M8 motorway (Ireland)

This article conerns the M8 Motorway in the Republic Of Ireland To view information about the M8 Motorway in England, see M8 Motorway The road is incomplete and forms part of the N8 National Road in Ireland. If you would like to view information about that instead, see N8 Template:IRL motorway routebox

The M8 motorway (Mótarbhealach M8 in Irish) is a motorway in Ireland forming part of the N8 Dublin - Cork National Route. Currently, the motorway exists in two parts: the 10.9 mile-long Fermoy-Rathcormac bypass and the 23 mile-long Cashel-Mitchelstown scheme.

M8 Fermoy - Rathcormac

This section of the M8, known as the M8 (Toll) , is a toll road bypassing both Fermoy and Rathcormac, linking up to the Watergrasshill Bypass. It contains junctions 14 to 17. There are toll plazas located between junction 16 and 17 and at junction 15 southbound exit. The current toll for cars is €1.80. The road is operated by Direct Route.

The M8 (Toll) ends at junction 17 where it meets the N8 Wategrasshill bypass. There are plans to re-designate the Watergrasshill Bypass to motorway standard, although a 100 kmp/h speed limit would have to be kept between junctions 18 and 19.

M8 Cashel - Mitchelstown

This stretch of motorway was fully opened on July 25th 2008 for public use, some 10 months ahead of schedule. 12 km of this 23 mile stretch had already opened for public use several months prior to this. The previously opened stretch was located between Cahir and Cashel and provided HQDC between the two towns. The stretch of motorway runs between junctions 9 and 12 on the M8 Corridor.

Though, the section between Cahir and Mitchelstown carries motorway signage, it is not officially a motorway. This is reflected by the lack of 'motorway ahead' signs and the covering up of the 'motorway end' signs at each junction. The motorway also has a 100 kmp/h speed limit imposed upon it.

This problem will be solved from September 24th 2008 following the this stretch of road's official designation as motorway by statutory instrunment in July 2008. After that date, a 120 kmp/h speed limit will apply and all other motorway restrictions will be in place.

The statutory instrunment also affects other parts of both the existing M8 corridor and the yet-to-be-finished M8 corridor. The existing HQDC between Cahir and Mitchelstown will have its existing green gantry signage replaced by blue signage. The Cashel Bypass will also have its signage replaced following its re-designation as motorway.

Other schemes on the M8 corridor also affected are the Fermoy-Mitchelstown and Cashel - Urlingford segments. Both of these will open as motorway, rather than HQDC, as was originally intended.

Future of the M8

By 2010 the M8 motorway will be completed and will include up to 19 junctions. As of the 2008, all sections yet to be completed are under construction and are progressing well. The next section to be opened is most likely the Cullahill to Cashel section, which some say may open as early as December 2008.

After that, the Mitchelstown - Fermoy section will open and then finally the Portlaoise - Cullahill section. The final section is unique in two regards. One, it will a PPP scheme and will be subject to toll. Secondly, it will include the only motorway-to-motorway junction on the M8 route. The junction will be with the M7 motorway, south of portlaoise. It will be a limited access interchange, similar to the M7/M9, M6/M4 junctions that exist already in Ireland.

Junctions

M8 Motorway (Under Construction)
Northbound exit	Junction	Southbound exit	Completion
The NORTH EAST (M7 ) - Dublin, Portlaoise, Kildare, Naas		Start of M8	Q4 2010 [1]
Local access		Local access
Rathdowney, Abbeyleix (R433), Durrow (R434)		Rathdowney, Abbeyleix (R433), Durrow (R434)
Urlingford, Johnstown (R639)		Urlingford, Johnstown (R639)	Q2 2009 [2]
Two-Mile Borris (R639), Thurles (N75)		Two-Mile Borris (R639), Thurles (N75)
Horse and Jockey (R639), Thurles (N62)		Horse and Jockey (R639), Thurles (N62)
M8 Motorway
Northbound exit	Junction	Southbound exit
Cashel (R639)		Cashel (R639)
Cashel, Clonmel (R668)		Cashel, Clonmel (R668)
Cashel, New Inn (R639)		Cashel, New Inn (R639)
Cahir, New Inn (R670)		Cahir, New Inn (R670)
Cahir, Mitchelstown Caves, Kilcoran		Cahir, Mitchelstown Caves, Kilcoran
Mitchelstown, Kilbeheny (R639)		Mitchelstown, Kilbeheny (R639)
M8 Motorway (Under Construction)
Northbound exit	Junction	Southbound exit	Completion
Mitchelstown (R639)		Mitchelstown (R639)	Q1 2010 [3]
M8 Motorway
Northbound exit	Junction	Southbound exit
End of motorway		Start of motorway
Fermoy, Rathcormac (R639)		Fermoy (R639)
Rathcormac (R639)		No access
Toll plaza
Watergrasshill (R639)		Watergrasshill (R639)
N8 Dual Carriageway
Northbound exit	Junction	Southbound exit
Glanmire (R639)		Glanmire (R639)
Waterford, Midleton, Lee Tunnel (N25)		Waterford, Midleton, Lee Tunnel (N25)
End of N8 at St. Patrick's Quay

References

• Motorway Re-designation: http://www.transport.ie/viewitem.asp?id=10193&lang=ENG&loc=2270