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| ==Route through Laois and Tipperary== | ==Route through Laois and Tipperary== | ||
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| Junction 17 on the N7 route (M7 motorway from ] to past Portlaoise) at ] marks the start of the N8 (see thumbnail). ], some 20 km south of this, is the first major settlement along the route. Indeed, the N8 passes through the centre of the town, via ''Stucker Hill'', ''Market Square'' and ''Main Street''. Further south again, the N8 passes through ], via ''The Square'', ''Castle Street'' and ''Patrick Street''. At Durrow, the ] joins the N8 from the south. After ], the route enters ], running through ] via ''Chapel Street'', ''The Square'' and ''Urlingford Road''. ] is the last town in County Kilkenny for the N8, before it enters ]. | Junction 17 on the N7 route (M7 motorway from ] to past Portlaoise) at ] marks the start of the N8 (see thumbnail). ], some 20 km south of this, is the first major settlement along the route. Indeed, the N8 passes through the centre of the town, via ''Stucker Hill'', ''Market Square'' and ''Main Street''. Further south again, the N8 passes through ], via ''The Square'', ''Castle Street'' and ''Patrick Street''. At Durrow, the ] joins the N8 from the south. After ], the route enters ], running through ] via ''Chapel Street'', ''The Square'' and ''Urlingford Road''. ] is the last town in County Kilkenny for the N8, before it enters ]. | ||
Revision as of 02:00, 28 August 2006
- In Belgium, the N8 is the old road from Brussels to Koksijde, passing Ninove, Oudenaarde, Kortrijk, Ypres and Veurne.
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The N8 road is a National Primary Route in the Republic of Ireland connecting Cork with Dublin (via the N7). The route commences just south of Portlaoise along the M7 motorway (N7), and reaches Cork via the midlands and Golden Vale of Ireland, through counties Laois, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Limerick and Cork. As of 2006 the general specification of the road would be regarded as below the western European standard for such a priority route.
Route through Laois and Tipperary
Junction 17 on the N7 route (M7 motorway from Naas to past Portlaoise) at Togher marks the start of the N8 (see thumbnail). Abbeyleix, some 20 km south of this, is the first major settlement along the route. Indeed, the N8 passes through the centre of the town, via Stucker Hill, Market Square and Main Street. Further south again, the N8 passes through Durrow, via The Square, Castle Street and Patrick Street. At Durrow, the N77 joins the N8 from the south. After Cullahill, the route enters County Kilkenny, running through Johnstown via Chapel Street, The Square and Urlingford Road. Urlingford is the last town in County Kilkenny for the N8, before it enters County Tipperary.
The N75, leaving the N8 at Turnpike provides access to nearby Thurles to the west. The N8 continues southwest through Littleton and Horse and Jockey, meeting the N62 from Thurles at the latter. Cashel is bypassed to the west by a 7 km dual carriageway opened in October 2004. South of this, the N8 passes through New Inn, and follows the single-carriageway Cahir Bypass around the north and west of Cahir, where it crosses the Limerick–Waterford railway line, and the corresponding N24 road.
N8 through Limerick and Cork
County Limerick is entered briefly at Kilbeheny, before the N8 enters County Cork on the approach to Mitchelstown. As of 2006, traffic on the N8 follows a relief road, opened in July 2006, around the north and west of the town, where it meets the N73 from Mallow. A more direct dual-carriageway bypass around the southeast of the town is planned.
South of Mitchelstown the N8 passes through Kilworth to reach Fermoy. Oliver Plunkett Hill, Pearse Square, McCurtain Street, Cork Hill and Cork Road bring the N8 through the town. The N72 Killarney–Waterford road joins and leaves the N8 in Fermoy. South of Fermoy the N8 passes through Rathcormac, before reaching the dual carriageway bypass of Watergrasshill (opened in September 2003). The dual carriageway continues into Cork city, bypassing Sallybrook and Glanmire. At Dunkettle Intake, the N8 meets the N25, the latter running south via the Jack Lynch Tunnel to a southern bypass of the city, and west to Waterford.
The N8 continues into Cork city via the Lower Glanmire Road, Water Street, Horgan's Quay, Penrose Quay, Brian Boru Bridge and Merchant's Quay (and the route returns via St. Patrick's Bridge, Bridge Street and McCurtain Street). The N8 ends where it meets the N22 at St. Patrick's Street.
M8 motorway and upgrades
A project is in planning as of 2006 to build motorway south of Portlaoise, with the N8 diverging from the M7 as the M8 motorway. This project, the Portlaoise/Castletown/Cullahill PPP Scheme, will extend motorway from Naas outside Dublin, to Cullahill on the N8. The motorways will be subject to toll south of Portlaoise. A further 40 km of dual carriageway is to be built between Cullahill and Cashel, connecting to the Cashel bypass opened in 2004. Construction is to begin on Cullahill to Cashel in 2006. Work is underway as of 2006 on 37 km of dual carriageway between Cashel and Mitchelstown, the Cashel/Mitchelstown Road Improvement project. 22 km of "high quality" dual carriageway is to be built from west of Mitchelstown to north of Fermoy, as part of a Mitchelstown/Fermoy project in planning.
The town of Fermoy, which experiences very heavy traffic congestion will be bypassed in 2007 (or possibly late 2006) by the 17.5 km Rathcormack - Fermoy Bypass which will be tolled. The route will be motorway standard, and designated the M8 motorway. The route will join the existing dual carriageway north of Watergrasshill. The project includes a 450 metre long viaduct over the Blackwater Valley.
References
- Roads Act 1993 (Classification of National Roads) Order 2006 (PDF)- Department of Transport
- Scheme Activity 2006 - National Roads Authority (details on projects under construction/due to begin)
- Major National Road Schemes in Planning - National Roads Authority (details on planned projects)
- M7 Portlaoise - Castletown & M8 Portlaoise - Cullahill Road Scheme - Laois County Council