N18 Hear we go again

Shane Slv

Looks like the N18 is going to be reduced to 1 lane each way again near the new flyover from next week. Hopefully it wont be as chaotic as last time. But with the inability of the irish to merge properly do I dout it

http://www.aaroadwatch.ie/traffic/story.asp?id=109853

goingpostal

Shane Slv wrote: »

Looks like the N18 is going to be reduced to 1 lane each way again near the new flyover from next week. Hopefully it wont be as chaotic as last time. But with the inability of the irish to merge properly do I dout it

http://www.aaroadwatch.ie/traffic/story.asp?id=109853

Is it going to be one way from the Sixmilebridge/Cratloe flyover until the Radisson? I am not familiar with the place names that the linkie uses?

Shane Slv

ya the AA artical is a bit confusing alright. Id say it will be reduced to one lane just after setrights until just after the radisson.

phog

Cahermoyle is where the road from the Radisson meets the N18 and I assume the Sixmilebridge bridge interchange is the Portdrine, Cratloe, Sixmilebridge junction/flyover is.

Shane Slv

ya id say thats it. It is a long section to be reduced to 1 lane. Iam expecting long delays.:(

goingpostal

Tis a right kick in the stones alright. Would traffic be heavy before 8am? Maybe I will start work at 7am instead, or I could try out the bítching new rail service from The Bridge to Limerick. Or I could pretend I am superman and fly to work. The possibilities are endless!!!

Berty

Merge. Shouldn't be any issues. It was fine the last time.

Shane Slv

I just hope some people have learned lessons from last time, I am half tinking of taking the old cratloe road to avoid.

Berty

Shane Slv wrote: »

I just hope some people have learned lessons from last time

I doubt it. Nobody could accept the other side of the argument. It's going to take them a while. They even have a roundabout to build around 300 mtrs before the flyover so that's more annoyance.

OwenM

only half a roundabout to be built, if you slow down and look you can see the other half is built and at least partially surfaced...

Shane Slv

Roundabouts, another thing irish drivers can't use. Id imagine that this new roundabout will be very busy during rush hour.

Berty

Shane Slv wrote: »

Roundabouts, another thing irish drivers can't use. Id imagine that this new roundabout will be very busy during rush hour.

Not necessarily because when the road opens most people will use the tunnel and not need to use the roundabout.

The smaller roundabout at the Clondrinagh Industrial estate doesn't slow people down anyway.

Shane Slv

i dont really know the layout for the tunnel, i assumed to access the tunnel you would have to use the roundabout.
The quicker its all finished the better. I am sick of risking my life on that temporary duel-carrage way. Those corners are lethal.

And that clonmacken roundabout is madness at rush hour.

Berty

Shane Slv wrote: »

i dont really know the layout for the tunnel, i assumed to access the tunnel you would have to use the roundabout.
The quicker its all finished the better. I am sick of risking my life on that temporary duel-carrage way. Those corners are lethal.

And that clonmacken roundabout is madness at rush hour.

http://www.limericktunnel.com/RouteMapInteractive.html

counterlock

Shane Slv wrote: »

I am sick of risking my life on that temporary duel-carrage way. Those corners are lethal.

They aren't corners, they are chicanes. And if they are good enough for race tracks then they are good enough for the drive home

OP thanks for the heads up. Looks like I'll be leaving for work an hour earlier again

Osk

Thanks a million for the heads up.

Liam Byrne

Berty wrote: »

Not necessarily because when the road opens most people will use the tunnel and not need to use the roundabout.

They might, if they weren't essentially charging €2 for it......paying €1.80 in fiddly change is suitably time-wasting to encourage the throwing in of €2.

It should have been €1 to encourage more people to use it.

e.g. 1,000 cars @ €1 vs 500 cars @ €2 = same difference.

I'd normally support a small toll to reflect the less-frustration/time saving/petrol saving, but I've no interest in paying €4 extra for a round-trip to Ennis on top of the existing increased road tax and €1.30+ per litre of petrol.

2 Espressi

counterlock wrote: »

They aren't corners, they are chicanes.

Yup, I've managed to perfect the left-right flick in the van. And if you cut the corner (2 wheels just over the line on the right) in the first right hand kink (outside lane) coming out of Limerick, you can carry much more speed through there as well! Racing lines are fun...

What freaks me out the most though is the two segments of median that are out of alignment, and stand proud of the rest, into the outside lane. Some genius covered it with a heavy mat, but I don't think that'll do much good...

counterlock

Yea, its an high-impact absorbing mat though. :rolleyes:

The scary thing is, coming from the Shannon side in the slow lane is so rough I'm surprised that I haven't come across a bad accident there.

zuroph

is it a bird, is it a plane?! NO! Its The return of the Blue Van man!!!

Berty

2 Espressi wrote: »

Yup, I've managed to perfect the left-right flick in the van. And if you cut the corner (2 wheels just over the line on the right) in the first right hand kink (outside lane) coming out of Limerick, you can carry much more speed through there as well! Racing lines are fun...

Get a Toll Tag. No Change or stopping at all. Just take the Express Lane and sail on through.

When my old boss actually returns my Toll Tag to me it would be helpful.

goingpostal

No sign of the road being reduced to single lane yet. Any further news on this development?

Berty

goingpostal wrote: »

No sign of the road being reduced to single lane yet. Any further news on this development?

I'll find out for you tomorrow.

Melion

What is traffic like on the dual carriage at about 7.40am? Ive started a new job since they went back to 2 lanes.

goingpostal

Melion wrote: »

What is traffic like on the dual carriage at about 7.40am? Ive started a new job since they went back to 2 lanes.

Which direction are you going in? I go towards Limerick at that time every morning and it is a breeze all the way into town and onto the Dock Road, I never take too much notice of the opposite direction but it always seems to be moving fairly handy. If you hit the Condell Road after the Coonagh Roundabout after 8.10am then you start to meet all the school traffic and you crawl all the way into town from there.

Melion

Sorry, heading out to Shannon.

Back into town after 8pm so wont be worrying about that.

Roadend

Its still dual carriageway as of this morning

Deedsie

Berty wrote: »

I'll find out for you tomorrow.

Any word on them changing to 1 lane Berty?

Berty

Deedsie wrote: »

Any word on them changing to 1 lane Berty?

I got an e-mail from the Liaison officer this morning telling me that the Engineer will e-mail me later today and if he hasn't to e-mail him back so Im afraid nothing so far.

LTPPP Liaison Officer wrote:

Dear ______,



I acknowledge receipt of your query below. I have referred same to the contractor and asked for response to issue promptly. Should you not hear further from that source by the end of the day, you might please advise me.



Yours sincerely,



Seamus Hayes



Project Liaison Officer

Limerick Tunnel PPP Scheme

Site Office

Bunlicky

Dock Road

Limerick

Tel (061)583855

Fax. (061)583852

EMail seamus.hayes@ltppp.ie

Deedsie

Berty wrote: »

I got an e-mail from the Liaison officer this morning telling me that the Engineer will e-mail me later today and if he hasn't to e-mail him back so Im afraid nothing so far.

I took a leaf out of your book Berty, here is the email response i received:

The contractor has advised that this has been re-scheduled somewhat as follows:

12 April: Southbound traffic restricted to single lane from Sixmilebridge junction to south of the Radisson to facilitate gantry installation. After c. 2 weeks the length of single lane will be reduced to start at Cratloe Castle.

20 April: Northbound traffic diverted onto single lane of new slip road under the bridge between Cratloemoyle roundabout and the existing N18.

Regards,
Seamus Hayes
Project Liaison Officer
Limerick Tunnel PPP Scheme
Site Office
Bunlicky
Dock Road
Limerick
Tel (061)583855 (061)583855
Fax. (061)583852
EMail seamus.hayes@ltppp.ie

Berty

It's good you posted it because I'm away at interview and the iPhone is a disaster for trying to copy and paste.

I got the exact reply.

goingpostal

Deedsie wrote: »

I took a leaf out of your book Berty, here is the email response i received:

The contractor has advised that this has been re-scheduled somewhat as follows:

12 April: Southbound traffic restricted to single lane from Sixmilebridge junction to south of the Radisson to facilitate gantry installation. After c. 2 weeks the length of single lane will be reduced to start at Cratloe Castle.

20 April: Northbound traffic diverted onto single lane of new slip road under the bridge between Cratloemoyle roundabout and the existing N18.

Regards,
Seamus Hayes
Project Liaison Officer
Limerick Tunnel PPP Scheme
Site Office
Bunlicky
Dock Road
Limerick
Tel (061)583855 (061)583855
Fax. (061)583852
EMail seamus.hayes@ltppp.ie

I think I might be dodging the potholes on the Old Cratloe Road from Monday so. Thanks for the heads-up.

phog

Not sure if anyone has mentioned this but I was on the back road recently and got caught on the level crossing waiting for a train and waiting I was, so if you clash with a train schedule this may not be a "short cut". With the new route to Galway opened recently this add an additional 10 trains to the track.

Twin-go

Still 2 lanes as of this morning c. 8.00am. No sign of them closing a lane either.

Berty

It's the only thing that makes me happy to be unemployed. Not having to drive on that road.

Roadend

But its still two lanes......

zuroph

Berty wrote: »

It's the only thing that makes me happy to be unemployed. Not having to drive on that road.

AND we don't have to listen to you moan about it, so it's win win!

Berty

zuroph wrote: »

AND we don't have to listen to you moan about it, so it's win win!

Nice

phill106

phog wrote: »

Not sure if anyone has mentioned this but I was on the back road recently and got caught on the level crossing waiting for a train and waiting I was, so if you clash with a train schedule this may not be a "short cut". With the new route to Galway opened recently this add an additional 10 trains to the track.

I will NEVER go down that way by the level crossing to avoid traffic. Got stuck there for an hour last year, busses and trucks trying to avoid traffic, were too big to get through junction with all the traffic.
Nightmare!

Vanhalla

how many piece of **** tolls are there goin to be? is there one for the nenagh limerick road aswell. ****in joke

Berty

Vanhalla wrote: »

how many piece of **** tolls are there goin to be? is there one for the nenagh limerick road aswell. ****in joke

Different roads you are talking about.

The tunnel will have a Toll and there will be a Toll on the way to Dublin at Portlaoise so you have a long way to go before you need to think about avoiding it.

Tip, when it opens in December of this year, exit at Mountrath to avoid the Toll and then rejoin at Portlaoise.

There will be no Toll at Nenagh.

showgirlrita

http://www.aaroadwatch.ie/traffic/story.asp?id=110506

Limerick - Lane restrictions will operate on the N18 Limerick/Ennis Rd at the Cratloe Rd Jct until Mon 28th JuneUpdated: 04/05/2010 07:16:21Traffic on the N18 Limerick/Ennis Rd coming from the Limerick City direction will be reduced to one lane just before the Cratloemoyle R/A. From Wed 5th traffic will be reduced to one lane after the Sixmilebridge Bridge Interchange. Delays are to be expected as a result. These works will continue until Mon 28th June, when the Limerick Tunnel Project will open.


Theres been many false alarm about when this would begin, guess i will find out soon enough if it has been implemented.

phog

showgirlrita wrote: »

http://www.aaroadwatch.ie/traffic/story.asp?id=110506

Limerick - Lane restrictions will operate on the N18 Limerick/Ennis Rd at the Cratloe Rd Jct until Mon 28th JuneUpdated: 04/05/2010 07:16:21Traffic on the N18 Limerick/Ennis Rd coming from the Limerick City direction will be reduced to one lane just before the Cratloemoyle R/A. From Wed 5th traffic will be reduced to one lane after the Sixmilebridge Bridge Interchange. Delays are to be expected as a result. These works will continue until Mon 28th June, when the Limerick Tunnel Project will open.


Theres been many false alarm about when this would begin, guess i will find out soon enough if it has been implemented.

Passed there last night and thought that they must be close to having to close the roads to beging the merge of new to old and complete the roundablout near the Radisson, I guess this time it's no false alarm.

Melion

Just came through it. Its down to one lane

phill106

Melion wrote: »

Just came through it. Its down to one lane

Just went through, one lane but moving grand. Didn't see an actual lane closed ahead sign, just a hard shoulder closed sign. Did I miss it or what? As it is, I was expecting it for the last few days. Could be dodgy in the overtaking lane if you didn't know!

Berty

Could be dodgy as it is the way people act on that section anyway.

Twin-go

Melion wrote: »

Just came through it. Its down to one lane

Which direction and at what time Mel?

I went from the Shannon to Limerick Direction at about 8:10am and while it wasn't too bad, I think this could get tricky. It looks like both the right lane late mergers (Me Sometimes ) and the folks coming from the Sixmilebridge/Cratloe on ramp will be merging in the same place.

Just as an FYI. Its down to one lane from the Cratloe on ramp as far as Cratloe Castle where it returns to 2 lanes on the temporay section.

Melion

I dont think it will be as bad as it was the last time thank god. There is a lot more room for people to merge from the overtaking lane too.

phog

Melion wrote: »

I dont think it will be as bad as it was the last time thank god. There is a lot more room for people to merge from the overtaking lane too.

I think the problem the last time around was that the construction site was using traffic lights to allow trucks to draw filling for the temporary road that we are now using and each time the road users got the red light it caused tailbacks.

showgirlrita

Melion wrote: »

I dont think it will be as bad as it was the last time thank god. There is a lot more room for people to merge from the overtaking lane too.

The delays arent as bad as the last time so no need to go home via back roads of Cratloe, but there are still some lunatics who are flying up the fast lane trying to squeeze in at the last minute even tho the majority of all the other drivers have already merged in to the slow lane.
You know who you are Mr. Navy Micra!!! :mad:

Berty

showgirlrita wrote: »

The delays arent as bad as the last time so no need to go home via back roads of Cratloe, but there are still some lunatics who are flying up the fast lane trying to squeeze in at the last minute even tho the majority of all the other drivers have already merged in to the slow lane.
You know who you are Mr. Navy Micra!!! :mad:

Just to be pedantic for a moment. There is no such thing as a "fast lane" or a "slow lane". It's an overtaking lane and the left lane.