De Tunnel

[CharlieManson]

Why put up a link when you can just put up the article or parts of?

It is 2024 after all.

Whatever Granddad

 

[markyboy]

I was coming from Cobh side and hoped to go to the city centre, took the wrong turn and had to go to Mahon Point to turn around in their car park to get back through the tunnel to head to town

 

[Stromovka]

Was taking the Dublin exit this morning and twas backed up past the turnoff from the tunnel at about half 9.

Id hate to be heading that direction at rush hour

I was heading to Dublin this morning and sailed through the Dunkettle at 11am.

*smug look*

 

[CharlieManson]

I was heading to Dublin this morning and sailed through the Dunkettle at 11am.

*smug look*

Id rather not ever be on the Dublin road tbh.

 

[Stromovka]

Id rather not ever be on the Dublin road tbh.

I'm in Dublin for 3 days and dreading driving around the city centre.

 

[Meridian]

Some of you here should be prosecuted for not driving with due care and attention.

I have used that intersection more or less daily, even a few times a day and I have never had any issues there.

 

[Padraig Mor]

All in all they have done a good job on this project with the exception of east to west, they've made a hames of that.

I work in little Island and it's a nightmare anywhere near 4 o clock on wards.

While that is arguably true in certain respects, the main issue is that the traffic split is not 50/50 - East/West is more like 75% of the traffic. This causes huge problems at the tunnel westbound as all that traffic is funneled down to 50% of the road space (one lane) approaching the tunnel. Add in the inevitable effects of merging three busy lanes together in a couple of hundred metres and the issue is obvious - inappropriate design. This problem is structural - it cannot be solved while maintaining free flow absent an additional tunnel bore. I think it's a scandal TBH - what was the point of spending quarter of a billion when the experience of the average user has not improved? Those saying it's much better are likely coming from the M8 southbound.

 

[Pooman]

While that is arguably true in certain respects, the main issue is that the traffic split is not 50/50 - East/West is more like 75% of the traffic. This causes huge problems at the tunnel westbound as all that traffic is funneled down to 50% of the road space (one lane) approaching the tunnel. Add in the inevitable effects of merging three busy lanes together in a couple of hundred metres and the issue is obvious - inappropriate design. This problem is structural - it cannot be solved while maintaining free flow absent an additional tunnel bore. I think it's a scandal TBH - what was the point of spending quarter of a billion when the experience of the average user has not improved? Those saying it's much better are likely coming from the M8 southbound.

Another problem they didn't factor in was that the increased flow of traffic East-West in the morning through the tunnel just pushes the problem onto Bloomfield which is now a bottleneck most mornings at peak times.

 

[Meridian]

While that is arguably true in certain respects, the main issue is that the traffic split is not 50/50 - East/West is more like 75% of the traffic. This causes huge problems at the tunnel westbound as all that traffic is funneled down to 50% of the road space (one lane) approaching the tunnel. Add in the inevitable effects of merging three busy lanes together in a couple of hundred metres and the issue is obvious - inappropriate design. This problem is structural - it cannot be solved while maintaining free flow absent an additional tunnel bore. I think it's a scandal TBH - what was the point of spending quarter of a billion when the experience of the average user has not improved? Those saying it's much better are likely coming from the M8 southbound.

As far as I know, the design of the intersection was worked around the tunnel and its capacity which is now way beyond what it was ever designed for.
There is a plan that the tunnel will be replaced with a bridge as that tunnel is leaking constantly and that is why these night time closures are becoming more frequent.
Most of us that use the intersection that are not coming from the East during the morning and evening rush hours, think it is a great design. For example, I have noticed when coming through the tunnel from the N40 I am no longer having to stop in traffic in the actual tunnel, most of the time, I am going through the intersection non stop, which is perfect from a design perspective.
Is it crap the way that the approach to the intersection from the East has so many lanes filtering into a single one, absolutely it is, but i have to ask, has anyone here any better design than the way that is now ? Surely in all logic it is the limitation of the tunnel is the issue rather than the intersection.

 

[Meridian]

Another problem they didn't factor in was that the increased flow of traffic East-West in the morning through the tunnel just pushes the problem onto Bloomfield which is now a bottleneck most mornings at peak times.

Just wait until the M28 traffic is filtering Westbound at Bloomfield, that area will become a car park during the morning rush hour.