M7 widening begins on Wednesday

Work to widen part of the M7 to three lanes begins on Wednesday, and will continue for two years, writes Brian Byrne.

The first phase of the work will be between Junctions 9/10, and will be carried out on the central median.

Speed limits will be lowered during the work.

The project is designed to keep two lanes of traffic flowing on both carriageways between 6am-10pm, using the hard shoulders as a lane.

The hard shoulders were reinforced some time ago to facilitate this.

The €50m project will also involve construction of two new interchanges and the replacement of an access bridge.

One of the interchanges, at Osberstown, will facilitate a new bypass of Sallins. The other, south of and replacing the current Junction 10 at Newhall, will provide more efficient access both to Naas South and Newbridge and eliminate chronic congestion on the off-ramp at the present Junction.

The third lane on each side will be made mostly by eliminating the grass centre margin, minimising the necessity for compulsory purchase of land.

The three lanes will run as far as the junction with the M9.