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 While a motorway reservation still exists, it is now unlikely to be built, having being superseded by the widening of the N7 between Newlands Cross and Naas to three lanes and the grade separation of this section.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).

• In June 2007, construction commenced on a 28 km section of the M7 motorway between portlaoise and castletown. It includes a tie-in to the new 155 km M8 motorway that is also under construction. It will run between junctions 18 and 21 on the N7/M7 corridor and bypass Borris-in-Ossory. The project is due to be finished in 2010. The project will be subject to toll north of the new M7/M8 interchange.

• In March 2008, construction comenced on a 36km section of the M7 route between Castletown and Nenagh. It will tie in to the portlaoise-castletwon scheme mentioned above at the Borris-in-Ossory junction. When complete, it will run between junctions 21 and 24 on the N7/M7 corridor. This scheme was origanlly planned to proceed as a high quality dual carriageway which would have seen it built to the same engineering standard as a motorway, but without the motorway regulations that go with it (no slow vehicles, L drivers etc.). However, a statuary instrunment passed on July 17th of this year, re-desigating this and many other new HQDC schemes as motorway. Now, when this scheme is complete in late 2010, it will open with full motorway regulations and the appropiate signage and road-markings.

• In December 2006, construction commenced on a new 38km section of motorway between Nenagh and Castletown. It will tie into the Castletown-Nenagh scheme mentioned above. The scheme consists of two integral parts:

> The upgrading of the existing single carriageway Nenagh-bypass to standard dual-carriageway standard. The length of this scheme is 10 km and stretches between junctions 24 and 26.

> The construction of 28 km of new motorway between the Nenagh-bypass and existing Limerick southern-ring road.

The scheme was originally going to be constructed as high-quality dual carriageway but was re-designated motorway on July 17th of this year. The upgraded Nenagh-bypass is included, but a 100 kmp/h speed limit will continue to apply. The scheme is expected to be completed in mid-2009.

• Upon completion, the M7 will be approximately 175 km (110 mi) long, making it the longest motorway in the state. If various other schemes on the N7 were to be re-designated motorway, the route could reach up to 200 km in length.

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 [1]
Coolfin (Restricted, local access, nr Aghaboe)	20	Coolfin (Restricted, local access, nr Aghaboe)
Borris-in-Ossory	21	Borris-in-Ossory	Q3 2010 [2]
Roscrea	22	Roscrea
Moneygall	23	Moneygall
Toomevara, Nenagh (R445)	24	Toomevara, Nenagh (R445)
Knockalton, Nenagh, Thurles (R498)	25	Knockalton, Nenagh, Thurles (R498)	Q2 2009 [3]
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 [4]
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