on William Street when Gerald Griffin street can go but they're not turning down William Street (one way) so why Stop the pedestrian. That has been that way now 7 or so years.

dellas1979

Berty wrote: »

That will help except for the fact those in the right lane will likely block those on the left thinking they're undertaking them.

Yea-am not getting this "design"...I feel there is far more they could have done for this section of road.

All they are doing is bottle necking it.

And, here we go....doesnt the left lane have right of way if someone on right is trying to pull in?

turbbo

Cookiemunster wrote: »

There's no 'bollocks'. TII own every N road in the country. So even it it was downgraded to the N7, the council still wouldn't own it. And it's not a ring road around Limerick, it's part of the national motorway network, connecting Limerick with Dublin, Galway and (eventually) Cork.

My point is 90% of the traffic on that particular section starting from the exit at finnegans use it as a ring road. It's already very dangerous at the ballysimon exit and finnegans.

topper75

Berty wrote: »

So there's two inbound lane from after Finnegan's right the way to the daughters of charity where the bus lane starts again as normal.

I don't think the bus lane is needed when traffic is no longer backing up. Change the remaining stump of the bus lane to a regular lane I say. Then there are two full lanes from Finnegan's to the Tech Park entrance (the point where the morning inbound traffic effectively splits in two anyway).

Berty wrote: »

Also the lights will need to change. If you're in the left today the filter to go left will come on and you will hold everyone up because you're not green to go straight.

Spot on there. I wonder if they have foreseen this problem.

realdanbreen

topper75 wrote: »

The traffic lights are inappropriate there at the Murroe turnoff. No need for them as pedestrians almost never cross there.

A roundabout would work fine.

The Mackey roundabout has been a disaster from all approaches for some time now at rush hours. The backing up of motorway offramps isn't an inconvenience only - it is a safety issue.

They need to position a guard(preferably one not afraid to use a taser gun) at the Mackey roundabout. The amount of motorists sneaking up on the outside lane and then cutting in and taking the 2nd exit, on all approaches is unreal. Between catching them and drivers on phones the guard would bring in thousands every week.

Berty

topper75 wrote: »

Spot on there. I wonder if they have foreseen this problem.

Don't know. It happens in Cork on the Christy Ring Bridge. Both lanes turn right(facing the opera house) and the left lane only goes left. But if the filter comes on and somebody is in front of you turning right then tough luck.

Otherwise for Limerick it just means there will be no left turn from now on when murroe road is moving which will just send traffic back onto the roundabout undoing all the good work.

*le sigh

Cookiemunster

turbbo wrote: »

My point is 90% of the traffic on that particular section starting from the exit at finnegans use it as a ring road. It's already very dangerous at the ballysimon exit and finnegans.

Ever hear of the M50 or the M25 outside London? Motorways near or around cities worldwide have the same issue. It doesn't mean that they should be detrunked and have extra junctions added where there isn't space for them.

The biggest issue around Limerick is the total lack of any public transport options, not the road infrastructure.

turbbo

Cookiemunster wrote: »

Ever hear of the M50 or the M25 outside London? Motorways near or around cities worldwide have the same issue. It doesn't mean that they should be detrunked and have extra junctions added where there isn't space for them.

The biggest issue around Limerick is the total lack of any public transport options, not the road infrastructure.

I knew you'd start comparing limerick to london and then start talking about getting a monorail - aye dream on.

Cookiemunster

turbbo wrote: »

I knew you'd start comparing limerick to london and then start talking about getting a monorail - aye dream on.

So you're claiming to be psychic now are you? Do you want to actually counter my points or just throw some ridiculous comments my way? Nobody but you mentioned monorail. But a park and ride system and making use of the multiple rail lines around Limerick for commuter use are realistic things that could significantly reduce the amount of traffic on the M7 around Limerick.

turbbo

Cookiemunster wrote: »

So you're claiming to be psychic now are you? Do you want to actually counter my points or just throw some ridiculous comments my way? Nobody but you mentioned monorail. But a park and ride system and making use of the multiple rail lines around Limerick for commuter use are realistic things that could significantly reduce the amount of traffic on the M7 around Limerick.

Only messing - you make some good points on public transport etc. but I still think UL and the technology park should have gotten it's own exit.

The Specialist

turbbo wrote: »

I knew you'd start comparing limerick to london and then start talking about getting a monorail - aye dream on.

I've heard those things are awfully loud.

dashoonage

Hello I'm here about the monorail

topper75

realdanbreen wrote: »

They need to position a guard(preferably one not afraid to use a taser gun) at the Mackey roundabout.

Shooting fish in a barrel at €80 a pop if any cop wanted to make money for the state. :pac:

I was hoping the current scheme would address it but seems they have ignored the issue.

The last few mornings a good few cheeky dckheads have been cutting in, even when the correct queue (outer lane) had only 5 or 6 cars in it. I pull up to the bumper and refuse to let them in.

Berty

The thing about cutting in isn't always as cut and dry as you might think.

When the roundabout was being constructed they conditioned people from Newport to use the Inner Orbital lane for the Dublin road which was wrong and unhelpful and some still do it, others do it because they're dickheads.

If you come off the M7 and you want to go onto the Dublin road you need to be in the Inner Orbital lane as it's 3rd exit but most importantly after the 12 O'Clock position, same applies to those approaching from the old Dublin Road/Lisnagry/Castleconnell.

Now there are far too many cars who come out the Dublin road from the city who stay in the outer orbital lane in both rush and hour and non rush hour and take the M7 onramp Southbound towards Galway(let's say) which is completely absurb and incorrect. They do it because the traffic is so much backed up it's the safest and easiest than switching lanes after Newport so when it comes to non rush hour they still do the same thing nearly causing crashes.

This also happens with people coming off the M7 Northbound heading towards Newport. They stay in the outer orbital lane(wrong) and I'm next to them in the Inner Orbital lane and they pass the Castleconnell turn off and keep going. P*sses me off so I just switch on the indicator and take up my legal position to take the exit. Feck em.

THEN you have people in rush hour who are coming from both the city outbound or Castleconnell approach who are actually trying to get onto the Motorway towards Galway(lets say). The City drivers should stay in the inner lane until AFTER newport exit and then switch lanes(by the rules of the road) and the Castleconnell folk should stay in the Outer Orbital lane but the Castleconnell Folk(some of them and not people from Castleconnell - you know what I mean) sneak into the Inner orbital lane, passed the rush hour traffic in the other lane and they bully their way back into the outer lane and basically sneak passed about 20 cars.

Mein Gott I hate that roundabout.

yankinlk

topper75 wrote: »

The last few mornings a good few cheeky dckheads have been cutting in, even when the correct queue (outer lane) had only 5 or 6 cars in it. I pull up to the bumper and refuse to let them in.

Wow. U need to seek therapy if u think everyone in that lane is a dickhead. I recon there is only one and it's the sad sack trying to block anyone with their bumper. I drive that r/about every morning and almost always see good behaviour and kind people sharing the queue for Dublin road. Occasionally u see someone from the bypass trying to cut across the box and double back to Dublin road. Life's too short to get so angry.

Berty

yankinlk wrote: »

Occasionally u see someone from the bypass trying to cut across the box and double back to Dublin road. Life's too short to get so angry.

When you see a Silver Astra Saloon behind those people(because I'm heading to Newport after coming off the M7 slip) you will hear me standing on the horn. I drive both ways through that Roundabout during rush hour every morning and I don't abide that sh*te. :mad:

yankinlk

realdanbreen

Berty wrote: »

The thing about cutting in isn't always as cut and dry as you might think.

When the roundabout was being constructed they conditioned people from Newport to use the Inner Orbital lane for the Dublin road which was wrong and unhelpful and some still do it, others do it because they're dickheads.

If you come off the M7 and you want to go onto the Dublin road you need to be in the Inner Orbital lane as it's 3rd exit but most importantly after the 12 O'Clock position, same applies to those approaching from the old Dublin Road/Lisnagry/Castleconnell.

Now there are far too many cars who come out the Dublin road from the city who stay in the outer orbital lane in both rush and hour and non rush hour and take the M7 onramp Southbound towards Galway(let's say) which is completely absurb and incorrect. They do it because the traffic is so much backed up it's the safest and easiest than switching lanes after Newport so when it comes to non rush hour they still do the same thing nearly causing crashes.

This also happens with people coming off the M7 Northbound heading towards Newport. They stay in the outer orbital lane(wrong) and I'm next to them in the Inner Orbital lane and they pass the Castleconnell turn off and keep going. P*sses me off so I just switch on the indicator and take up my legal position to take the exit. Feck em.

THEN you have people in rush hour who are coming from both the city outbound or Castleconnell approach who are actually trying to get onto the Motorway towards Galway(lets say). The City drivers should stay in the inner lane until AFTER newport exit and then switch lanes(by the rules of the road) and the Castleconnell folk should stay in the Outer Orbital lane but the Castleconnell Folk(some of them and not people from Castleconnell - you know what I mean) sneak into the Inner orbital lane, passed the rush hour traffic in the other lane and they bully their way back into the outer lane and basically sneak passed about 20 cars.

Mein Gott I hate that roundabout.

I like to keep it simple,
Taking exit 1 or 2-left lane. Taking any exit after that- right lane. Forget about 'if exit is after 12 o'clock or whatever'.

topper75

Berty wrote: »

The thing about cutting in isn't always as cut and dry as you might think.

It is fairly cut and dried though Berty. The roundabout is poor but driver behaviour has been the real issue. I have witnessed all the scenarios you have outlined and am in agreement with you. On the upside, the Finnegans changes seem to have nullified a lot of the backup so here's hoping that continues.

yankinlk wrote: »

Wow. U need to seek therapy if u think everyone in that lane is a dickhead. I recon there is only one and it's the sad sack trying to block anyone with their bumper. I drive that r/about every morning and almost always see good behaviour and kind people sharing the queue for Dublin road. Occasionally u see someone from the bypass trying to cut across the box and double back to Dublin road. Life's too short to get so angry.

I didn't say EVERYONE using the lane was such. I said people who use it to jump the natural queue to get inbound to Finnegans are. I always block cheaters and urge others to do the same. But that somehow makes me a sack in you head? That sounds like therapy material.
You are talking about kind people. Be kind of you to join the queue, no?
If you chose the inner lane because you are important and queues aren't for you - jog on. Only reason to be there for citybound traffic is if you did so to avoid blocking onramp and had no choice. If there was room in the queue and you didn't join it - no sympathy.

Berty

topper75 wrote: »

On the upside, the Finnegans changes seem to have nullified a lot of the backup so here's hoping that continues.

Have you seen the lane markings/arrows on the outbound. The left lane needs to merge into the right lane even though the left lane should have priority as it existed first. Bit silly of them. A quick purge of the arrow and painting new ones would help I'd say.

Traffic this morning at 8:25am was non existent. It looked like 11am on a Sunday it was that eerily quiet.

topper75

Yes I noticed that arrow issue yesterday evening as I drove outbound in the left lane and found myself managing a quick check in the mirrors so I could swerve right to continue. Not intuitive to say the least.

All free flowing as it should be at 8:55am too. Long may it continue.

theblackstuff

The new markings really are confusing, the outbound merging of the two lanes makes no sense the way they have it set out.
And yesterday evening I notices a new hatched area on the inbound lanes just before the bus stop.
So you can drive through the junction but then have to merge back in before going back out and down into the village, seriously who dreamed this up!!!!
Oh and they must have a lot of yellow road paint to use up, yellow boxes anybody.

I worked in road design for 13 years and did up many traffic calming schemes, I would be embarrassed if I had anything to do with this.

carbonceiling

theblackstuff wrote: »

I worked in road design for 13 years and did up many traffic calming schemes, I would be embarrassed if I had anything to do with this.

it's working though. freeflow this morning and yesterday morning at 8.30 am.

theblackstuff

fair enough, but I'd argue that has more to do with the change in the traffic light timings.
Things really seemed to get bad on that section when they changed the sequence earlier in the year giving more priority to traffic right turning at the lights from town.

The Specialist

It's been eerily quiet for nearly a week now, I'm actually puzzled each morning coming down the empty M7 slip road and straight past Finnegans. Where has all the traffic gone? I can't see how any of the adjustments made have just magically cleared the utter chaos that was happening on the Mackey roundabout each morning.