N9 road
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- In Belgium, the N9 is the old route from Brussels to Ostend, passing Aalst, Ghent, Eeklo and Bruges.
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The N9 road is a National Primary Route in the Republic of Ireland running from Junction 11 (was 9) on the N7 (M7 at this point), located near Kilcullen, County Kildare, to Waterford city. The route connects Dublin and Waterford.
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[edit] Route
The initial part of the road, a 6 km spur from the M7 motorway, is of motorway standard and designated the M9 motorway (or Kilcullen Bypass). This begins at Junction 11 of the M7, just southwest of Newbridge (see thumbnail), and on the southwest side of Kilcullen. Prior to the 1993 opening of the Newbridge bypass, the N9 had run from Naas (west of the current M9). The previous route is now the R448.
At the southwestern side of Kilcullen, the N78 from Athy joins the N9 (the proposed N9 upgrade includes a new, shorter link round from Athy). The N9 continues south through Kilgowan, past Ballitore, the R747, Timolin, Moone and through Castledermot in County Kildare. North of Carlow, the N9 crosses the N80 before proceeding through the town via Dublin Road, Green Lane, Shamrock Square, Barrack Street, Riverside and Kilkenny Road. Further south, the N9 crosses the River Barrow bypassing Leighlinbridge to the west, and continuing south to pass west of Muine Bheag, then entering County Kilkenny.
At Whitehall the N10 road diverges west/southwest to serve Kilkenny. The N9 passes through Gowran, Dungarvan, Thomastown, and further on, just north of Ballyhale the N10 rejoins the N9, having proceeded south from Kilkenny. Lukeswell, Mullinavat and Dunkitt lie along the route south towards Waterford. At Granny, the N24 from Limerick joins the N9, with the N9 proceeding into Waterford via Newrath Road, Sallypark and Terminus Street, ending at the junction with the N25 (Cork–Rosslare) at Brother Ignatius Rice Bridge on the north bank of the River Suir.
[edit] Upgrade plans
The National Development Plan included plans for a motorway from Dublin to Waterford. These plans have now been modified so that a high-quality dual carriageway, rather than a motorway, will be built. An environmental impact assessment was published in October 2003 and a CPO issued in November 2003 for the 46km dual-carriageway forming the northern part of the Kilcullen–Waterford route, from Kilcullen, County Kildare to Powerstown, County Carlow. An EIS was published and a CPO issued in February 2005 for the 64km southern section of the upgraded route, from Powerstown to Waterford.
The southern section of route differs more from the existing N9 alignment than most of the national road upgrade projects in recent years. The N10 at present provides a link to Kilkenny, to the west of the N9. The new alignment of the N9 will pass further west, closer to Kilkenny, with a new shorter N10 link being constructed on the northeast side of Kilkenny. The existing N10 will remain for the link southeast of Kilkenny.
As of 2006, a 19km (12 miles) dual carriageway bypass of Carlow is under construction. This forms the southern half of the first N9 dual carriageway project, with construction of the 19 km northern half (Kilcullen - North Carlow) to commence later in 2006. Construction on the first 24km (15 miles) section (Carlow - Knocktopher) of the Powerstown to Waterford route is also to begin later in 2006.
A bypass of Waterford is also under construction as of 2006, as part of the N25 that currently passes southeast/northwest through the city. As part of the project, the existing N9 will link to a new section of N9 dual carriageway that will join the N25 dual carriageway north of the city.
[edit] Standard of the N9
The section of the road between South Carlow and Waterford is politically very contentious. Whilst the N9 is the primary route, at the start of the N10 in Paulstown the N10 maintains the high standard of finish and width, whilst the N9 is reduced to a windy boreen. The from Paulstown to Waterford takes 50 minutes to one hour to travel. It is perceived in Waterford, that Kilkenny County Council has not sought to maintain and develop the road as it would lead to services moving to Waterford City. This is associated with a boundary depute between Waterford City and Kilkenny County Council.[citation needed]
[edit] References
- Roads Act 1993 (Classification of National Roads) Order 2006 (PDF)- Department of Transport
- N9 - N10 Kilcullen to Waterford Road Scheme - Kilkenny County Council and Kildare National Roads Design Office.
- Scheme Activity 2006 - National Roads Authority (road projects under construction or to start 2006)
| National primary roads of the Republic of Ireland |
|---|
| N1(M1) - N2 - N3(M3) - N4(M4) - N5 - N6(M6) - N7(M7) - N8(M8) - N9(M9) - N10 - N11(M11) - N12 - N13 - N14 - N15 - N16 - N17 - N18 - N19 - N20 - N21 - N22 - N23 - N24 - N25 - N26 - N27 - N28 - N29 - N30 - N31 - N32 - N33 - M50 |
| Roads in Ireland - National secondary roads - Regional roads |
| See also: National Development Plan, National Roads Authority |
