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

Fozzie Bear · 27-10-2017 8:33am

ELCAT2009 wrote: »

I wonder is that the same one i saw on the old Dublin road in galway near merlin park on Monday also i think. it was a blue / navy van with English plates and a load of white equipment on the roof. It said "Apple maps" on it

No, not the same one I saw, my one was a black estate car.

m17 · 27-10-2017 9:03am

The m18 at parknacuappuil 11/02/17

just before opening 27/09/17

red bull · 27-10-2017 9:42am

Fozzie Bear wrote: »

No, not the same one I saw, my one was a black estate car.

Thats the Valeo car

what_traffic · 27-10-2017 11:13am

Ath trasna wrote: »

As for people getting buses from rural towns, that's a non runner as well with the current system, was in Clarinbridge a few weeks back dropping my daughter to the bus at 8:00am the bus passed by without stopping, it was full so 10-12 people, mainly students were left waiting for the next bus or ringing parents/family to try and get to work/college on time. Because of this lack of reliability my kids have often had to get earlier buses just to be sure they are in on time for exams etc.

This is a very good example and is exactly what needs to be addressed.

terrarev · 27-10-2017 12:19pm

I agree with the people who say public transport needs a big focus to fix the issues in Galway, at the moment it's practically non existent in any kind of useful way.

A bug bear of mine is the train service from commuter towns outside Galway. The price just does not encourage people to leave the car behind.

A return trip for one person from Oranmore is nearly 9€ for a 10min journey and from Athenry it's nearly €12 for 20mins. It's doing nothing to encourage people to leave the car behind, especially if there's more than one person going in. The train is a great option for people if it's priced right as it's a reliable quick way straight to the city centre. A better pricing structure would go a long way to encourage people going into the city centre to leave their car behind.

The bus a lot of the time is as bad as the car because it ends up stuck in traffic with everyone else.

m17 · 27-10-2017 1:50pm

RATHMORRISSY 16/04/16

02/09/17

munchkin_utd · 27-10-2017 1:50pm

A rail ticket from Athenry to Galway under the tax saver scheme costs €827, which if you use it 48 weeks of the year is €17.20 per week, or €3.40 per day, or €1.70 each way, which is far less than the €12 walk up return fare.

terrarev · 27-10-2017 3:13pm

Which is a fine option if you work in the city centre and can take the train nearly every day for 48weeks a year and I've no doubt many people use that option. For anybody else trying to get into the city centre your only option is the walk-up fare. The problem with that kind of one off fare is that it creates the mindset that public transport isn't a realistic option so people don't even consider it.

There are loads of half empty trains travelling from Athlone to Galway outside of peak hours. Why not make fares more realistic and try to encourage people onto the train? I just can't see the reason for a €12 return fare from Athenry to Galway

m17 · 27-10-2017 3:45pm

M18 gort 10/09/17

27/10/17

carlfleming · 28-10-2017 2:14pm

kippy wrote: »

Google maps is essentially a Free application. Expecting fast updates is a bit much.
Not sure how the automated cars will work but assume there will be some disclaimer there or better maps once theres a payment associated with it.

I’ve done a number of journeys in the Athenry - Oranmore - Tuam vicinity in the past couple of days, and have found the Waze navigation app to be pretty good for timings and routings using the new motorway. The geometries are pretty good, so journey times are accurate enough. However, the voice instructions are inaccurate. e.g. M6 westbound - when it’s navigating you for Tuam, it neglects to say take the exit and keep right (for the roundabout). It just says in x hundred meters keep right while you’re still on the M6 mainline.

tombrown · 28-10-2017 2:40pm

Don't Google own Waze now?

m17 · 28-10-2017 2:43pm

Kiltiernan 27/10/17

rathmorrissy

m17 · 28-10-2017 2:53pm

carlfleming wrote: »

I’ve done a number of journeys in the Athenry - Oranmore - Tuam vicinity in the past couple of days, and have found the Waze navigation app to be pretty good for timings and routings using the new motorway. The geometries are pretty good, so journey times are accurate enough. However, the voice instructions are inaccurate. e.g. M6 westbound - when it’s navigating you for Tuam, it neglects to say take the exit and keep right (for the roundabout). It just says in x hundred meters keep right while you’re still on the M6 mainline.

I see they have the n67 ending at oranmore,it ends at the coolough roundabout,and they still have the n66 gort to loughrea

m17 · 28-10-2017 5:45pm

The m17 at ballybanagher 7kms form tuam 13/02/16

27/09/17

funnyname · 28-10-2017 8:16pm

Any chance you have a photo of the two lanes merging into one for those coming off the roundabout and those coming directly from the other motorway?

m17 wrote: »

RATHMORRISSY 16/04/1602/09/17

m17 · 28-10-2017 8:28pm

funnyname wrote: »

Any chance you have a photo of the two lanes merging into one for those coming off the roundabout and those coming directly from the other motorway?

RATHMORRISSY 11/08/17

JupiterKid · 29-10-2017 5:11am

Galway is literally being choked to death with traffic and it will get to the point where the attractiveness and competitiveness of the city will take a nosedive.

It's clear that the geography of the city, where too many roads converge on the city from the East is partially to blame, but the elephant in the room is shocking rates of car dependency, fuelled by a free for all in terms of one-off rural housing over the past 20 years. It's all very well to suggest better public transport options from the surrounding towns to the city - and that is worth exploring and actioning but what of the massively dispersed development throughout Galway's hinterland where the provision of public transport is utterly unviable?

I know that might leave a bad taste in many people's mouths but that is the stark fact of the matter. Free for all planning has created the legacy of a Galway choking to death with traffic.

Galway is not a big city - so why can't people afford to live in the city proper and not be forced to commute by car from 20, 30 or 40km away? It's absurd.

m17 · 29-10-2017 1:35pm

JupiterKid wrote: »

Galway is not a big city - so why can't people afford to live in the city proper and not be forced to commute by car from 20, 30 or 40km away? It's absurd.

It's all down to the house prices,renting in Galway is a joke that's why people are forced to commute up to 40kms away,Galway needs a outer bypass badly as there hasn't been a bridge over the corrib since 1985, but unfortunately that's a other 6 years away until then we'll have to make do

MBSnr · 29-10-2017 9:23pm

JupiterKid wrote: »

Galway is not a big city - so why can't people afford to live in the city proper and not be forced to commute by car from 20, 30 or 40km away? It's absurd.

Some of us aren't forced by any reason, but make it our choice to live elsewhere other than the city or suburbs.

I'd agree though that the lack planning and lack of a structured integrated public transport system, will result in Galway's traffic just getting worse.

m17 · 30-10-2017 2:40pm

The m17 7kms form tuam 11/01/15

27/09/17

m17 · 30-10-2017 6:46pm

RATHMORRISSY 24/11/15

30/10/17

chrismon · 30-10-2017 7:29pm

m17 wrote: »

It's all down to the house prices,renting in Galway is a joke that's why people are forced to commute up to 40kms away,Galway needs a outer bypass badly as there hasn't been a bridge over the corrib since 1985, but unfortunately that's a other 6 years away until then we'll have to make do

40kms. More like 80kms for me and many more.

JCX BXC · 30-10-2017 8:04pm

chrismon wrote: »

40kms. More like 80kms for me and many more.

80km? Why is there any need to live so far? Shannon is 80km from Galway!

chrismon · 30-10-2017 8:42pm

JCX BXC wrote: »

80km? Why is there any need to live so far? Shannon is 80km from Galway!

Saving for a house, it's the cheapest option at the moment.

i_steal_sheep · 30-10-2017 9:06pm

chrismon wrote: »

40kms. More like 80kms for me and many more.

I'm 89KM each way. Have been doing it for 10 years. Big changes over that time. Used to take 25 mins or even 30 mins less once upon a time. Supportive employer though so work from home whenever I need.

sonnyblack · 31-10-2017 9:25am

Drove this new road for the first time at the weekend. Mightily impressed. Knocked 30 minutes off my journey. Good surface. Impressed by bat bridge. The only gripe I would have, unrelated to new road, is that traffic volumes coming into Milltown & Ballindine have increased enormously. It's tough on the villagers living there. It's less than 28 kms to the Claremorris bypass from Tuam. I'd say the next target for western politicians will be to get the motorway extended this distance

dubhthach · 31-10-2017 10:29am

Well there use to be a Tuam to Claremorris scheme which would have been 2+2, it was canned during the recession (Galway County Council have redacted everything form their webpage)

However in grand scheme of the 'Western Corridor' in my opinion the M20 should have preference first, with any emphasis in Galway been on the outer bypass. Though I imagine they could at least start up basic planning/design on the N17 scheme.

yew_tree · 31-10-2017 12:29pm

sonnyblack wrote: »

Drove this new road for the first time at the weekend. Mightily impressed. Knocked 30 minutes off my journey. Good surface. Impressed by bat bridge. The only gripe I would have, unrelated to new road, is that traffic volumes coming into Milltown & Ballindine have increased enormously. It's tough on the villagers living there. It's less than 28 kms to the Claremorris bypass from Tuam. I'd say the next target for western politicians will be to get the motorway extended this distance

I have heard the restaurants and filling stations in Milltown and Ballindine have seen an up surge in customers. The Supermacs in Ballindine which was always very busy anyway must be a goldmine.

pigtown · 31-10-2017 12:29pm

Is there any public art on this road? Isn't that a requirement for motorways?

m17 · 31-10-2017 1:15pm

pigtown wrote: »

Is there any public art on this road? Isn't that a requirement for motorways?

The plaque at caherweelder that's it

m17 · 31-10-2017 1:54pm

Kiltiernan 11/03/16

31/10/17

pigtown · 31-10-2017 2:27pm

That's fairly pathetic. I wonder did that clause get removed from contracts.

gordongekko · 31-10-2017 2:36pm

marno21 wrote: »

If half the people commuting under 10km in Galway bought a bike or walked their kids to school a lot of the traffic would solve itself. Without the need for any grandiose road schemes

Whos going to get their kids to walk 10km every morning?

veryangryman · 31-10-2017 2:50pm

In fairness, bypass or not, traffic will still be heading towards the schools and such.

In that regard, i can't see the bypass helping enough to make for a smooth, reliable commute.

Doltanian · 31-10-2017 3:45pm

pigtown wrote: »

That's fairly pathetic. I wonder did that clause get removed from contracts.

What a waste of money, road art is not needed at all.

marno21 · 31-10-2017 4:19pm

gordongekko wrote: »

Whos going to get their kids to walk 10km every morning?

How many people in Galway city or suburbs live 10km from the school their kids attend?

I mean walk the kids to school 1km or whatever away and cycle the 6km journey to Ballybrit

mrmanire · 31-10-2017 6:24pm

It looks like it's been updated on google maps now. Finally done but curiously maps can't use the road for directions yet.

m17 · 31-10-2017 6:39pm

mrmanire wrote: »

It looks like it's been updated on google maps now. Finally done but curiously maps can't use the road for directions yet.

I see they have the m17 going form gort to tuam,even the tuam bypass is called the m17

JCX BXC · 31-10-2017 6:41pm

It seems to be a preliminary release, good to see however. Glad it's not February as you suggested M17!

plodder · 31-10-2017 8:33pm

JCX BXC wrote: »

It seems to be a preliminary release, good to see however. Glad it's not February as you suggested M17!

The base mapping is probably the first thing to be done. Navigation requires extra layers of data on top of that, which is still in progress presumably. Am on the road right now. Very impressive it is.

marno21 · 31-10-2017 9:38pm

Good to see it on the Google Map finally. Ballygaddy road slips are missing as of yet.

Changes yet to be made to the existing N17, N18, N66, and N83, and the road still has to be labelled properly itself (M17 down to Gort at present).

N11 between Arklow and Rathnew still hasn't been relabelled R772 so this could take some time yet.

irishgeo · 31-10-2017 9:49pm

sonnyblack wrote: »

Drove this new road for the first time at the weekend. Mightily impressed. Knocked 30 minutes off my journey. Good surface. Impressed by bat bridge. The only gripe I would have, unrelated to new road, is that traffic volumes coming into Milltown & Ballindine have increased enormously. It's tough on the villagers living there. It's less than 28 kms to the Claremorris bypass from Tuam. I'd say the next target for western politicians will be to get the motorway extended this distance

i am curious how you think milltown and ballindine have more traffic. The same amount of traffic is still that n17 as was on it before the motorway opened.

red bull · 31-10-2017 10:21pm

irishgeo wrote: »

i am curious how you think milltown and ballindine have more traffic. The same amount of traffic is still that n17 as was on it before the motorway opened.

I guess its because the traffic gets there faster, no hold up in Tuam

gordongekko · 31-10-2017 10:26pm

irishgeo wrote: »

i am curious how you think milltown and ballindine have more traffic. The same amount of traffic is still that n17 as was on it before the motorway opened.

I read it to mean that more cars are stopping off there for a break. I drive the sligo to Cork route the odd time and used to stop in clarinbridge. I'm stopping in ballindine on the way from Cork now

TCDStudent1 · 31-10-2017 11:03pm

gordongekko wrote: »

I read it to mean that more cars are stopping off there for a break. I drive the sligo to Cork route the odd time and used to stop in clarinbridge. I'm stopping in ballindine on the way from Cork now

Somehow I doubt the businesses in those towns have a problem with it. The front page of the Tuam Herald had a Milltown restaurant owner saying business was up 20 - 25 %.

If I lived in Claremorris area and was going to Dublin, I think I would head to Tuam to get on the motorway as quickly as possible, which could also explain increased traffic through Ballindine and Milltown

irishgeo · 31-10-2017 11:14pm

I agree that business is up. Smart move by spar to go 24hr in ballindine. What's sadly lacking is any truck parking areas.

I think business is going to be down in tuam. Can't see the 4 filling station lasting in tuam

Quackster · 01-11-2017 12:02am

pigtown wrote: »

Is there any public art on this road? Isn't that a requirement for motorways?

Not just for motorways. The art will appear in time.

kippy · 01-11-2017 1:11am

irishgeo wrote: »

i am curious how you think milltown and ballindine have more traffic. The same amount of traffic is still that n17 as was on it before the motorway opened.

I would have asked the same question, however it is possible MORE traffic from Mayo is going via miltown/ballindine towards/off the new motorway than before the motorway was there. It's an option of going to Dublin or Galway that bit quicker for a different cohort of people now as opposed cross country to Dublin or via Headford road etc to Galway.
It will be interesting to see if traffic levels are up in either village.

ELCAT2009 · 01-11-2017 10:21am

I can tell you traffic has significantly increased between Milltown and Ballindine...there is a traffic counter located between tuam and mill town and the Tue before motorway opened 8000 vehicles passed through. Tue 2 weeks later 9400 passed through...almost 18% increase. I live in that area and it is now much more difficult to pull out on to the road from side roads and in particular the national school at the tuam side of Milltown is an accident waiting to happen until the council install the proposed periodic speed limit of 60kph

MBSnr · 01-11-2017 12:04pm

mrmanire wrote: »

It looks like it's been updated on google maps now. Finally done but curiously maps can't use the road for directions yet.

You can use it to navigate on now.

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

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