The first permanent new road in the upgrade of the Red Cow interchange opens today, taking motorists from the N7 Naas Road to the M50 southbound without stopping at traffic lights.
The new free-flow loop will take motorists travelling from the Naas direction via the N7 centre lane directly to the M50 without the delay of traffic signals. However there is still significant disruption on other parts of the Red Cow roundabout due to the continuing upgrade work.
Major traffic diversions were put in place at the interchange two weeks ago with the closure of the southbound exit from the M50 at the Red Cow, for traffic heading west to the N7 road towards Kildare.
This traffic is being diverted further south to the Ballymount interchange from where it will head back along the northbound carriageway to the N7 access ramp.
The new loop road should however ease disruption, South Dublin County Council has said.
"This is the first of the permanent free- flow links at the Red Cow interchange to open to traffic," council engineer Edward Edge said. Free-flow links had also been opened at the N4 interchange with the M50 in the last few days, he added.
"As each new free-flow link is being completed, we are bringing them on stream so motorists at the N7 and N4 interchanges will see gradual improvements at these key interchanges during the coming months," Mr Edge said.
When the current upgrading works are completed next year, the N7 and N4 interchanges will both be free-flowing in all directions, the council said. The new Ballymount interchange will be open in November and the new N4 interchange in December this year.
Mr Edge has asked motorists to drive carefully at the interchange and to take time to familiarise themselves with the new road layouts.
