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Traffic delays expected this weekend as M7 diversions kick in

The speed limit will be reduced to 25km/hr in some parts.

MOTORISTS TRAVELLING THROUGH Kildare this weekend should expect delays as traffic restrictions on the M7 come into effect. 

Traffic has been directed onto new slip roads since 9pm yesterday evening and this will continue over the weekend. Motorists are being diverted onto these roads to facilitate the demolition of an existing overbridge on the motorway.  

During the peak travel times of 6am and 10pm today and tomorrow, traffic will return to using two lanes but a speed limit of 25km/h will be in force in some parts.  

The diversions come as part of the M7 upgrade project which will expand the road from two lanes to three lanes in a bid to ease congestion. 

In a statement, Gardaí said: “As part of the M7 upgrade project it is necessary to demolish an existing overbridge to facilitate the ongoing construction of the new Osberstown Interchange Junction 9a between junctions 9 (Naas North) and Junction 10 (Naas South).  This will affect traffic in both directions.

“Traffic will be directed around the area of the works via the newly constructed off/on slips of this new interchange. A cautionary speed limit of 25km/h will be in place through the new roundabout.

“Before 6am on Monday 1 April the demolition works will have been completed and traffic will return to the current mainline.”. 

The latest phase is expected to be completed in April with the project completed in full by early 2020. 

Kildare County Council has apologised to motorists and said “any inconvenience caused to the public is regretted”. 

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21 Comments
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    Mute Brian Dunne
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    Mar 30th 2019, 8:45 AM

    Fully completed early 2020?? Another year of it. Soul destroying every day

    100
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    Mute Joe Brennan
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    Mar 30th 2019, 9:02 AM

    @Brian Dunne: The main work on the M7 is due to finish in 4 weeks. The rest if the work is mainly around the Sallins bypass and the new junction 10 exits

    28
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    Mute ⚡ Seánie ⚡
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    Mar 30th 2019, 6:49 AM

    These boys would have it knocked out and be home within the first night…. https://youtu.be/KrPgXYrNGG4

    36
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    Mute Vocal Outrage
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    Mar 30th 2019, 9:57 AM

    @⚡ Seánie ⚡: except the video says it took them 21 days, and the chaos caused by trying to get 200 excavators up the N7?

    13
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    Mute Stingray Jones
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    Mar 30th 2019, 7:54 AM

    Surely an early April Fools joke? 25km/h is a ridiculously slow speed

    45
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    Mute DJ François
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    Mar 30th 2019, 8:21 AM

    @Stingray Jones: it is to do with worker safety.

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    Mute Finbarr Barry
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    Mar 30th 2019, 9:39 AM

    @Stingray Jones: advisory only… Not enforced… Limit is still 60 km/h

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    Mute Vocal Outrage
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    Mar 30th 2019, 9:59 AM

    @Finbarr Barry: from the article ‘speed limit in force of 25km/hr’. Key words being limit and force, but hey, it’s your speeding ticket

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    Mute Ian Breathnach
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    Mar 30th 2019, 10:25 AM

    @Vocal Outrage: Gardai said in yesterdays article it’s not enforceable but is advisory.

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    Mute Vocal Outrage
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    Mar 30th 2019, 10:43 AM

    @Ian Breathnach: about 2 years ago there were roadworks near where I lived, 50km/hr limit during works, temporarily dropped under an advisory limit to 25km/hr for 2 weekends, I got the ticket doing 40km/hr. Strangely enough the judge didn’t agree with your logic of it being un-enforceable, although, he didn’t increase the fine or points

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    Mute Finbarr Barry
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    Mar 30th 2019, 3:11 PM

    @Vocal Outrage: doubt you went to court as there must be a bye law to prosecute… Advisable speed limits do not have bye laws enacted

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    Mute Terry McSweeney
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    Mar 30th 2019, 3:43 PM

    @Finbarr Barry: if not enforceable you could still be done for dangerous driving

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    Mute Vocal Outrage
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    Mar 30th 2019, 7:16 PM

    @Finbarr Barry: ah, so you counter-argument is to simply call me a liar, very mature. Perhaps, just perhaps, you don’t understand the law as well as you think?

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    Mute kokonutter
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    Mar 30th 2019, 8:01 AM

    Ah here

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    Mute Humphrey Harold Haddington
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    Mar 31st 2019, 1:09 PM

    @kokonutter: i agree

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    Mute Michael Kavanagh
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    Mar 30th 2019, 10:00 AM

    Are some speed freaks (being polite) here seriously suggesting they want to barrel through busy roadworks ?

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    Mute Finbarr Barry
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    Mar 30th 2019, 8:50 AM

    25 km/h is an advisory… The speed limit is still 60 km/h

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    Mute Dean Anderson
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    Mar 30th 2019, 9:21 AM

    @Finbarr Barry: are you sure though? the traffic is getting diverted off onto sliproads &even on motorways sliproads have 50km /h speed limits.so 25 on a sliproad with roadworks going on sounds about right

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    Mute Finbarr Barry
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    Mar 30th 2019, 9:43 AM

    @Dean Anderson: The Minister for Transport issued a direction to road authorities under section 95(16) of the Road Traffic Act 1961 in February 2007 with respect to a range of non-regulatory traffic signs. Chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual was superseded by an updated version which allowed for the erection of signage stating a cautionary speed limit in the vicinity of Road Works. These speed limits are purposely different from legal speed limits and always display a speed limit that ends in 5, for example 35 km/h (22 mph), 45 km/h (28 mph), etc. They are not legally binding on drivers but it is likely that in the event of a road traffic accident that the issue of if they were being complied with, would be taken into account.

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    Mute Vocal Outrage
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    Mar 30th 2019, 10:01 AM

    @Finbarr Barry: again, use of the word limit, it would be termed something like maximum advisory speed, but a limit is just that, a limit

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    Mute Colm O'Sullivan
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    Mar 31st 2019, 7:25 AM

    No diversion in place this morning at 4am when I travelled that stretch. Sailed through it.

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