M7 motorway (Republic of Ireland)
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- This article concerns the M7 motorway in the Republic of Ireland.
There is an M7 motorway in Hungary, too (see M7) as well as in Sydney, Australia (see Westlink M7).
| M7 motorway | |
 |
|
| Part of National Route |  |
| Length | 63 km (40 miles) |
| Direction | Northeast-Southwest |
| Start | (N7 from Dublin) Naas |
| Primary destinations | Newbridge, County Kildare, Monasterevin, Portlaoise (N8 to Cork) |
| End | Mountrath (N7 to Limerick) |
| Construction dates | 1983 (Naas Bypass/J7-J8) 1993 (Newbridge Bypass/J8-J10) 1997 (Portlaoise Bypass) 2003 (Kildare Bypass) 2004 (Monasterevin Bypass) - |
| Motorways joined | 11 -  M9 motorway |
| Other National Routes joined | 16 - N80 road 17 -  N8 road |
| Euroroute(s) |  |
The M7 motorway (Mótarbhealach M7 in Irish) is a motorway in Ireland that runs continuously from the outskirts of Naas to south of Portlaoise. The M7 forms part of the N7 National Primary Route. The section of the motorway bypassing Naas, an 8 km (5 mi) stretch (see thumbnail), was the first section of motorway to open in the Republic of Ireland in 1983.
[edit] Route
Junction numbers now start at J9. J11 is a restricted junction, there is no access for non-motorway traffic, and traffic from the M9 may only access the eastbound carriageway - to access the westbound carriageway, they must travel to J8 and exit and re-enter the motorway there.
Until summer 2006, junction numbers started at 7, although only the first five junctions were numbered. This junction numbering scheme was devised when it was believed that a motorway would be built from Naas to the yet-to-be-constructed Junction 8 on the M50. While a motorway reservation still exists, it is now unlikely to be built, having being superseded by the widening of the N7 between Newlands Cross and Naas to three lanes and the grade separation of this section. The junction numbers were renumbered to fit into this scheme in July/August 2006.
| M7 Motorway | ||
| Southbound | Junction | Northbound |
| Start of motorway | 9 (was 7) | Naas R445 |
| Newbridge, Caragh and Togher services | 10 | Newbridge, Caragh and Togher services |
| The SOUTH EAST M9 | 11 | No access |
| The Curragh | 12 | The Curragh, Newbridge R445 |
| Kildare, Nurney R415 | 13 | Kildare Nurney R415 |
| Monasterevin | 14 | Monasterevin |
| Portarlington, Emo, The Heath | 15 | Portarlington, Emo, The Heath |
| Carlow, Tullamore, Portlaoise N80 | 16 | Carlow, Tullamore, Portlaoise N80 |
| Cork, Cashel, N8 | 17 | Cork, Cashel, N8 |
| End of motorway | - | Start of motorway |
[edit] Future upgrades
The next sections of the existing N7 route due to be bypassed and replaced by motorway is a section of route south of Portlaoise (a joint route project with the M8 diverging half-way along is planned), traversing the Great Heath of Maryborough. A burial site from the 7th century has been uncovered along the route south/west of Portlaoise, with more than 500 skeletons uncovered. The NRA have been accused of "desecrating" the site after removing the remains. [1]. The M7/M8 joint project is also likely to be tolled. Under this project, the M7 will be extended to Castletown. This extension will bypass both Mountrath and Castletown.
A section of the N7 route from Limerick to Nenagh is also due to be constructed as a high quality dual carriageway. This project is the subject of considerable local controversy, with the main detractions being the prospect of it being tolled, and/or the necessity for a full motorway along that route. Like many of the new routes under construction it has been decided (perhaps as a result of the controversy) to build this route as high quality dual carriageway, to effectively the same engineering standard as a motorway, but without the Motorway Regulations that go with it. This means that prohibited traffic such as slow vehicles and pedestrians will be permitted and signage and road markings will be to national road, not motorway specifications. Also emergency telephones will not be required. As of 7th December 2006, the Limerick–Nenagh dual carriageway is under construction. See the N7. The Nenagh bypass will be rebuilt as a standard dual carriageway, as this will be constructed by widening the existing bypass. A new junction will also be added. This is being constructed as part of the Limerick-Nenagh scheme. The final scheme, the Castletown-Nenagh scheme, which will include a (second) bypass of Roscrea, is currently planned as an HQDC.
On 29 January 2008 the NRA proposed to the Minister for Transport per the Roads Act 2007 that the Castletown - Nenagh and Nenagh-Annacotty schemes should be redesignated motorway. This if approved (following a public consultation process) would lead to a continuous motorway between Naas and Annacotty, which would become the longest motorway in the country (overtaking the M1 motorway, which is currently the longest at 83km).
The construction of the M7 south of Portlaoise, between Castletown and Nenagh is due to be completed in 2009.
[edit] References
- Roads Act 1993 (Classification of National Roads) Order 2006 (PDF)- Department of Transport
- M7 Portlaoise - Castletown scheme website
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