[PR] Work to Commence on Congestion Relief Project for the N4 Dromod & Roosky Bypass

Fool 5000

30th June, 2006


Today, (Friday, 30th June 2006), Minister of State for Transport, Pat the Cope Gallagher, T.D., announced the commencement of work on the Dromod and Roosky bypass project. This bypass along the existing N4 will extend from the eastern end of the Drumsna bypass to the Western side of the Longford town bypass.

The construction of this 10 km project will remove two notorious bottlenecks on the N4 key route to the west. An area of huge tourist attraction and potential, the bypass will give the two villages and their environs back to their people and make them more accessible and appealing to visitors.

On this latest Transport 21 project, Minister Gallagher said:

"The route selection report for the entire Drumsna to Longford road improvement scheme is now finalised with a route corridor selected and the preferred route for the Newtownforbes bypass has been identified. The Dromod Roosky sod turning is the first step in advancing this entire scheme to fruition. The new bypass will take traffic volumes of up to 6,000 vehicles per day currently going through the villages of Dromod and Roosky. Work on the bypass will commence immediately and is due to be completed in 2008."

The N4 has benefited from major investment in recent years. Projects completed along this route include the Sligo Inner Relief road, the Sligo/Colloney road, Curlews bypass, Longford and Mullingar bypasses and the Mullingar to Rathowen section. The Minister says that with the opening of the M4 Kilcock to Kinnegad project and the completion of the N4 McNeads Bridge project late last year, it is now possible to travel on continuous motorway or high quality dual carriageway from Dublin to west of Mullingar – a distance of 74 km.

“These major improvements together with the opening of the Edgeworthstown Bypass and the construction of Dromod Roosky project will bring a huge improvement on the N4 generally and will make the journey north-west much easier for thousands of motorists”,
said the Minister.

Mr. Peter Malone, Chairman of the National Roads Authority said:

“The N4, which is the main route used by drivers travelling East, Northeast and West and is undergoing a major facelift and the route, now boasts over 80 km of continuous motorway or equivalent from Dublin to northwest of Mullingar and west of Kinnegad. A major bottleneck on the route was eliminated with the opening of the Edgeworthstown bypass two weeks ago and today sees work start on the Dromod/Roosky scheme in Leitrim, which is part of the larger Longford/Drumsna N4 Corridor. The National Roads Authority remains committed to delivering balanced regional road development and in the Border, Midland and Western (BMW) Region. This year alone the NRA has either started or is completing over 132 kmsof new roadway in the BMW region."

For further information please contact the NRA Press Office 01 6602511.

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nordydan

Anyone got a map of this scheme?

jmkennedyie

Aside:

"high quality dual carriageway" ... "Motorway or equivalent" ... Mullingar bypass ... all in the same sentences

Last time I travelled it there were scary-looking crossovers every kilometer or two on that stretch

How are they working out? Are they as dangerous as they look?

DerekP11

I drove the route today. The only work going on is an archealogical dig on the Dublin side of Rooskey.

As for the edgeworthstown bypass, ooppps, "inner relief road" (thats what it actually is) it may remove a bottleneck, but its very under-engineered and progress along it is still reletively slow. The first roundabout still causes delays. Have we not realised that grade seperation is the only way to make these roads work effectively.

The at grade crossings on the approach to the Mullingar bypass are very dangerous, despite it being a dual carraigeway. The new section from Kinnegad is cool and the Mullingar bypass is great, but the "cheap fix" bit in the middle is out of place and a threat to road safety. It was very heavily policed today when I went through as you can maintain a good speed, due to the recent improvements at the Kinnegad side.

Occidental

jmkennedyie wrote:

Aside:

"high quality dual carriageway" ... "Motorway or equivalent" ... Mullingar bypass ... all in the same sentences

Last time I travelled it there were scary-looking crossovers every kilometer or two on that stretch

How are they working out? Are they as dangerous as they look?

They've been there for at least five years, but are becoming more dangerous as volumes increase. The really bad one is the turn off for Killucan, where many cars joining from Killucan to Mullingar will pull into the outside lane and allow cars to undertake them as they build up speed.


Derek,

The Edgeworthstown bypass has been a godsend for N55(Athlone-Cavan) traffic. Up until now it could take you up to half an hour to get across the N4. The true test however, will come at the next bank holiday weekend.

DerekP11

Occidental wrote:

Derek,

The Edgeworthstown bypass has been a godsend for N55(Athlone-Cavan) traffic. Up until now it could take you up to half an hour to get across the N4. The true test however, will come at the next bank holiday weekend.

Accept your point about the N55 and indeed the next Bank Holiday Weekend will prove lots of points. However as a "through route" on the N4, I still consider it under engineered. Progress remains slow due to the roundabouts. It may allow more progress from the 55, buts its contribution to the 4 is minimal at peak times due to the volumes hitting the first roundabout. The grade seperation at Drumsna looks like overkill in comparison.

I think the Edgesworthtown effort was cheap. But Im still happy that someone on a secondary route is benefitting.

The 55 still needs lots of work though. Hope it happens for ya man! Honestly.

Andrew Duffy

The Mullingar bypass itself would pass as Motorway in most countries, even with the dodgy services slips on the Eastbound carriageway (and the unusual way it ends going Westbound). It has junction numbers, but not emergency phones (as far as I know) - was it originally planned as a motorway but downgraded for farmers or the owner of that service station?

JoeyJJ

It may not be a motorway (Mullingar) but it is driven like one by 80% of the drivers 120kph.

Roosky to Longoford would be a welcome upgrade, Sligo - Dublin route would be very good when this is complete in 20??. Now to upgrade the road around Riverstown in sligo and it would be complete.

spacetweek

Andrew Duffy wrote:

The Mullingar bypass itself would pass as Motorway in most countries, even with the dodgy services slips on the Eastbound carriageway (and the unusual way it ends going Westbound). It has junction numbers, but not emergency phones (as far as I know) - was it originally planned as a motorway but downgraded for farmers or the owner of that service station?

The Mullingar BP is waaay below motorway spec. Because there are no plans to ever perform a major upgrade on the N4 (like a new dualler alignment), they didn't bother on the Mullingar bit either which is understanable, but unfortunate. They could have at least kept the M4 going a bit further.

Andrew Duffy

I know it's not up to our motorway specifications, but it would be a good one if it were in, for example, Italy.

Another odd thing on the N4 is the M4/N6 interchange. The M4 has priority Westbound, which is an odd decision given the traffic levels. The N6 has priority Eastbound, and there is no advance warning of the merge when travelling East along the M4 - all you get is white paint.

Bogger77

Andrew Duffy wrote:

I know it's not up to our motorway specifications, but it would be a good one if it were in, for example, Italy.

Another odd thing on the N4 is the M4/N6 interchange. The M4 has priority Westbound, which is an odd decision given the traffic levels. The N6 has priority Eastbound, and there is no advance warning of the merge when travelling East along the M4 - all you get is white paint.

Not sure bout M4 eastbound here, yet to travel it,but it appears to be a 4 lane motorway merging down to 2, not a major problem with traffic levels there. The westbound road is a demerge, so no road has priority. once the N6 to Tullamore (N52) is complete, both will be as freeflowing as the other at this junction.

westtip

Andrew Duffy wrote:

I know it's not up to our motorway specifications, but it would be a good one if it were in, for example, Italy.

Another odd thing on the N4 is the M4/N6 interchange. The M4 has priority Westbound, which is an odd decision given the traffic levels. The N6 has priority Eastbound, and there is no advance warning of the merge when travelling East along the M4 - all you get is white paint.

Another thing on this is at the split M4/N6 there is only a sign for Galway - err what happened to Athlone or doesn't a town this size warrant any signage - In general signage in Ireland is crap. When a motorway splits like this there should be an overhead gantry, (I don't think there is one correct me if I am wrong) to give you ample warning of the split or merger ahead.

spacetweek

westtip wrote:

Another thing on this is at the split M4/N6 there is only a sign for Galway - err what happened to Athlone or doesn't a town this size warrant any signage - In general signage in Ireland is crap. When a motorway splits like this there should be an overhead gantry, (I don't think there is one correct me if I am wrong) to give you ample warning of the split or merger ahead.

Gantry.
You don't do that, signage is supposed to use a "control city" which is the city at the end of the road in this case Galway. Once you've taken the exit, this is an opportunity for the distance signage to list all the upcoming towns such as Athlone.

mysterious

spacetweek wrote:

Gantry.
You don't do that, signage is supposed to use a "control city" which is the city at the end of the road in this case Galway. Once you've taken the exit, this is an opportunity for the distance signage to list all the upcoming towns such as Athlone.

As in most cases. They name the nearest town and ending point of route ex on Naas road, naas and Limerick. with a mention of (n8 n9)
The problem is if you were to mention Athlone, then why not throw in Rockfortbridge? see what I'm getting at. and I see your point too.

On the M7/M9 spilt, all the towns are mentioned even Athy (N78):eek: yet M7 does not have any towns mentioned


Note the print.. the Sinage issue in ireland is complex..:rolleyes:

mysterious

Bogger77 wrote:

Not sure bout M4 eastbound here, yet to travel it,but it appears to be a 4 lane motorway merging down to 2, not a major problem with traffic levels there. The westbound road is a demerge, so no road has priority. once the N6 to Tullamore (N52) is complete, both will be as freeflowing as the other at this junction.

like M7. M3 was given priorthy cus maybe it's classed N4 through Kinnegad (as in mainline N4 branch of N6) and M4 to N4 has in fact higher traffic levels. well then again, it could be either getting mainline.

The M7 and M8 spilt is much wider and spacious than the M4N6. nearly practically identical to M7/M9 though the M8 flies over the M7...

ardmacha

The at grade crossings on the approach to the Mullingar bypass are very dangerous, despite it being a dual carraigeway

Yet the Northern authorities are building the A1 Dublin-Belfast dual carriageway with such junctions, a road probably as busy as the N4 towards Mullingar. It's a funny old world....

nordydan

ardmacha wrote:

Yet the Northern authorities are building the A1 Dublin-Belfast dual carriageway with such junctions, a road probably as busy as the N4 towards Mullingar. It's a funny old world....

I take it you are talking about beech hill to loughbrickland. the two stages from beech hill to the the border will be HQDC. There are plans to GS 4 junctions between sprucefield and newry, and one is getting down now (at banbridge) by a private developer. Still its shortsighted, just like the N11 between the M11 and Kilmacanouge.

Luckily there seems to be a change in approach even in the north. The two new Belfast to Derry schemes and the Dungannon to Ballygawley scheme will have GSJ, a total road length of over 60km.

Re: the N4 I read in a longford paper that the council wanted the DC extended from Mullingar to Longford. i know they have plans for a N5 Longford bypass, but I reckon this upgrade is not on the agenda.

SeanW

An N5 bypass is really needed, hopefully taking in the N63. The town is still full of passing through traffic.

nordydan

SeanW wrote:

An N5 bypass is really needed, hopefully taking in the N63. The town is still full of passing through traffic.

I some times go down to visit my auntie (who is a nun!) in Lanesboro. I actually find it quicker to head down the N55 from edgeworthstown and turn right at ballymahon that to chance traffic in longford town centre. I got stung for about 45 minutes one time and will gladly wait till the new road is built.

PS I am disappointed that the longford bypass was not built to the same spec as the Mullingar bypass. A bit of short sightedness perhaps.

Victor

Would I be correct in saying the Roscommon section of the N5 is the worst (because it doesn't serve Roscommon)?

So why not build a new alignment for the N5 from Charlsetown to Boyle. Bogs, etc. aside

westtip

spacetweek wrote:

Gantry.
You don't do that, signage is supposed to use a "control city" which is the city at the end of the road in this case Galway. Once you've taken the exit, this is an opportunity for the distance signage to list all the upcoming towns such as Athlone.

Thanks for the photo, there you go I hadn't evn noticed it, fair point about the "control city", but I do think it would be useful for tourists in particular if there was distance signage listing some of the major towns on the route before the split. At the end of the day its not a major issue, thanks for taking the trouble to show me the gantry, I won't miss it next time.

westtip

Victor wrote:

Would I be correct in saying the Roscommon section of the N5 is the worst (because it doesn't serve Roscommon)?

So why not build a new alignment for the N5 from Charlsetown to Boyle. Bogs, etc. aside

Just took one look at the map - what a great idea!

nordydan

A new N5 looks good alright, if you start just before boyle it would be about 10 miles long and would eliminate more than the same level of upgrades on the existing N5. Suggested route attahced

spacetweek

westtip wrote:

Thanks for the photo, there you go I hadn't evn noticed it, fair point about the "control city", but I do think it would be useful for tourists in particular if there was distance signage listing some of the major towns on the route before the split. At the end of the day its not a major issue, thanks for taking the trouble to show me the gantry, I won't miss it next time.

On a related note people often complain about Irish gantries on this forum, the pic I linked to there is an example of a good Irish gantry. They haven't pointlessly repeated information over the mainline and the exit is correctly listed as a lane drop.

Victor

spacetweek wrote:

the pic I linked to there is an example of a good Irish gantry.

No, its only an OK gantry, the N4/N5 information should be doen horizontally, otherwise all the Mayo drivers are being told to get into the right hand lane (for an eventual left turn ), although at least its only one patch for the N4/N5.