M6/4 Motorway Galway to Dublin (for discussing completed sections)

L1011

As a random aside, the bridge on the Athlone-Ballinasloe section where the old N6 crosses over the M6 had its traffic flicked over today to the other side of the bridge (its currently set up as two, seperate, narrow S2s with a chasm in the asphalt between them) than how its been the last few weeks/months...suspect they're going to try and get the final finish/cleanup there soon.

MYOB

MYOB wrote: »

As a random aside, the bridge on the Athlone-Ballinasloe section where the old N6 crosses over the M6 had its traffic flicked over today to the other side of the bridge (its currently set up as two, seperate, narrow S2s with a chasm in the asphalt between them) than how its been the last few weeks/months...suspect they're going to try and get the final finish/cleanup there soon.

I was beginning to wonder when they would continue on that particular job, it's been like that for weeks.

I was thinking they had put that job on the back burner whild completing the tie-in at Athlone.

KevR

Was glad to see traffic had been switched on the way home. It must mean they're going to do some more work there. Will be good when the bridge is fully open.

Stopped off on the way home to have a look and see if I could see any progress on Athlone-Ballinasloe since I last stopped off.

As luck would have it.......

First two are looking East. As you can see, final layer of asphalt being laid.




Looking West:


Click for full size images

Amtmann

Great shots Kev. Wikpedia material, methinks.

KevR

Have a video also. Compressed it down so it would upload quicker. Quality is ok, there a High Quality option anyhow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxzSezHVIBk

BluntGuy

Good stuff Kev...

Thanks.

KevR

Before I forget - a new cantilever signpost was erected just before the Tuam Rd exit/N6 diversion of the Athlone Bypass heading Westbound today. No signage, just the cantilever pole thing. It's a new addition to a lot of other new poles on the Bypass which are awaiting signs to be hung.

Obviously waiting for the redesignation decision before hanging the signs on the poles.

Amtmann

KevR wrote: »

Obviously waiting for the redesignation decision before hanging the signs on the poles.

More than anything else, this could be the catalyst that will see Dempsey put his pen to paper at long last.

BluntGuy

Furet wrote: »

More than anything else, this could be the catalyst that will see Dempsey put his pen to paper at long last.

That's what I'm hoping.

When Dempsey sees all the cantilevers, "motorway ahead", "end-of-motorway", "start of motorway" etc. poles that have been erected, he'll simply have to acknowledge that not to redesignate will be a massive waste of money and manpower.

kaizersoze

Good work Kev, thanks.
Thats the Tonvey overbridge about 6kms east of Ballinasloe. They started laying the final layer from the Ballinasloe end. The guys erecting the armco central barrier are following close behind.
This how it looked 25/03/09.

KevR wrote: »

Obviously waiting for the redesignation decision before hanging the signs on the poles.

Could be. All of the bypass junctions needed new signage in any case because they have to be re-numbered. Remains to be seen whether the new ones will be blue or green.

Tech3

Just a quick question, how do you visibly know the wearing course has been laid? From pics the second last layer of asphalt looks very close to the final layer from an overbridge.

KevR

tech2 wrote: »

Just a quick question, how do you visibly know the wearing course has been laid? From pics the second last layer of asphalt looks very close to the final layer from an overbridge.

It's not as easy to see in the photos but the texture is slightly different on the final layer.

The final layer is of higher quality and you can sort of tell by looking at it closely.

Not the best description though..

KevR

Furet wrote: »

Great shots Kev. Wikpedia material, methinks.

I uploaded a photo of the N18 overbridge earlier in the week and it's saying that the photo is a candidate for speedy deletion. I initially omitted licencing information but put it in later.

Would anyone who is a bit more familiar with wikipedia be able to take a look at it?

M6 Wikipedia Page

KevR

Apparently there is a stop and go system in place on the Sumerhill RAB West of Athlone - delays of 15 mins currently.

KevR

On the N6 overbridge between Athlone and Ballinasloe there is a stop and go system in place today causing delays of roughly 10 mins. They are scraping up asphalt on the side that traffic had been travelling on up until it got switched over recently. Should have work on this bridge completed in the next week or so.

A truck overturned earlier just off the Athlone Bypass at the Tuam Rd exit/N6 diversion route - causing delays in all directions. Traffic can pass in both directions, but slowly.

veryangryman

KevR wrote: »

On the N6 overbridge between Athlone and Ballinasloe there is a stop and go system in place today causing delays of roughly 10 mins. They are scraping up asphalt on the side that traffic had been travelling on up until it got switched over recently. Should have work on this bridge completed in the next week or so.

A truck overturned earlier just off the Athlone Bypass at the Tuam Rd exit/N6 diversion route - causing delays in all directions. Traffic can pass in both directions, but slowly.

Seen that this morning on way into work. Cops beckoning gawkers to move on.

Any injuries?

KevR

veryangryman wrote: »

Seen that this morning on way into work. Cops beckoning gawkers to move on.

Any injuries?

I'm not too sure. Nothing reported on RTE about injuries so hopefully that's a sign that nobody was badly hurt.

I don't think there were any other vehicles involved thankfully.

AA Roadwatch wrote:

*ROSCOMMON* The N6 Galway – Dublin Rd is closed both ways approaching Summerhill (just outside Athlone, Co. Westmeath) until at least 12:30pm to facilitate the removal of an overturned truck. Traffic will be diverted at the Roscommon Rd jct and then back on to the N6 by the new road layout and this diversion will be signposted.

KevR

Posted a picture of the Oranmore-Ballybrit Dual Carriageway before but got some better brighter ones since:

Both are looking West:




Click for full size images.


Also, does anyone know what was going at the Shannon Bridge on the Athlone Bypass on Friday evening? AA Roadwatch were saying 30 minute delays Westbound because of roadworks on the bridge. I went through the town to avoid the delay so didn't see what work was being carried out.

veryangryman

KevR wrote: »

Posted a picture of the Oranmore-Ballybrit Dual Carriageway before but got some better brighter ones since:

Both are looking West:




Click for full size images.


Also, does anyone know what was going at the Shannon Bridge on the Athlone Bypass on Friday evening? AA Roadwatch were saying 30 minute delays Westbound because of roadworks on the bridge. I went through the town to avoid the delay so didn't see what work was being carried out.

Didnt notice anything of the sort myself. The overturned truck aside, all was fine. Certainly was grand in the evening. Maybe they referring to the diversion which is a medium-long-term bottleneck

They might as well have said other obvious ones like "expect delays in Abbeyleix" and "avoid Longford - its a hole"

KevR

They said 30 minute delays Westbound on the N6 Athlone Bypass because of roadworks on the Shannon Bridge. I went through the town to be on the safe side so didn't see if there were any roadworks.

There were long delays further West though where the current N6 crosses the under construction M6 between Athlone and Ballinasloe because the bridge was being surfaced and a stop and go was in place. Surely they couldn't have confused this bridge with the Shannon Bridge on the Athlone Bypass?!

Scruff

When are the remaining parts of the motorway from galway to athlone expected to open?

veryangryman

Scruff wrote: »

When are the remaining parts of the motorway from galway to athlone expected to open?

September this year to Ballinasloe
Christmas next year for Galway

KevR

:eek::mad:

Driving to work this morning on and on the Athlone Bypass some crazy old ****er was walking along the median white line - literally only a foot or two from traffic in the overtaking lane! I was in the overtaking lane and had to swerve a bit to avoid him.

I think anyone who walks or cycles in the hard shoulder of the Athlone Bypass is a bit mad in the head but that man this morning actually must have been crazy.

rekrow

veryangryman wrote: »

Christmas next year for Galway

Any reason why the Ballinsloe - Galway bit has been delayed? I was hoping for Christmas this year at worst the target opening of Q2 2010. The Galway end seems to be progressing well.

Sponge Bob

rekrow wrote: »

Any reason why the Ballinsloe - Galway bit has been delayed?

An admixture of finance and organisation to be honest , the same consortium has the current M50 widening contract on the northern and southern sectors.

The consortium has prioritised bringing that PPP revenue on stream ASAP as against the less trafficked Galway - Ballinasloe section .

KevR

veryangryman wrote: »

September this year to Ballinasloe
Christmas next year for Galway

From what I've seen of both schemes, that'd be the absolute worst case scenario.

My estimate for Athlone-Ballinasloe would be early August (if not late July).

It's hard to tell at this stage but my guess would be late Spring or early Summer for Galway-Ballinasloe (provided that we don't get a ridiculous amount of wet weather).

Sponge Bob

KevR wrote: »

My estimate for Athlone-Ballinasloe would be early August (if not late July).

They have until the end of August as per contract and will certainly make that , late July would seem plausible ( in time for the builders holiday on the 24th of July ) . There will be feck all work going on between the 24th of July and the 7th of August so you either make it by the 24th of July or go on to late august instead .

It's hard to tell at this stage but my guess would be late Spring or early Summer for Galway-Ballinasloe (provided that we don't get a ridiculous amount of wet weather).

The contract was for Operation & Maintenance Commencement 4th January, 2010 after a 33 month construction period from Contract Award 4th April, 2007 . I now believe they will make Q2 next 2010 .

A bit over but in time for the extra traffic the summer generates on the N6 .

This lot comin up ( and the completion dates) are from an NRA newsletter that used to be produced once.

The NRA stopped producing them over a year ago , too embarrasing .

7. Project and Contact details

Mr. Roberto Gallardo
N6 Galway to Ballinasloe
Site Office
Lodge Crossroads
Roundabout.
Athenry
Co. Galway
Tel. 091 877 000
Fax. 091 877 001

N6 (Construction) Ltd
Mr. Alberto Enciso
N6 Galway to Ballinasloe
Site Office
Lodge Crossroads
Athenry
Co. Galway
Tel. 091 850 434
Fax. 091 850 380

National Roads Authority
Mr. David Cawley
N6 Galway to Ballinasloe
Site Office
Lodge Crossroads
Athenry
Co. Galway
Tel. 091 534 100

Fax. 091 534 199

Earthworks commenced in the first 14 Km (section 1) and from chainage 47+100 to end (section 4) last August. Since commencement every effort has been made to progress all cut and fill operations as

quickly as possible. Substantial quantities of suitable materials have been cut and placed in sections 1 and 4. In section 4 substantial quantities of unsuitable materials [mainly peat] have also been cut and
removed from site. Topsoil stripping and site clearance are nearing completion in sections 1 & 4, with remaining areas consisting of some side roads and a section of main line from river Suck to Beagh

also

antoobrien

Sponge Bob wrote: »

The NRA stopped producing them over a year ago , too embarrasing .

also

They're still being produced, this is the latest one and there's one due in the next month or so (going by roughly quarterly publication cycle they seem to use).

It'd be much easier if they got with the 21st century and published information on websites, rather than 'newsletters'. It'd certainly give the compaies involved better publicity if people could see what's going on, instead of relying on local politicians to get information published in (mostly) local newspapers

KevR

Looks like they are all but finished work on the N6 bridge that goes over the M6 at Ballydangan (Athlone-Ballinasloe scheme). There were bad delays here the last 2 evenings because there was a stop and go system in place. Hopefully there won't be any more delays.

veryangryman

We also have a half-built roundabout at the Elan Exit. Traffic that previously was at stop-go on one side of road....is now stop-go at the other

Why they dont use signposts to divert Athlone/Tuam-Bound traffic onto the old Tuam/Monksland road sted of the roundabout is beyond me. Would make life much easier for the residents

Its not a massive bottleneck, but its still an unnecessary inconvenience

veryangryman

veryangryman wrote: »

We also have a half-built roundabout at the Elan Exit. Traffic that previously was at stop-go on one side of road....is now stop-go at the other

Why they dont use signposts to divert Athlone/Tuam-Bound traffic onto the old Tuam/Monksland road sted of the roundabout is beyond me. Would make life much easier for the residents

Its not a massive bottleneck, but its still an unnecessary inconvenience

I thought that was the original plan! Maybe the residents revolted!!

KevR

Some photos of line painting and stud fitting progress on the Athlone-Ballinasloe section.

Click for full size images.











A short clip showing preparation work for line painting. Not very exciting but some people may be interested..

KevR

A few more from the Athlone-Ballinasloe motorway. These show work being carried out on the embankments. In the second picture you can see the existing N6 in the background.

KevR

I had these 2 pictures posted in the previous post but they weren't opening the full size images when the thumbnails were clicked for some reason so here they are again (hopefully working this time).

A couple of the N6 overbridge near Aughrim on the Galway-Ballinasloe scheme. Some cross beams were installed on Wednesday.




Kaizersoze has loads of great pictures over in Infrastructure for anyone who may be interested.

Carawaystick

So Cateyes and Armco on this scheme, 'twill be a bit of variety on the M6.


It's lookin good for opening soon.

Can line painting go down on a wet surface?

KevR

Carawaystick wrote: »

Can line painting go down on a wet surface?

I hope so! The weather has turned wet in the last few days and it looks like we could have a few more days of rain at least.

I'll see if I can see them doing any line painting when I'm passing this evening.

Side note: They are in the process of putting down the final layer of asphalt near the N6 overbridge today. This had been delayed a bit because they had a lot of landscaping to do in this area.

nordydan

A message here on the Westmeath RDO about resurfacing:

http://www.wccprojectoffice.ie/new/article.asp?newsId=81&backURL=%2Fnew%2Findex.asp

Road closures due to resurfacing works on N6 Athlone and N52 Kilbeggan 3rd and 4th July.
Posted By: Serena O'Connor - 1 Jul 2009
The north roundabout at Junction 8 (Creggan Interchange) on the N6 at Athlone shall be closed to traffic on Friday next the 3rd of July from 11-00hrs to 17-00hrs. The "off" ramp as you are approaching the roundabout heading east shall be closed to traffic and the "on" ramp at this roundabout will also be closed. There will be no access to the N6 eastbound from the Kilmartin roundabout however diversions will be in place. Traffic travelling eastbound on the N6 wanting to access the Kilmartin roundabout will be asked to divert via junction 7 (Moate West Interchange).
Also on Friday the N52 just south of Kilbeggan will be down to one lane of traffic from 07-00 hrs to 12-00hrs(noon).The length of works will be approximately 200m. A shuttle system will be in place controlled by traffic lights.
On Saturday the 4th of July it is intended to close the fast lane of the N6 at Junction 8 Athlone heading eastwards between the “off” and “on” ramps from 07-00hrs to 14-00 hrs.
All of the above closures are to facilitate resurfacing works.

KevR

A few pictures of the open sections of the M6. Pity it was quite dull. All are Eastbound.

Click thumbnails for full size images.


Rock cutting:


Layby/parking area which should have been 'closed' when the road was redesignated. As you can see there's still a signpost advertising it as a layby/parking area. You can't see it in these pictures but there were a couple of kids playing football in the layby literally a few metres from 120kmh traffic :mad:


Approaching the M4 merge. The rain ruined the pictures a bit

kaizersoze

KevR wrote:

As you can see there's still a signpost advertising it as a layby/parking area. You can't see it in these pictures but there were a couple of kids playing football in the layby literally a few metres from 120kmh traffic

Indeed and made even more dangerous by some motorists whizzing by at that speed while taking pictures......:p:pac:

Chris_533976

I would honestly leave those parking areas there until the MSAs are built. It would be more dangerous to allowed tired drivers to continue than to have an off-road parking area like that for a leg stretch.

veryangryman

Some of the junction names on this road are pretty darn stupid

1. Exit for Clonmacnoise Eastbound is ridiculous. Much quicker journey if you get off at Birr Exit and follow that road.

2. Moate Junctions needs to be changed to Moate East and West

3. The Westbound Moate East Exit is signposted as the R420 instead on N80.

4. Since Athlone Bypass not been declared a Motorway, the Exit numbers from 13 onward need to be changed to 9 onward. Optimism/Idealism will not make the bypass into a Motorway but thats covered in another thread or 3...

5. Rochfortbridge Exit Westbound should be signposted Mullingar. As should Kinnegad Eastbound Exit.

In general, the exit signs are not consistent with the quickest journey for the drivers. They have lazily been copied on both sides, wasting peoples time with an extra 10-20 miles to travel.

L1011

veryangryman wrote: »

4. Since Athlone Bypass not been declared a Motorway, the Exit numbers from 13 onward need to be changed to 9 onward. Optimism/Idealism will not make the bypass into a Motorway but thats covered in another thread or 3...

No, the exit numbers do not need to be changed. The NRA's policy is for the exit numbers to stay continous along a route, regardless of the class of road. The N4 is contiguous with the M4, the N7 with the M7. As a result the nymber system should cover the Athlone BP's junctions too, regardless of whether it gets changed in the future - as the matter is still under consideration, not dead.

KevR

Absolute nightmare of a drive home yesterday (Friday) evening.

There was a very minor accident on the Tuam Rd roundabout which led to huge tailbacks on the Bypass.

Surfacing work on the N6 (where it crosses over the soon to be opened M6) led to huge queues with a stop & go system in place.

A truck broke down approaching the roundabout in Oranmore, partially blocking the road and slowing traffic.

Then just general traffic in Galway City.

Took 2 and a half hours to get home from Athlone.

icdg

KevR wrote: »

Approaching the M4 merge. The rain ruined the pictures a bit

I continue to dispair at the NRA/LAs unable to use the motorway symbol properly, it should never appear on the mainline of a motorway! Meanwhile at the upgraded M50 and N4 SDCC in both cases forgot to use chopsticks to indicate start of regulations and in fact you won't see a single chopsticks approaching the start of the M4 westbound at Leixlip.

KevR

icdg wrote: »

I continue to dispair at the NRA/LAs unable to use the motorway symbol properly, it should never appear on the mainline of a motorway! Meanwhile at the upgraded M50 and N4 SDCC in both cases forgot to use chopsticks to indicate start of regulations and in fact you won't see a single chopsticks approaching the start of the M4 westbound at Leixlip.

That's probably a result of when the M6 used to be designated as the N6 (HQDC). That sign in the picture obviously wasn't updated when the N6 was redesignated as a motorway. A simple blank blue patch over the motorway symbol would have sufficed.

veryangryman

MYOB wrote: »

No, the exit numbers do not need to be changed. The NRA's policy is for the exit numbers to stay continous along a route, regardless of the class of road. The N4 is contiguous with the M4, the N7 with the M7. As a result the nymber system should cover the Athlone BP's junctions too, regardless of whether it gets changed in the future - as the matter is still under consideration, not dead.

Athlone Bypass seems quite the oddity though. You go westbound past exit 2 (Roscommon N61) and then are at exit 13.

If the driver in question happens to have theme from unsolved mysteries playing at the time, he may freak out.

Just saying is all...

Tech3

KevR wrote: »

That's probably a result of when the M6 used to be designated as the N6 (HQDC). That sign in the picture obviously wasn't updated when the N6 was redesignated as a motorway. A simple blank blue patch over the motorway symbol would have sufficed.

It should be corrected immediately IMO. We cant have inconsistent signage like this on our new motorways. The sign indicates your approaching a motorway when you have been consistently on motorway before it. Like you said kev a simple blue patch will do. I'll hop an email off to the NRA about this.

KevR

veryangryman wrote: »

Athlone Bypass seems quite the oddity though. You go westbound past exit 2 (Roscommon N61) and then are at exit 13.

If the driver in question happens to have theme from unsolved mysteries playing at the time, he may freak out.

Just saying is all...

That's the situation at the moment but, as far as I know, that will change at some point. If it gets redesignated then the blue motorway signs will go up with the new junction numbers. If it doesn't get redesignated they will make new green signs with the new junction numbers.

J6 --> J8
J5 --> J9
J4 (N55) --> J10
J3 --> J11
J2 (N61) --> J12
J1 --> J13

kaizersoze

It has always been the plan to re-number the junctions on the Athlone bypass whether it was redesignated or not.

http://www.nra.ie/RoadSchemeActivity/WestmeathCountyCouncil/N6KilbegganAthloneKMA/Map,16422,en.pdf

http://www.nra.ie/RoadSchemeActivity/GalwayCountyCouncil/N6AthlonetoBallinasloe/Map,16453,en.pdf

murphaph

icdg wrote: »

I continue to dispair at the NRA/LAs unable to use the motorway symbol properly, it should never appear on the mainline of a motorway! Meanwhile at the upgraded M50 and N4 SDCC in both cases forgot to use chopsticks to indicate start of regulations and in fact you won't see a single chopsticks approaching the start of the M4 westbound at Leixlip.

I share your despair but the motorway symbol can (rightfully) be found on the mainline when the end of motorway is approaching. I think that's the only place it can exist on the mainline.