M9 motorway (Ireland)
- For M9 motorway in Scotland, please click here.
Template:IRL motorway routebox
The M9 motorway (Template:Lang-ga) is a motorway in Ireland, forming part of the N9 Dublin to Waterford national primary road. Currently, the motorway exists in two parts: the 6 km Kilcullen bypass and the 18.5 km Carlow bypass. Prior to July 2008, the majority of the M9 – from Junction 2 onwards – was to be built as High Quality Dual Carriageway (HQDC). However, due to the passing of a Statutory Instrument in that month, a large section of the route was re-designated to motorway standard. The section included the motorway under construction between Kilcullen and Powerstown and the (then) newly-opened Carlow bypass. The remainder of the route has since been redesignated.
Route
M7 to Kilcullen
The M9 begins at Junction 11 (previously Junction 9) on the M7 motorway. This junction is a restricted access interchange, allowing traffic from the M9 to enter only the eastbound carriageway. There is no access to the M9 from the M7 eastbound. The route continues for 6km before it merges into the existing N9 road. The section runs between Junctions 1 and 2 on the M9 corridor.
Carlow Bypass
This 18.5 km (11 mi) section of motorway opened on the 29 May 2008 and runs between Junctions 4 and 6 on the M9 corridor. It provides a bypass of Carlow and allows access to the N80 for Rosslare and the R448 for Leighlinbridge.[1]
Although the Carlow bypass carried the blue signage associated with motorways from the day it opened (minus the 'motorway-regulations' signs), it had not been under motorway restrictions until September 24th. This meant that drivers were required to obey a 100 km/h speed limit and that all forms of traffic were free to use the road.[2] As of September 24th 2008 this section has become under motorway regulations, following the passing of statutory instrunment. The speed limit increased to a standard 120 km/h motorway limit and all motorway restrictions are being enforced.
Junctions
| M9 Motorway | |||
| Northbound exit | Junction | Southbound exit | |
The NORTH EAST (M7  )
|
|
Start of motorway | |
| Kilcullen, Athy (N78) | 
|
Kilcullen, Athy (N78) | |
| M9 Motorway (Under Construction) | |||
| Northbound exit | Junction | Southbound exit | Completion |
| Athy | 
|
Athy | 2009 [1] |
| M9 Motorway | |||
| Northbound exit | Junction | Southbound exit | |
| Carlow (R448) | 
|
Carlow (R448) | |
| Carlow, Rosslare (N80) | 
|
Carlow, Rosslare (N80) | |
| Leighlinbridge (R448) | 
|
Leighlinbridge (R448) | |
| M9 Motorway (Under Construction) | |||
| Northbound exit | Junction | Southbound exit | Completion |
| Paulstown, Gowran (R448) | 
|
Paulstown, Gowran (R448) | Q4 2010 [2] |
| Kilkenny | 
|
Kilkenny | |
| Kilkenny (N10) | 
|
Kilkenny (N10) | |
| Knocktopher (R699) | 
|
Knocktopher (R699) | |
| Mullinavat (R448) |
|
Mullinavat (R448) | Q3 2009 [3] |
| Limerick, Clonmel (N24) | 
|
Limerick, Clonmel (N24) | |
| Cork, Dungarvan, New Ross, Wexford (N25) | 
|
Cork, Dungarvan, New Ross, Wexford (N25) | Q3 2009 [4] |
| End of M9 at Waterford City | |||
Future
Sections under construction
As of 2008, all sections yet to be completed are under construction. By the end of 2010, the M9 motorway will be complete and will include up to 13 junctions.
- Construction of 27km of motorway linking the Kilcullen bypass with the Carlow bypass began in February 2008. Originally scheduled to be completed in late 2010, on 28 January 2009 it was announced that the scheme would open to traffic by the end of this year.[3][4] When finished, it will run between Junctions 2 and 4 on the M9 corridor. The scheme is being built by Roadbridge Ltd.
- Construction is also ongoing since 2008 on 40km of motorway between Carlow and Knocktopher. This section will include a link road to Kilkenny, part of which will most likely be designated motorway due to the nature of the interchange design. This scheme is also expected to be finished in late 2010; when complete, it will run between Junctions 6 and 10 on the M9 corridor.[5]
- Work is progressing well on the Waterford-Knocktopher section of the M9 route. This section is 24km long and will run between Junctions 10 and 13 on the M9 corridor. It will include a tie-in to the new N25 Waterford bypass when complete in 2009.[6]
- When complete, the M9 will be approximately 116.5km (73 mi) in length.
Proposed Service Areas
The National Roads Authority (NRA) plans to construct Motorway Service Areas at approximately 60 kilometre intervals along each of Ireland's interurban routes. Under this plan, the M9 will have two such areas. The first will be located near the M7/M9 interchange between Junctions 1 and 2. The second will be located south of Carlow near Bagenalstown, between Junctions 7 and 8 (see here, p.25[7]). The EIS for the M9 Kilcullen Motorway Service Area is now available at the NRA website (scroll down to the bottom here).[8]
As of January 2009, no details regarding the construction of the other M9 service area have been announced.
References
- ^ http://www.nra.ie/RoadSchemeActivity/KildareCountyCouncil/N9N10CarlowBypass/SchemeName,15480,en.html
- ^ http://www.transport.ie/viewitem.asp?id=10193&lang=ENG&loc=2270
- ^ http://www.nra.ie/RoadSchemeActivity/KildareCountyCouncil/N9N10KilcullentoCarlow/SchemeName,15481,en.html
- ^ http://www.nra.ie/News/PressReleases/htmltext,15949,en.html
- ^ http://www.nra.ie/RoadSchemeActivity/KilkennyCountyCouncil/N9N10CarlowKnocktopherKilcullenWaterford/SchemeName,15473,en.html
- ^ http://www.nra.ie/RoadSchemeActivity/KilkennyCountyCouncil/N9N10WaterfordKnocktopherKilcullenW/SchemeName,15474,en.html
- ^ http://www.nra.ie/Publications/ServicesAreasEIS/M1SouthMotorwayServiceArea/file,14391,en.pdf
- ^ http://www.nra.ie/Publications/EISPublications/