M17/M18 - Gort to Tuam [open to traffic]

marno21 · 23-06-2017 8:39pm

sdanseo wrote: »

It won't be a national road surely? Won't it be re-designated RXXX?

They may keep a 100km/h limit on it though. I'd say there'd be uproar if they don't and national guidelines - widely and pathetically ignored by councils - state that if it has wide shoulders it should stay at 100km/h.

The N17 from Bothar na dTreabh to the Kilmore roundabout south of Tuam is being redesignated the N83, which will presumably secure its 100km/h being kept.

There's plans for a bus corridor along part of the route so that part of the route will likely be reduced.

Damiencm · 23-06-2017 10:22pm

Jumping in here as I have tried to search the thread without sifting through the whole thing without success!

Can anyone tell me how many km it will be from Gort to the intersection with the Dublin/Galway motorway, I think its the Rathmorrisey interchange?

Also how far apart are the Killtiernan and Rathmorrisey junctions?

spacetweek · 23-06-2017 11:03pm

Damiencm wrote: »

Jumping in here as I have tried to search the thread without sifting through the whole thing without success!

Can anyone tell me how many km it will be from Gort to the intersection with the Dublin/Galway motorway, I think its the Rathmorrisey interchange?

Also how far apart are the Killtiernan and Rathmorrisey junctions?

The answer to the first is 27km, the second hard to know exactly but probably about 16k.

m17 · 24-06-2017 11:40am

The m17 at the annagh hill footbridge looking towards rathmorrisy with line painting now complete 23/06/17

looking towards tuam

the slip road

Truckermal · 24-06-2017 1:34pm

What's with the concrete section between the barrier and road?

m17 · 24-06-2017 1:43pm

Truckermal wrote: »

What's with the concrete section between the barrier and road?

that's if they want to do work on the footbridge in the future,so the don't have to close the motorway

m17 · 24-06-2017 1:59pm

The kilmore roundabout 23/06/17

wotzgoingon · 24-06-2017 3:02pm

First time look,ing at this thread and have to say great pics by M17.

I have a few questions is the Tuam bypass opened yet? (Just the bypass section) On the N17 from Claremorris road roundabout to the other side of Tuam on the N17 to Galway.

Also anyone any idea when the full road will be opened by any dates giving yet?

sdanseo · 24-06-2017 6:07pm

wotzgoingon wrote: »

First time look,ing at this thread and have to say great pics by M17.

I have a few questions is the Tuam bypass opened yet? (Just the bypass section) On the N17 from Claremorris road roundabout to the other side of Tuam on the N17 to Galway.

Also anyone any idea when the full road will be opened by any dates giving yet?

A few dates have been given by M17 & explanations by marno, basically summarised as
-bypass August Bank Holiday
-whole road ready early September
-whole road open early November because the department won't fund operating costs for it opening ahead of schedule.

m17 · 24-06-2017 9:27pm

The m17 at kilseagh looking towards rathmorrisy 23/06/17

kilseagh looking towards tuam

m17 · 25-06-2017 2:11pm

RATHMORISSY 22/08/15

25/06/17

m17 · 25-06-2017 3:50pm

The m17 at cloonkeen north looking towards tuam 25/06/17

cloonkeen north looking towards rathmorrisy

glineli · 25-06-2017 5:52pm

Looks like wearing course is down at Kiltiernan southbound lane.

Victor · 25-06-2017 6:17pm

Truckermal wrote: »

What's with the concrete section between the barrier and road?

The barrier is interfering with the line of sight, so they can't have cars (other vehicles have a higher sitting position) right next to the barrier. It's more to see the road surface that to see other vehicles.

Victor · 25-06-2017 6:23pm

marno21 wrote: »

The N17 from Bothar na dTreabh to the Kilmore roundabout south of Tuam is being redesignated the N83, which will presumably secure its 100km/h being kept.

So the state is spending hundreds of millions building a motorway, but the state (not the council) will retain full responsibility for the existing road?

Galway is doing a speed limit review at the moment, so the existing N17 can be looked at anyway - it doesn't need to be a national route.

m17 · 25-06-2017 8:40pm

The m17 at kileelaun looking towards rathmorrisy 25/06/17

kileelaun looking towards tuam

roadbridge have only 700 metres of the wearing course left to do which the will have done by tomorrow

marno21 · 25-06-2017 10:47pm

Victor wrote: »

So the state is spending hundreds of millions building a motorway, but the state (not the council) will retain full responsibility for the existing road?

Galway is doing a speed limit review at the moment, so the existing N17 can be looked at anyway - it doesn't need to be a national route.

Yes indeed. After May 2017 you'll have a national secondary route shadowing the N17, for no apparent reason other than that it used to be the N17. Don't think this has happened anywhere else in the country once, let alone twice.

The N67 will also be extended along the current N18 as far as Galway from the junction in Kilcolgan.

Of course the real reason the N17 is becoming a national secondary is:

1. We all know the M17 isn't going to solve the Claregalway problem and Galway CoCo don't want to have to stump up for the inevitable Claregalway Relief Road.
2. Galway CoCo complaining they can't maintain the existing N17, N18 and N66 due to fund shortages. Does that mean we'll be seeing the same situation in Wexford when the M11 and N25 open? Tipperary etc have had no issue taking on substantial sections of the N7, N8, N24, N74 & N75.

26-06-2017 12:33am

marno21 wrote: »

1. We all know the M17 isn't going to solve the Claregalway problem and Galway CoCo don't want to have to stump up for the inevitable Claregalway Relief Road.
2. Galway CoCo complaining they can't maintain the existing N17, N18 and N66 due to fund shortages. Does that mean we'll be seeing the same situation in Wexford when the M11 and N25 open? Tipperary etc have had no issue taking on substantial sections of the N7, N8, N24, N74 & N75.

1. This road will be built after the Motorway opens. That's old news. As for
2. That's nothing more than politicking for more funding. This is nothing new when councils have to take on more work. Just look at the grass cutting mess

marno21 · 26-06-2017 12:50am

Deleted User wrote: »

1. This road will be built after the Motorway opens. That's old news. As for
2. That's nothing more than politicking for more funding. This is nothing new when councils have to take on more work. Just look at the grass cutting mess

Yes, but what I'm saying is the State are paying around €250m for a motorway to bypass Claregalway along with the €593m Galway bypass to solve this mess. Given the urgent roads needs elsewhere, Galway CoCo should be told to jog on and fund their own Claregalway relief road if they want. I don't see why the National Roads Authority has to maintain and upgrade a regional road shadowing a motorway, serving a small village on the outskirts of Galway city.

It hasn't happened elsewhere so I see no need for it to happen here.

It seems to be a Galway thing. Wanting an airport with 2 within 45 minute drives, railways and motorways to here there and eveywhere so that people can live in massive ribbon developments along approach roads and expecting the State to stump up for all of this.

wotzgoingon · 26-06-2017 12:53am

marno21 wrote: »

1. We all know the M17 isn't going to solve the Claregalway problem and Galway CoCo don't want to have to stump up for the inevitable Claregalway Relief Road.

I use the N17 to get to Galway but when the new M17 is built I will more than likely take the M17 from Tuam and then take the M6 into Galway. I will travel both ways one day old N17 and M17 and time and calculate the distance and see which one is better.

BelfastVanMan · 26-06-2017 1:14am

marno21 wrote: »

Victor wrote: »

So the state is spending hundreds of millions building a motorway, but the state (not the council) will retain full responsibility for the existing road?

Galway is doing a speed limit review at the moment, so the existing N17 can be looked at anyway - it doesn't need to be a national route.

Yes indeed. After May 2017 you'll have a national secondary route shadowing the N17, for no apparent reason other than that it used to be the N17. Don't think this has happened anywhere else in the country once, let alone twice.

The N67 will also be extended along the current N18 as far as Galway from the junction in Kilcolgan.

Of course the real reason the N17 is becoming a national secondary is:

1. We all know the M17 isn't going to solve the Claregalway problem and Galway CoCo don't want to have to stump up for the inevitable Claregalway Relief Road.
2. Galway CoCo complaining they can't maintain the existing N17, N18 and N66 due to fund shortages. Does that mean we'll be seeing the same situation in Wexford when the M11 and N25 open? Tipperary etc have had no issue taking on substantial sections of the N7, N8, N24, N74 & N75.

Does that mean the R446 from Roscam to Oranmore (old N6) will be redisgnated N67 as well?

marno21 · 26-06-2017 1:21am

wotzgoingon wrote: »

I use the N17 to get to Galway but when the new M17 is built I will more than likely take the M17 from Tuam and then take the M6 into Galway. I will travel both ways one day old N17 and M17 and time and calculate the distance and see which one is better.

I'll expand here a little. Given the likelyhood of major traffic issues at the Coolagh roundabout on the N6, it may be felt by many that there's little advantage to using the M17 to go to Galway at peak times, especially with the extra difference and the guaranteed lessening of traffic in Claregalway (there will no longer be N18 originating traffic going through Claregalway so it will def be lighter).

marno21 · 26-06-2017 1:25am

BelfastVanMan wrote: »

Does that mean the R446 from Roscam to Oranmore (old N6) will be redisgnated N67 as well?

Likely so. Here's what we know so far.

* N18 from Kilcolgan to Gort will be a continuation of the R458 which currently runs from Shannon to Gort (old N18)
* N18 from Kilcolgan to Oranmore will become N67. I presume this will continue to the N6 at the Coolagh roundabout.
* N18 from Oranmore to Claregalway will become the R381.
* N17 from Bothar na dTreabh to Tuam will become the N83
* N17 through Tuam will likely be now an L road
* N63 from Annagh Hill to Loughgeorge will become the R354.
* N66 from Gort to Loughrea was planned to be detrunked entirely owing to it being a glorified boreen along most of its length. I haven't heard anything about it in a while although Galway CoCo may be kicking up a stink about this one too seeing as they probably want a realigned bridge near Kilchreest but "can't afford it". For all N18 -> N6 traffic not just Gort-Loughrea traffic (which in fairness would be deserving a regional road, neither are large towns), it's faster to use the M18 and M6 via Rathmorrissey (for example going from Ennis to Athlone).

Victor · 26-06-2017 4:09am

wotzgoingon wrote: »

I use the N17 to get to Galway but when the new M17 is built I will more than likely take the M17 from Tuam and then take the M6 into Galway. I will travel both ways one day old N17 and M17 and time and calculate the distance and see which one is better.

Note that the motorway will be much better for fuel consumption - less braking and acceleration.

m17 · 26-06-2017 9:46am

wotzgoingon wrote: »

I use the N17 to get to Galway but when the new M17 is built I will more than likely take the M17 from Tuam and then take the M6 into Galway. I will travel both ways one day old N17 and M17 and time and calculate the distance and see which one is better.

At the moment the n17 kilmore roundabout to galway city 31.8kms,in November when the m17 opens the kilmore roundabout to galway city m17/m6 will be 45.2kms

veryangryman · 26-06-2017 9:53am

m17 wrote: »

At the moment the n17 kilmore roundabout to galway city 31.8kms,in November when the m17 opens the kilmore roundabout to galway city m17/m6 will be 45.2kms

Jaysus the 14K extra will really eat into the cost-benefit. Even with decent speed on most of the journey, your hitting Parkmore traffic in morning if you use the m17.

I can't see a significant move to this for city-centre or westbound traffic. I guess this is not news to anyone. Bring on the bypass.

m17 · 26-06-2017 10:04am

The m17 4kms form tuam looking towards rathmorrisy 26/06/17

looking towards tuam

the jersey barrier

serfboard · 26-06-2017 12:46pm

marno21 wrote: »

* N18 from Kilcolgan to Gort will be a continuation of the R458 which currently runs from Shannon to Gort (old N18)
* N18 from Kilcolgan to Oranmore will become N67. I presume this will continue to the N6 at the Coolagh roundabout.

There are Wild Atlantic reasons why the N18 should stay an N road. No such reason exists for the (soon to be) N83 though. In fact the whole N83 (including the new section) should be detrunked.

marno21 wrote: »

Tipperary etc have had no issue taking on substantial sections of the N7, N8, N24, N74 & N75.

Maybe, but what are the traffic volumes like on those roads now?

And compare that to what the traffic will be like on the N83 (old N17) when the motorway is finished. A few mornings of sitting in traffic on the M6 on the outskirts of Galway (possibly as far back as Oranmore) will result in people using the old road again.

In the absence of the Galway Bypass, Galway Co Co obviously successfully argued that the Tuam->Galway road will still have substantial volumes.

I could imagine that TII might have agreed to the N83 designation until the Galway Bypass is built, but that's speculation on my part.

veryangryman · 26-06-2017 1:06pm

serfboard wrote: »

In the absence of the Galway Bypass, Galway Co Co obviously successfully argued that the Tuam->Galway road will still have substantial volumes.

I could imagine that TII might have agreed to the N83 designation until the Galway Bypass is built, but that's speculation on my part.

I'd say it would be easier to progress on the Claregalway bypass if it remained an N road. I think Lusk is the only example i can find of an R road getting one in the whole country.

L1011 · 26-06-2017 2:32pm

Sallins (starting imminently). Graiguenamanagh. There are others too

M17/M18 - Gort to Tuam [open to traffic]

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