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

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Comments

  • #7902
    plodder
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,402 ✭✭✭plodder


    FredFunk wrote: »
    Heading to Westport tomorrow from Dublin, would it be worthwhile taking the M17 to Tuam then taking the R332 across to the N84?
    If driving in daylight, I'd recommend turning off the N84 in Partry to bypass Castlebar. It's not a route I'd do in darkness, but it's shorter and more scenic.


  • #7903
    godskitchen
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,827 ✭✭✭godskitchen


    plodder wrote: »
    If driving in daylight, I'd recommend turning off the N84 in Partry to bypass Castlebar. It's not a route I'd do in darkness, but it's shorter and more scenic.

    Absolutely more scenic but possibly one of the worst stretches of road in the country, undulating, bad surface, blind corners, blind Junctions and no overtaking opportunities.


  • #7904
    whitey1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 358 ✭✭whitey1


    godskitchen wrote: »
    plodder wrote: »
    If driving in daylight, I'd recommend turning off the N84 in Partry to bypass Castlebar. It's not a route I'd do in darkness, but it's shorter and more scenic.

    Absolutely more scenic but possibly one of the worst stretches of road in the country, undulating, bad surface, blind corners, blind Junctions and no overtaking opportunities.

    Its a stretch even calling that route a road......Id avoid it at all costs unless I was familiar with it. The road from Tuam to Ballinrobe would be no great shakes either


  • #7905
    m17
    Registered Users Posts: 4,321 ✭✭✭m17


    The bat bridge on the m18 29/10/162017-08-11_06-44-59_zpsp4owvwvy.jpg29/09/17IMAG2506_zps1yx05k56.jpg


  • #7906
    plodder
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,402 ✭✭✭plodder


    godskitchen wrote: »
    Absolutely more scenic but possibly one of the worst stretches of road in the country, undulating, bad surface, blind corners, blind Junctions and no overtaking opportunities.
    It's a bit of an exaggeration to call it "one of the worst stretches of road in the country". Having said that, I wouldn't use it if in a hurry and unfamiliar with it, but it's perfectly fine if you're visiting and want to look around. When you get to Partry, the signs will point to Westport that way anyway.


  • #7907
    flazio
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,249 ✭✭✭✭flazio


    I won't go back and find the quotes but the other day I mentioned the turns for getting off the roundabout were a bit sharp and one of the replies said it's fine if your slow enough.
    That's all well and good in a car but can a truck and trailer take those turns without having to pull out to the right lane?


  • #7908
    Middle Man
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,142 ✭✭✭Middle Man


    flazio wrote: »
    I won't go back and find the quotes but the other day I mentioned the turns for getting off the roundabout were a bit sharp and one of the replies said it's fine if your slow enough.
    That's all well and good in a car but can a truck and trailer take those turns without having to pull out to the right lane?
    I saw many overhead photos of the roundabout during various stages of construction and one exit in particular struck me as being rather tight and that's the one for the M18 towards Gort. The other exits looked reasonable enough to me though. I think the former NRA wanted to construct an access road to services on the preceding quadrant so I guess things were tightened up there to allow room.


  • #7909
    joeKel73
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,689 ✭✭✭joeKel73


    25mins from Parkmore (Galway City) to the north of Tuam on a Friday evening... nice!


  • #7910
    TheRiverman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,231 ✭✭✭TheRiverman


    Middle Man wrote: »
    Well, some of the slips on the M1 are very long and are not so problematic for me - in fact, some of the roundabouts at their ends are very tight but as a motorist, I simply exercise a little bit of cop on and just read the road that's in front of me. Slips are basically like any ordinary road - unlike the motorway mainline, you've got to be prepared for the unexpected. Interchanges like the M7-M9 are different as you're talking about the convergence of two mainline motorways. The slips on interchanges like the M1-M50 are no different to ordinary roads by way of alignment - in fact, the M1(S) to M50(S) is a little bit like driving up the mountains - yet, it's not any real problem for me. Just read the road in front of you without any preconceived notions of what the slip roads should be.

    Your post contains the words I heard from a Driving Instructor in 1980 and have remembered and put into practise ever since.I was doing a truck driving course back then and everyday for the two weeks the instructor would say "read the road in front of you".I passed the test at the end of the course.
    Unfortunately reading the road and using common sense is not practised by a lot of drivers on our roads everyday.


  • #7911
    TCDStudent1
    Registered Users Posts: 3,019 ✭✭✭TCDStudent1


    seemed to shave about 12 minutes off athlone - tuam for me (vs barbadearg moylough mountbellew ballyforan route).

    Noticed a small backlog on Sligo side of tuam heading north. Traffic has to slow down for the new roundabout there now.


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  • #7912
    Middle Man
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,142 ✭✭✭Middle Man


    TCDStudent1 wrote: »
    seemed to shave about 12 minutes off athlone - tuam for me (vs barbadearg moylough mountbellew ballyforan route).

    Noticed a small backlog on Sligo side of tuam heading north. Traffic has to slow down for the new roundabout there now.

    It will be interesting to see how journey patterns shape up in the next few years - this new road is such a massive change for the West. Regarding north of Tuam, I do think some of this traffic that's backing up may be motorists on novelty trips - after a little while, this will die back considerably. If the problem still persists however, then a left turn slip towards the N17 (North) may have to be considered but hopefully things won't come to that in the near future.


  • #7913
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    flazio wrote: »
    I won't go back and find the quotes but the other day I mentioned the turns for getting off the roundabout were a bit sharp and one of the replies said it's fine if your slow enough.
    That's all well and good in a car but can a truck and trailer take those turns without having to pull out to the right lane?

    That was me and I said if you drive the indicated limit you are fine, if you don't well.... there's no amount of signs, directions or warnings that can account for stupid.


  • #7914
    flazio
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,249 ✭✭✭✭flazio


    Still doesn't answer the truck question. Are all exits off the roundabout wide enough to allow an articulated lorry to turn off without having to pull out to the right lane and blocking vehicles using the roundabout behind them? Heavy goods vehicles are one of the key reasons this new road was built in the first place, would be kind of embarrassing if they aren't catered for properly.


  • #7915
    gally74
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,997 ✭✭✭gally74


    i went thru claregalway at 3 pm yesterday, it was very good and entering the city on the n17 was better approaching the first lights!


  • #7916
    Quackster
    Moderators, Regional South Moderators Posts: 5,842 Mod ✭✭✭✭Quackster


    Traveled from Dublin to Leenaun yesterday evening and took the M17 to Tuam and then cut across through Headfirst to try it out as an alternative route avoiding Galway City.

    Maybe 10km longer distance-wise but takes around the same time, assuming no traffic delays on the Galway City route.

    Will defo be using this route again in the future, if only for the change of scenery!


  • #7917
    JCX BXC
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,227 ✭✭✭✭JCX BXC


    3 days on and still not on Google maps. Strange!


  • #7918
    sentient_6
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,780 ✭✭✭sentient_6


    JCX BXC wrote: »
    3 days on and still not on Google maps. Strange!

    Not strange at all.


  • #7919
    JCX BXC
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,227 ✭✭✭✭JCX BXC


    sentient_6 wrote: »
    Not strange at all.

    Care to expand?


  • #7920
    Reuben1210
    Registered Users Posts: 375 ✭✭Reuben1210


    JCX BXC wrote: »
    Care to expand?

    Well I remember when the latest section of the M11 opened in July 2015, it took about 6-8 weeks before it was reflected on google maps!


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  • #7921
    JCX BXC
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,227 ✭✭✭✭JCX BXC


    Reuben1210 wrote: »
    Well I remember when the latest section of the M11 opened in July 2015, it took about 6-8 weeks before it was reflected on google maps!

    Really? I seem to remember one road being up fairly quickly, can't remember which one or when though.


  • #7922
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 31,118 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    It's probably just scheduling, it will be in the next scheduled map update.
    Whenever that is, they're unlikely to "stop the presses" to add in a new motorway.


  • #7923
    m17
    Registered Users Posts: 4,321 ✭✭✭m17


    The m17 at cloondarone 16/02/152017-04-23_02-40-40_zpsfmbesakz.jpg30/09/17IMAG2529_zpstcp8qat6.jpg


  • #7924
    m17
    Registered Users Posts: 4,321 ✭✭✭m17


    The accommodation flyover at ballynastaig on the m18 16/03/162017-03-16_08-01-10_zpsxu76auaf.jpg30/09/17IMAG2516_zpsjicgjnwv.jpg


  • #7925
    m17
    Registered Users Posts: 4,321 ✭✭✭m17


    The m18 at gortroa 30/09/17IMAG2522_zpsua5pcqcr.jpg


  • #7926
    bigar
    Registered Users Posts: 596 ✭✭✭bigar


    Came down from Dublin today. Nice that is closes the ring between Dublin, Limerick and Galway. Quite nice for a motorway junkie as me :D

    Was quite impressed with the Bat Bridge. I can see it becoming a minor tourist attraction :P


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  • #7927
    Roadfan
    Registered Users Posts: 109 ✭✭Roadfan


    m17 wrote: »
    The m18 at gortroa 30/09/17IMAG2522_zpsua5pcqcr.jpg
    How is the bike standing up to the commute from New Ross M17?


  • #7928
    Roadfan
    Registered Users Posts: 109 ✭✭Roadfan


    bigar wrote: »
    Came down from Dublin today. Nice that is closes the ring between Dublin, Limerick and Galway. Quite nice for a motorway junkie as me :D

    Was quite impressed with the Bat Bridge. I can see it becoming a minor tourist attraction .

    Check out bat bridge Austin Texas. That said I see there's some controversy in UK about them. Do they work etc..with some saying they don t. Anyway...


  • #7929
    m17
    Registered Users Posts: 4,321 ✭✭✭m17


    The m17 at sheeaunpark 18/10/16IMAG2689_zpsajrejafg.jpg30/09/17IMAG2499_zpsfbjmtvpf.jpg


  • #7930
    sdanseo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,234 ✭✭✭sdanseo


    Took a trip to the wesht today and drove Rathmorrisey-Tuam NB and Tuam-Limerick SB as part of an outrageously pointless spin from Dublin.

    Just back and before I washed it there were a phenomenal number of insects on the front of the car.

    Very impressed. It's a fantastic piece of road. Is there a version of "well wear" one can wish to the actual tarmac as opposed to the car? :D


  • #7931
    wintear
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 256 ✭✭wintear


    I see there are already donut marks on the road outside Tuam heading towards rathmorrisey.


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  • #7932
    m17
    Registered Users Posts: 4,321 ✭✭✭m17


    The rock cut at ballybanagher on the m17 27/10/152017-02-26_11-33-15_zpsz6ju8eje.jpg30/09/17IMAG2540_zpswigaqz2a.jpg


  • #7933
    spacetweek
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 5,144 Mod ✭✭✭✭spacetweek


    m17 wrote: »
    The m17 at sheeaunpark 30/09/17IMAG2499_zpsfbjmtvpf.jpg
    It's funny how the road looks kind of odd with traffic on it.


  • #7934
    EmptyTree
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 749 ✭✭✭EmptyTree


    Took the new M17/M18 last night. Great piece of work, the bat bridge is certainly a very interesting structure. I tend to travel at off peak times so I'm not sure I'll use the Tuam bypass unless it's peak or near peak times. I'd also be interested to see how the roundabout works out on the M17/M18 side of Tuam at peak times - wonder if it'll be much of a bottle neck.


  • #7935
    m17
    Registered Users Posts: 4,321 ✭✭✭m17


    The tuam bypasshttps://youtu.be/Av_l2tCZOvU


  • #7936
    m17
    Registered Users Posts: 4,321 ✭✭✭m17


    The m17 rathmorrissy to tuamhttps://youtu.be/S1j-M9jRkxw


  • #7937
    sdanseo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,234 ✭✭✭sdanseo


    EmptyTree wrote: »
    the bat bridge is certainly a very interesting structure.

    Just before the bridge yesterday, I looked left, and the man driving the car beside me was looking at the bridge a bit bemused. You could tell it had caught the "average joe's" attention and not just mine as an enthusiast.


  • #7938
    from_atozinc
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,943 ✭✭✭from_atozinc


    EmptyTree wrote: »
    Took the new M17/M18 last night. Great piece of work, the bat bridge is certainly a very interesting structure. I tend to travel at off peak times so I'm not sure I'll use the Tuam bypass unless it's peak or near peak times. I'd also be interested to see how the roundabout works out on the M17/M18 side of Tuam at peak times - wonder if it'll be much of a bottle neck.


    Where exactly is the bat bridge?


  • #7939
    Sam Russell
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 19,862 Mod ✭✭✭✭Sam Russell


    Why did they put a roundabout between the Tuam bypass and the M17? Surely a freeflow design would have mad more sense. In fact why do the terminate major roads in roundabouts instead of freeflow designs?


  • #7940
    m17
    Registered Users Posts: 4,321 ✭✭✭m17


    The m18 near kiltiernan 01/10/17IMAG2543_zpsy1ypvnxe.jpg


  • #7941
    irishgeo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,527 ✭✭✭irishgeo


    Sam Russell wrote: »
    Why did they put a roundabout between the Tuam bypass and the M17? Surely a freeflow design would have mad more sense. In fact why do the terminate major roads in roundabouts instead of freeflow designs?

    i would be curious how a free flow would work in tuam?


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  • #7942
    BelfastVanMan
    Registered Users Posts: 667 ✭✭✭BelfastVanMan


    irishgeo wrote: »
    Sam Russell wrote: »
    Why did they put a roundabout between the Tuam bypass and the M17? Surely a freeflow design would have mad more sense. In fact why do the terminate major roads in roundabouts instead of freeflow designs?

    i would be curious how a free flow would work in tuam?
    Just freeflow the mainline of the M17/N17 under a dumbell junction for the old road.


  • #7943
    BelfastVanMan
    Registered Users Posts: 667 ✭✭✭BelfastVanMan


    BelfastVanMan wrote: »
    irishgeo wrote: »
    Sam Russell wrote: »
    Why did they put a roundabout between the Tuam bypass and the M17? Surely a freeflow design would have mad more sense. In fact why do the terminate major roads in roundabouts instead of freeflow designs?

    i would be curious how a free flow would work in tuam?
    Just freeflow the mainline of the M17/N17 under a dumbell junction for the old road.
    Just like at Jct.17 at Kiltiernan, with the R458 (old N18).


  • #7944
    Sam Russell
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 19,862 Mod ✭✭✭✭Sam Russell


    irishgeo wrote: »
    i would be curious how a free flow would work in tuam?

    Just the M17 would continue onto the Tuam bypass and the other roads would have a normal grade separated junction. Motorway traffic would simply cntinue onto the bypass unhindered unless they turned off.

    A roundabout terminates the M11 before Camolin to allow connection to a tiny road (R772). If the idea was to continue the M11, why not construct a stub for future continuation and close it off and continue a turn off to Camolin. This was done for the contruction of the M6 between Kinnegad and Athlone. Each bit was built to the next town and a stub left to continue the good work. Mind you that was the N6 at the time - later upgraded with blue signs and a higher speed limit.

    When the plan is a future continuation, surely the plan should include that continuation.


  • #7945
    Roadfan
    Registered Users Posts: 109 ✭✭Roadfan


    from_atozinc wrote: »
    Where exactly is the bat bridge?

    Coole Green a small bit north of Gort from what I can see


  • #7946
    transylman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 602 ✭✭✭transylman


    Tried it out today, an hour Gort to Tuam as already mentioned. Was coming up from Shannon and noticed a big increase in the number of cars on the road after Gort that did not drop off until the Dublin motorway crossover. Assuming a lot of it was people out to have a look. The motorway is very twisty but you can just about still hold 120 safely, just dont expect to be able to straighten the wheel for long.

    Tuam bypass was less good. Roundabout to get onto it seems destined to become a bottleneck with the amount of cars coming out of the town. Also there seems to be something wrong with the exit for Ballinrobe road. Cars coming off there seemed to be dropping to very slow speed while still on road, including one moron in overtaking lane who came to almost complete stop to take it.


  • #7947
    vicwatson
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,404 ✭✭✭✭vicwatson


    The public service reps love getting their names on plaques and stones in this country don't they?


  • #7948
    Truckermal
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,047 ✭✭✭Truckermal


    vicwatson wrote: »
    The public service reps love getting their names on plaques and stones in this country don't they?

    We will all get our name on a bit of stone at some stage!


  • #7949
    Mrs Dempsey
    Registered Users Posts: 146 ✭✭Mrs Dempsey


    transylman wrote: »
    .............. Cars coming off there seemed to be dropping to very slow speed while still on road, including one moron in overtaking lane who came to almost complete stop to take it.

    The brake first then indicate (if at all) regime is still well represented.


  • #7950
    Middle Man
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,142 ✭✭✭Middle Man


    It has been quite a journey even after the PPP roller coaster ride - here's where it all physically started...

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055673984&page=166

    Nice to see the end result - a motorway that might never have been!


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  • #7951
    MAYOMICK
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 207 ✭✭MAYOMICK


    Travelled this road today around 3pm.Twenty five minutes from Roundabout in Tuam to Traffic lights on old N17 on the outskirts of Galway.Came back old N17,Twenty Two minutes.
    Just after the slip road entering motorway (Roscommon?) I met a Silver Corolla coming against me on the hard shoulder.I think he went up the slip road the wrong way.SCARY.

    Also can anyone explain the exit signposted Ballinrobe/Kilmaine on the Tuam Bypass section going towards Milltown thats blocked off and is going nowhere.The real exit to Ballinrobe/Kilmaine is a few hundred yards after that.


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