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

mrsoundie

medoc wrote: »

Looking at the Rathmorrisey pictures above I've a silly question. The motorway regulations appear to end before the roundabout pert of the junction. Would that be normal for a junction like this? The only way to get onto or off the roundabout is from one of the motorways

I would hope so, as you might find someone trying to take the roundabout at the full 120 Kph. It does sound redundant though.

paul2013

Is there a difference between the Motorway on the West of Ireland compared to those going to Dublin? They only reason I say this is because in the West of Ireland they don't have the Motorway Ahead sign stating such and such are banned from using the Motorway. Instead they have a picture of No Ass carts, No pedestrians and so fourth and L Drivers are allowed to drive the M18 as nothing is restricting them.

sdanseo

paul2013 wrote: »

Is there a difference between the Motorway on the West of Ireland compared to those going to Dublin? They only reason I say this is because in the West of Ireland they don't have the Motorway Ahead sign stating such and such are banned from using the Motorway. Instead they have a picture of No Ass carts, No pedestrians and so fourth and L Drivers are allowed to drive the M18 as nothing is restricting them.

The law restricts them - just because there is no sign doesn't mean it is allowed.

I think the signs have been phased out as motorways and their restrictions become more prevalent, but I've seen them in all parts of the country really.

We could certainly do with them being at all entrances, especially rurally like on this scheme. Preferably combined with the return of the "Danger-Wrong Way-Turn Back" signs rather than just no entry. And maybe with a side order of "Keep Left" signs.

I'm just wishful thinking with some of that but maybe M17 can show us examples of any of the above on this scheme.

Middle Man

medoc wrote: »

Looking at the Rathmorrisey pictures above I've a silly question. The motorway regulations appear to end before the roundabout pert of the junction. Would that be normal for a junction like this? The only way to get onto or off the roundabout is from one of the motorways

It is a bit strange as all the escapes from the roundabout are under motorway regulations. If the powers that be want to avoid having motorists approaching it too fast, why don't they just erect clear signage along with rumble strips and include 'Yield Ahead' advance signs?

m17

The m17 at carthymore 16/06/1626/08/17

I think that someone cocked up by installing these signs as the roundabout had blue signs all over it.
I reckon that they'll be gone before the road opens.

m17

Here's another sign that needs to be changed this is the last sign on the m18,it should have 89.5kms as it starts at rossbrien Limerick

marno21

m17 wrote: »

Here's another sign that needs to be changed this is the last sign on the m18,it should have 89.5kms as it starts at rossbrien Limerick

M18 starts at Rossbrien in junction number terms but the signs at Rossbrien say N18 S 100. I believe this measured the distance from Rossbrien to the end of the N18 at Claregalway and the new road is obviously shorter by 9.5km. It'd be cheaper to leave it wrong than change all the signs

m17

RATHMORRISSY 26/08/17the far slip is the m18 joining the m6,the near slip road is the m18 linking to m6 eastbound via the roundabout

medoc

Deleted User wrote: »

What makes you say that?

There are end of Motorway signs approaching the the roundabout.

m17

RATHMORRISSY top of the m17/m18 flyover 26/03/1626/08/17

Sam Russell

Deleted User wrote: »

I think that someone cocked up by installing these signs as the roundabout had blue signs all over it.
I reckon that they'll be gone before the road opens.

Well, the 'end of motorway' sign indicates end of motorway restrictions. Now it impossible for a cyclist to get there legally, but it does allow a car to stop for some reason whereas they cannot stop on the motorway unless it is an emergency.

Middle Man

Sam Russell wrote: »

Well, the 'end of motorway' sign indicates end of motorway restrictions. Now it impossible for a cyclist to get there legally, but it does allow a car to stop for some reason whereas they cannot stop on the motorway unless it is an emergency.

All the verge lines on the circulatory carriageway appear solid, so stoping there would be illegal. Perhaps it's more to do with the break in free flow conditions when having to yield to traffic on the roundabout, but AFAIK in England that's allowed between motorways (as long as it's only yielding to traffic from the right) or at least that used to be the case.

Middle Man

Middle Man wrote: »

All the verge lines on the circulatory carriageway appear solid, so stoping there would be illegal. Perhaps it's more to do with the break in free flow conditions when having to yield to traffic on the roundabout, but AFAIK in England that's allowed between motorways (as long as it's only yielding to traffic from the right) or at least that used to be the case.

Yes, roundabouts between motorways where no non-motorway traffic can join are still under motorway regulations. There's nothing in the regulations that state that a motorway can't have a junction where traffic must give way to other traffic.

I still believe that it's a cockup!

spacetweek

m17 wrote: »

RATHMORRISSY 26/08/17

I wonder what the large gravelled area is? Perhaps it was used for storing building materials during construction.

JCX BXC

What's left to be done? Looks great to me judging from those photos!

spacetweek

spacetweek wrote: »

I wonder what the large gravelled area is? Perhaps it was used for storing building materials during construction.

I don't recall the name, but possibly an emergency stopping pit thing for HGV's.

marno21

There should be no "end of motorway" restrictions signs on the Rathmorrissey junction fullstop. There should also be no start of motorway signs on it; not sure if they're there.

The approach signs to the roundabout should have all 3 exits labelled; in the event the motorway is closed for whatever reason and it becomes a diversionary route.

Baldilocks

Deleted User wrote: »

I don't recall the name, but possibly an emergency stopping pit thing for HGV's.

Gravel trap
motor sports enthusiasts often use the term 'kitty litter'

Can't wait for this to be open!!!!
will be driving Cork to Westport next month, hopefully my last trip on the old road, but if it could be opened for 08-Sep-17,......

m17

JCX BXC wrote: »

What's left to be done? Looks great to me judging from those photos!

So he's what's left to be done the tuam bypass 4.2 kms tighten that chicken wire,the m17 25.5kms is now complete brilliant job sisk/roadbridge all that needs doing is the hedge cutting, the m18 27.5kms langans have the last 10kms of line painting to finish off which will be finished on the 8th of Sept,then the cycle race on the 10th of Sept,then it's handed over to the tii and then come the 6th of October we will all be on it and we'll all wonder what the fuss was all about yours m17

Goofy

Deleted User wrote: »

Middle Man wrote: »

All the verge lines on the circulatory carriageway appear solid, so stoping there would be illegal. Perhaps it's more to do with the break in free flow conditions when having to yield to traffic on the roundabout, but AFAIK in England that's allowed between motorways (as long as it's only yielding to traffic from the right) or at least that used to be the case.

Yes, roundabouts between motorways where no non-motorway traffic can join are still under motorway regulations. There's nothing in the regulations that state that a motorway can't have a junction where traffic must give way to other traffic.

I still believe that it's a cockup!

It's probably left over from when there was a service area planned for this roundabout. They probably forgot to remove those signs from the plan when the service station was removed.

Or else they have done it intenionally so that adding something to the roundabout in the future would be simpler as the roundabout is technically not a motorway....

m17

Goofy wrote: »

It's probably left over from when there was a service area planned for this roundabout. They probably forgot to remove those signs from the plan when the service station was removed.

Or else they have done it intenionally so that adding something to the roundabout in the future would be simpler as the roundabout is technically not a motorway....

Here's a map of that service areathere was a service area to go at location three but got turned down,it will be located at location two,for eastbound traffic it will open July 19

m17

The start of the m17 at rathmorrissy 23/03/1727/08/17

peustace

Fantastic thread, great photos and updates! Any insight into opening date for M17? I'm hearing some saying early Dec and others saying Oct.

m17

peustace wrote: »

Fantastic thread, great photos and updates! Any insight into opening date for M17? I'm hearing some saying early Dec and others saying Oct.

There's only 40 days left to opening roll onlast Wednesday 's tuam herald

mackerski

Middle Man wrote: »

All the verge lines on the circulatory carriageway appear solid, so stoping there would be illegal. Perhaps it's more to do with the break in free flow conditions when having to yield to traffic on the roundabout, but AFAIK in England that's allowed between motorways (as long as it's only yielding to traffic from the right) or at least that used to be the case.

The M1/M50 junction has a roundabout which used to be under motorway restrictions before they installed the freeflow ramps. There is no excuse for claiming that this roundabout should be all-purpose, and the usual rule of thumb has to apply:

• If it leads inescapably to a motorway, it's a motorway
• If you can only get there from a motorway, it's a motorway

Roadfan

m17 wrote: »

The start of the m17 at rathmorrissy 23/03/1727/08/17

Great shots. Really shows what a few months can bring on a project like this.

m17

The start of the tuam bypass 27/08/17the footbridgethe kilmore roundabout

m17

RATHMORRISSY 27/08/17 the slip road linking the m6 to the m18two lanes near one from the roundabout far one form the m6

m17

The m17 rathmorissy to tuam work is now complete part one,rathmorrissycastlelambert looking towards rathmorrissycastlelambert looking towards tuamcarthymore looking towards rathmorrissycarthymore looking towards tuamsheeaunpark looking towards rathmorrissysheeaunpark looking towards tuamkilkseagh looking towards rathmorrissykilkseagh looking towards tuamlaraghmore looking towards rathmorrissylaraghmore looking towards tuamannagh hill looking towards rathmorrissyannagh hill looking towards tuam