COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

QUESTION NO. 10

QUESTION: Councillor G. O'Connell

"To request the Manager to write to the NRA requesting that the single continuous white line at the M50 intersection for traffic merging from the M50 North be extended over the brow of the hill to a point west of where the two lanes coming from the R148 merge?"

REPLY:

The provision of a continuous white line at the M50 Interchange between the R148 and the M50 southbound traffic (from the M50 north of the junction) will remove any opportunity traffic coming from the R148 have to utilise spare capacity in the lane from the M50. Such a proposal will have some significant and perhaps unintended consequences.

This will unnecessarily reduce traffic on the N4 west of the M50 as only one of traffic from the R148 could approach the N4. The M50 southbound to N4 will have exclusive capacity as it will be protected from sharing its lane prior to the R148 forming one lane where the bus lane commences. All this will be at the expense of capacity on the R148 which will be constrained to the capacity of a single lane. Due to this reduced capacity additional congestion will be encountered for traffic from Dublin city centre heading to Lucan for both motorist and bus passenger. Such congestion will make alternative routes significantly more attractive, specifically Kennelsfort Road Upper, Coldcut Road and Fonthill Roads. The R148 is the most appropriate road for through traffic.

It is considered best to retain the road markings on the R148 at the M50 in their current configuration. It is recommended not propose any modification.