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

m17 · 07-08-2017 12:14pm

The m18 500 metres form the gort exit 07/08/17

marno21 · 07-08-2017 12:16pm

m17 wrote: »

The m18 500 metres form the gort exit 07/08/17

Wow. No more N66 in that case, redesignated R380?

restive · 07-08-2017 12:26pm

When is this opening?

paul2013 · 07-08-2017 3:20pm

marno21 wrote: »

Wow. No more N66 in that case, redesignated R380?

So that means the whole lot of the signs between Gort and Loughrea have to be removed and put up again with a white background. Such a waste of MONEY!! :eek:

marno21 · 07-08-2017 3:28pm

paul2013 wrote: »

So that means the whole lot of the signs between Gort and Loughrea have to be removed and put up again with a white background. Such a waste of MONEY!! :eek:

Not as much of a waste of money as trying to maintain a glorified boreen to 100km/h traffic running standards, especially when it has one of the worst stretches of national road in the country east of Kilchreest including a deplorable bridge.

Signing all N18 -> N6 traffic via Rathmorrissey is the correct thing to do. It's a bit longer but more consistent regarding travel times and a lot more safer.

The N66/R380 as a regional road with 80km/h limit makes sense.

paul2013 · 07-08-2017 3:47pm

marno21 wrote: »

Not as much of a waste of money as trying to maintain a glorified boreen to 100km/h traffic running standards, especially when it has one of the worst stretches of national road in the country east of Kilchreest including a deplorable bridge.

Signing all N18 -> N6 traffic via Rathmorrissey is the correct thing to do. It's a bit longer but more consistent regarding travel times and a lot more safer.

The N66/R380 as a regional road with 80km/h limit makes sense.

I know its a horrible road to travel on as its as rough and the bridge in Kilchreest before Loughrea town is an absolute nightmare when your pulling a tanker of milk and meet someone with a Merc that will not stand back to let you over this bridge. I was talking to someone today and apparently the junction on the M6 aka Rathmorrissey. The TII built the toll plaza at Cappataggle there to apparently help pay for the Dublin sized junction.

m17 · 07-08-2017 4:29pm

The m18 gort to rathmorrissy part one 07/08/17 gort looking towards Limerick

gort looking towards rathmorrissy

coole park looking towards gort

coole park looking towards rathmorrissy

coole park flyover

bat bridge

raheen/kiltartan looking towards gort

raheen/kiltartan looking towards rathmorrissy

raheen/kilkelly looking towards gort

raheen/kilkelly looking towards rathmorrissy

ballymaquiff looking towards gort

ballymaquiff looking towards rathmorrissy

owenbristy looking towards gort

owenbristy looking towards rathmorrissy

parkatleva looking towards gort

wotzgoingon · 07-08-2017 4:34pm

Is there going to be a toll on this new M17/18?

One thing I hate about driving from Galway to Dublin is the two tolls. You would think one would be enough.

m17 · 07-08-2017 4:51pm

The m18 part two parkatleva looking towards rathmorrissy

kiltiernan looking towards gort

kiltiernan looking towards rathmorrissy

caranavooduan looking towards gort

caranavooduan looking towards rathmorrissy

tourghtrassa looking towards gort

tourghtrassa looking towards rathmorrissy

rinn looking towards gort

rinn looking towards rathmorrissy

parknacuappuil looking towards gort

parknacuappuil looking towards rathmorrissy

coldwood looking towards gort

coldwood looking towards rathmorrissy

gortroe

end of the m18 at rathmorrissy

these pics are for you guys who have made this one of the best road forums on board's and with 1,159,018 views to date we must be doing something right yours m17

joedomvince · 07-08-2017 5:33pm

wotzgoingon wrote: »

Is there going to be a toll on this new M17/18?

One thing I hate about driving from Galway to Dublin is the two tolls. You would think one would be enough.

No, no toll until you get to the Limerick tunnel

Truckermal · 07-08-2017 5:37pm

paul2013 wrote: »

I know its a horrible road to travel on as its as rough and the bridge in Kilchreest before Loughrea town is an absolute nightmare when your pulling a tanker of milk and meet someone with a Merc that will not stand back to let you over this bridge. I was talking to someone today and apparently the junction on the M6 aka Rathmorrissey. The TII built the toll plaza at Cappataggle there to apparently help pay for the Dublin sized junction.

Why would a Guard be pulling a tanker of milk?

paul2013 · 08-08-2017 1:39am

Truckermal wrote: »

Why would a Guard be pulling a tanker of milk?

Well I've met many a Mercedes people drive again a tanker of milk on this particular bridge and the Mercedes has usually ended up with no mirrors

VR6 · 08-08-2017 9:19am

M17 you are a real star. I follow this thread daily for updates even though I know nothing about the area and live in the UK.
We really need your equivalent on the M11 Enniscorthy thread, and also the New Ross bypass !
As for the M20 and Metro North .......
Many thanks for your great work.

DJ

08-08-2017 12:01pm

paul2013 wrote: »

Well I've met many a Mercedes people drive again a tanker of milk on this particular bridge and the Mercedes has usually ended up with no mirrors

Your grasp of the English language is hurting my wing mirrors

m17 · 08-08-2017 1:19pm

The slip road at rathmorrissy linking the m6 to the m18 08/08/17

Roadfan · 08-08-2017 3:03pm

On the subject of no tolls. This was a factual error FRANK McDonald made in his article on Irish Times of21 August 2014. Suggested that compensation would have to be paid to the Direct Route consortium if traffic levels didn't reach projections. He referenced this happening n Limerick Tunnel and M3 but I'm taking it this doesn't arise on Gort tuam as no tolls and a different funding mechanism.? The article in question seemed to be a hatchet job on what is a welcome and vital new piece of infrastructure.

marno21 · 08-08-2017 6:58pm

Roadfan wrote: »

On the subject of no tolls. This was a factual error FRANK McDonald made in his article on Irish Times of21 August 2014. Suggested that compensation would have to be paid to the Direct Route consortium if traffic levels didn't reach projections. He referenced this happening n Limerick Tunnel and M3 but I'm taking it this doesn't arise on Gort tuam as no tolls and a different funding mechanism.? The article in question seemed to be a hatchet job on what is a welcome and vital new piece of infrastructure.

As you say, not an issue on this scheme due to lack of hard tolls. Payment method is via availability payments as part of a DBFOM contract (design build finance operate and maintain). Full details are available on ppp.gov.ie

Mint Sauce · 08-08-2017 7:06pm

Am definitely tempted to drive to Limerick for no reason what so ever in November. Not that I would have any reason to drive there anyway.

:pac:

m17 · 08-08-2017 7:33pm

The m17 at castlelambert looking towards rathmorrisy 08/08/17

castlelambert looking towards tuam

sisk have 6kms of line painting left to do on the southbound and northbound lanes and the cat's eye's and that will be the m17 completed

unit 1 · 08-08-2017 7:46pm

Great thread m17, now for the question thats been bugging me.
Is there a reason for the distinctive design of the bat bridge as opposed to what we normally see. Even if there is a clue in the name I wonder does it really make a differnce, it is nice btw.

m17 · 08-08-2017 8:02pm

unit 1 wrote: »

Great thread m17, now for the question thats been bugging me.
Is there a reason for the distinctive design of the bat bridge as opposed to what we normally see. Even if there is a clue in the name I wonder does it really make a differnce, it is nice btw.

Here's the top of the bat bridge it's for bats how have nests on both sides of the motorway

D Trent · 08-08-2017 11:58pm

m17 wrote: »

Here's the top of the bat bridge it's for bats how have nests on both sides of the motorway

Let the batstards pay for it Jesus we can't be shelling out for them.

#talktoJoe

youngblood · 09-08-2017 10:21am

Coming off at Gort the last day, the sign said road opening early 2018,did I read that right?

Benbecul97 · 09-08-2017 10:45am

unit 1 wrote: »

Great thread m17, now for the question thats been bugging me.
Is there a reason for the distinctive design of the bat bridge as opposed to what we normally see. Even if there is a clue in the name I wonder does it really make a differnce, it is nice btw.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bxgpi7cNMlFVMGpfbGRRd3BWN0E/view

m17 · 09-08-2017 10:51am

youngblood wrote: »

Coming off at Gort the last day, the sign said road opening early 2018,did I read that right?

Yes you did,they are three months ahead of schedule it will open on the 24th of November but the official opening will be Feb 18

youngblood · 09-08-2017 11:29am

Thats amazing, thank you,
often go between loughrea and gort to get to ennis, will I be able to stay on galway road now and join this motorway to go to ennis? Coming from dublin that is

marno21 · 09-08-2017 12:05pm

youngblood wrote: »

Thats amazing, thank you,
often go between loughrea and gort to get to ennis, will I be able to stay on galway road now and join this motorway to go to ennis? Coming from dublin that is

Yes you would. Much better than the N66. Get off the M6 at J18 and use the new M18 to get to Ennis

m17 · 09-08-2017 1:45pm

The m17 1km form tuam 09/08/15

09/08/17

paul2013 · 09-08-2017 4:21pm

Did anyone see the 2 T.I.I. cars going on the new Motorway this morning in Gort at 11am? They were testing it apparently and it took 22mins to 25mins to get from the new M18 Gort to M17 Tuam. As I was just speaking with the road workers on site. What's the current time on the N18 north of Gort to the N17 Tuam via Claregalway

Benbecul97 · 09-08-2017 4:28pm

paul2013 wrote: »

Did anyone see the 2 T.I.I. cars going on the new Motorway this morning in Gort at 11am? They were testing it apparently and it took 22mins to 25mins to get from the new M18 Gort to M17 Tuam. As I was just speaking with the road workers on site. What's the current time on the N18 north of Gort to the N17 Tuam via Claregalway

1 hour, if you're lucky - depends on the time of day too of course.

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

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