MOTORISTS travelling using the M7 and M9 routes in the area of the interchange can expect some delays in the weeks ahead as work is undertaken to increase the capacity of the interchange.

A statement from Kildare Co Council said that Clonmel Enterprises Ltd has signed a contract with the council for the M7/M9 interchange remedial works project, which will commence this week and is expected to take 12 weeks.

The aim is to increase the capacity of the merge from the M9 onto the M7. At present, the M9 motorway reduces from two lanes to one lane immediately prior to merging with the M7 motorway.

According to the council statement, this can lead to extensive queuing on the M9 during peak hours. “The existing merge will remain and another merge for M9 to M7 will be added.  The existing merge will be maintained to allow for less interference during the construction of the project and to limit construction to the left hand side of the M9 merge and the M7 mainline,” the statement concluded.