M7 motorway (Ireland)

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).

Naas By-Pass

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 8km stretch (see thumbnail), was the first section of motorway to open in the Republic of Ireland in 1983.

Route

Dublin - Naas(non motorway)

This is the section of non-motorway high-grade dual carriageway that leads into the M7 motorway. This article does not concern that section. For information on the N7 route as a whole, see N7 Route.

Naas - Portlaoise

The N7 leads directly into the M7 motorway at the maudlin's interchange near Naas. This is junction 9 on the N7/M7 corridor. The 60 km motorway ends at portlaoise (junction 18).

The motorway was constructed between 1983 and 2004, to replace the old national route which ran through the villages and towns of Naas, Newbridge, Kildare, Monasterevin and Portlaoise. There are junctions provided to all of these towns and villages, and the old route has been re-classified as a regional road. There is also a restricted access junction (junction 11), leading to the M9 motorway for Waterford. The junction permits access from the M9 to eastbound carriageway of the M7. Westbound movements must travel to junction 8, 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 While a motorway reservation still exists, it is now unlikely to be built, having being superseded by the widening of the N7 between Newlands Cross and Naas to three lanes and the grade separation of this section.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.

Future

Sections under construction

As of 2008, all sections yet to be completed are under construction. By the end of 2010, the M7 motorway will be completed and will include up to 18 junctions (running from junction 9 to junction 27 on the N7/M7 corridor).

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.

Junctions

N7 National Primary Route (Dual Carriageway)
Northbound exit	Junction	Southbound exit
M50 motorway		N/A
Newlands Cross (at grade); Belgard Road for Tallaght; Fonthill Road for Clondalkin (R113)	-	Newlands Cross (at grade); Belgard Road for Tallaght; Fonthill Road for Clondalkin (R113)
Kingswood Interchange: Outer Ring Road (R136)		Kingswood Interchange: Outer Ring Road (R136)
Citywest Road (N82)		Citywest Road (N82)
Rathcoole		Rathcoole
Steelstown Interchange: Steelstown		Steelstown Interchange: Steelstown
Castlewarden Interchange: Castlewarden (R445)		Castlewarden Interchange: Castlewarden (R445)
Kill Interchange: Kill (R445)		Kill Interchange: Kill (R445)
Johnstown Interchange: Johnstown (R445)		Johnstown Interchange: Johnstown (R445)
M7 Motorway
Northbound exit	Junction	Southbound exit
Maudlin's Interchange: Naas, Sallins (R445)		Maudlin's Interchange: Naas, Sallins (R445)
Newbridge, Caragh and Togher services		Newbridge, Caragh and Togher services
No access		The SOUTH EAST (M9 ) - Kilkenny, Carlow, Waterford, Athy
The Curragh, Newbridge (R445)		The Curragh
Kildare, Nurney (R415)		Kildare Nurney (R415)
Monasterevin (R445)		Monasterevin (R445)
Portarlington, Emo, The Heath (R423)		Portarlington, Emo, The Heath (R423)
Portlaoise (R445) (Carlow, Tullamore, N80)		Portlaoise (R445) (Carlow, Tullamore, N80)
Cork, Cashel (N8); Portlaoise (R423)		Cork, Cashel (N8); Portlaoise (R423)
Portlaoise (R445)		No access
M7 Motorway (Under Construction)
Northbound exit	Junction	Southbound exit	Completion
No access		The SOUTH (M8 ) - Cork, Cashel, Fermoy	Q4 2010 [2]
Coolfin (Restricted, local access, nr Aghaboe)	20	Coolfin (Restricted, local access, nr Aghaboe)
Borris-in-Ossory	21	Borris-in-Ossory	Q3 2010 [3]
Roscrea	22	Roscrea
Moneygall	23	Moneygall
Toomevara, Nenagh (R445)	24	Toomevara, Nenagh (R445)
Knockalton, Nenagh, Thurles (R498)	25	Knockalton, Nenagh, Thurles (R498)	Q2 2009 [4]
Carrigatoher, Nenagh (R445)	26	Carrigatoher, Nenagh (R445)
Birdhill	27	Birdhill
N7 National Primary Route
Northbound exit	Junction	Southbound exit
Annacotty, Limerick (R445), Newport (R503)	28	Annacotty, Limerick (R445), Newport (R503)
Ballysimon (N24)	29	Ballysimon (N24)
Rossbrien (N20)	30	Rossbrien (N20)
Under Construction
Northbound exit	Junction	Southbound exit	Completion
Dock Road (N69)	31	Dock Road (N69)	Q4 2010 [5]
Shannon Tunnel
Coonagh West	32	Coonagh West
End of N7, start of N18

References

• Roads Act 1993 (Classification of National Roads) Order 2006 (PDF)- Department of Transport
• M7 Portlaoise - Castletown scheme website