Heading to Athlone/Galway

jeffk

Im reading there is an overturned truck in Athlone, has anyone been around the area today? Im heading into Athlone for a pit stop around 4ish and then heading back out onto the motorway to Galway.

Thanks for any information, I want to be sure so I can leave earlier if need be!

TestTransmission

http://www.aaireland.ie/AA/AA-Roadwatch.aspx

MAIN TRAFFIC* *N6/WESTMEATH/ROSCOMMON* An overturned truck is partially blocking the Tuam Slip Rd R/A off the N6/Athlone Bypass at J13 Athlone West. For now, motorists are being asked to avoid exiting at J13 but the exit will be closed shortly to remove the vehicle. • There are also works on the Athlone bypass affecting some access to and exits from the bypass. The N6/Athlone Bypass is down to one lane eastbound from J13 to J11 Athlone Centre and westbound from J11 to J12 Roscommon. • From Galway to Athlone, exit the N6 at J12 or at any exit between J10 Ballymahon and J8 Athlone East (M6). • Headed from Dublin towards Athlone, exit between J8 and J12. • From Roscommon onto the N6 eastbound, you will have to take the Old N6 (R446) through the town and access the bypass via J10. • Traffic from Birr to Athlone is unaffected. * Works are continuing in Monksland on the Old Tuam Rd until later today. A stop/go system is also in place on the New Tuam Rd until approx 31st Mar.

coylemj

There is a truck overturned on the Tuam exit (J13) off the N6 so if you're heading to Galway it shouldn't be an issue. The Tuam exit is the one after the exit for Roscommon/Hodson Bay, it's the second exit after you cross the Shannon heading west.

If you're exiting for your pitstop on the east side of Athlone you shouldn't have any issues.

jeffk

Thanks for the information, the way I read it, the main exit from Athlone to the motorway was to be avoided.

So ill take the Athlone east exit and come in over the railway bridge, houses and then by golden island, rather than the exit just after where you can see Athlone town stadium and down into the town over the level crossing?

coylemj

No, the only new problem is if you are trying to exit off the N6 at J13 to head towards Tuam, otherwise that truck won't be a problem.

On the east side of the town you can take any exit you like, business as usual. What place in the town are you heading to for the pitstop?

stevenmu

Any particular reason you're going into the town itself?

If not you can take the east-most exit there's a garage/service area with a few places to get food/toilets etc, and you can just get straight back on the bypass from there without worrying about the traffic around the town etc.

reilig

There are pretty long delays at the roadworks on Friday evenings. I got stuck there last friday evening at around 4pm for nearly half an hour. So you might want to factor that in.

jeffk

@coylemj Im heading to supermacs facing the texas shopping centre, Irish town I think the areas called

@stevenmu My brothers a vegetarian and only eats the food in supermacs, also its handy with the parking across in texas for the hour only costing a euro. Otherwise as you say we could stop in some service areas

@reilig grand thanks for the information, we have allowed just over 5 hours to get from Dublin to the ground with stopping for food included

coylemj

There are roadworks on the Athlone bypass affecting traffic in both directions as you can see in the AA Roadwatch bulletin posted above. As an earlier poster said, that causes problems and tailbacks on Fridays and is likely to be worse today with people heading to Galway for the w/e with the current decent weather.

If I was you I'd get through Athlone as early as possible and come off the M6 at Ballinasloe and visit Supermacs there, there are two branches in Ballinasloe.

jeffk

coylemj wrote: »

There are roadworks on the Athlone bypass affecting traffic in both directions as you can see in the AA Roadwatch bulletin posted above. As an earlier poster said, that causes problems and tailbacks on Fridays and is likely to be worse today with people heading to Galway for the w/e with the current decent weather.

If I was you I'd get through Athlone as early as possible and come off the M6 at Ballinasloe and visit Supermacs there, there are two branches in Ballinasloe.

I was looking at going to Ballinasloe, but from the map it looks like you are going out of your way to get to it, whereas Athlone is near.

But with this traffic problem I think ill change plans, which branch would you suggest thats easiest to get to and park? Ive only seen one on the main street.

coylemj

The other branch is on Sarsfield Road which is where Portiuncula Hospital is.

Another option is to go to Supermacs in Athlone, then drive through the town heading west and over the old road bridge (the old Galway road) to avoid the tailbacks on the bypass (N6) bridge over the Shannon. Immediately over the bridge go right at the roundabout and drive along the river, follow this road for about a mile and then take the right turn for Roscommon (N61), 500 metres up that road there is an intersection with the N6, go left at the roundabout and join the N6 heading west for Galway. You could stay on the old Galway road and join the N6 at the Tuam exit but if they haven't shifted that truck it could still be blocked.

jeffk

coylemj wrote: »

The other branch is on Sarsfield Road which is where Portiuncula Hospital is.

Another option is to go to Supermacs in Athlone, then drive through the town heading west and over the old road bridge (the old Galway road) to avoid the tailbacks on the bypass (N6) bridge over the Shannon. About a mile after you cross the Shannon, take the right turn for Roscommon (N61) and 500 metres up that road there is an intersection with the N6, go left at the roundabout and join the N6 heading west for Galway.

Thats where I had planned before the truck mess.
Basically straight from supermacs, across the bridge, turn right, along the canal/river under the railway bridge and theres a garage on your left and then as you say out onto the N6.

Hopefully they will have it moved by the time im there, around 5ish. I suppose if not they will divert the traffic another way onto the motorway!

coylemj

jeffk wrote: »

Thats where I had planned before the truck mess.
Basically straight from supermacs, across the bridge, turn right, along the canal/river under the railway bridge and theres a garage on your left and then as you say out onto the N6.

Hopefully they will have it moved by the time im there, around 5ish. I suppose if not they will divert the traffic another way onto the motorway!

Almost correct, the garage is on the right, the railway line to Galway is on your left all the way from the time you leave the river where the road swings left as you pass under the white railway bridge. Then after the garage and just over the brow of the hill turn right for Roscommon (N61) and go left at the roundabout for Galway. The truck will not be a problem as long as you avoid the Tuam exit so you must go right for 500m on the Roscommon Road (N61) and then left at the roundabout to join the N6, otherwise if you continue on the old Galway road you will arrive at the Tuam exit and you could be in trouble.

Remember that it's just the Tuam exit that's blocked so all the Gardai will do is close that exit when the truck is being moved. As long as you stay clear of that exit you'll be fine.

jeffk

coylemj wrote: »

Almost correct, the garage is on the right, the railway line to Galway is on your left all the way from the time you leave the river where the road swings left as you pass under the white railway bridge. Then after the garage and just over the brow of the hill turn right for Roscommon (N61) and go left at the roundabout for Galway. The truck will not be a problem as long as you avoid the Tuam exit so you must go right for 500m on the Roscommon Road (N61) and then left at the roundabout to join the N6, otherwise if you continue on the old Galway road you will arrive at the Tuam exit and you could be in trouble.

Remember that it's just the Tuam exit that's blocked so all the Gardai will do is close that exit when the truck is being moved. As long as you stay clear of that exit you'll be fine.

Great stuff thanks for all the help and information.
Ill stick to the original plan with Athlone so and please god there are no more problems :cool:

whyulittle

coylemj wrote: »

Almost correct, the garage is on the right, the railway line to Galway is on your left all the way from the time you leave the river where the road swings left as you pass under the white railway bridge. Then after the garage and just over the brow of the hill turn right for Roscommon (N61) and go left at the roundabout for Galway. The truck will not be a problem as long as you avoid the Tuam exit so you must go right for 500m on the Roscommon Road (N61) and then left at the roundabout to join the N6, otherwise if you continue on the old Galway road you will arrive at the Tuam exit and you could be in trouble.

Left at Ganly's Roundabout? That will have him travelling to Dublin. You turn left just before the underpass.

Oh and yeah get off at Exit 10, beside Athlone Town Stadium to head into town.

coylemj

You're right, there's only one roundabout and it's beside Ganleys, the turn the OP needs to take is a left turn before the overpass, it will be signposted N6 Galway anyway so I'd say there shouldn't be a problem.

tierney2

There is a Supermacs in the Dolans Petrol Station in Ballinasloe - opposite Dubarry Factory. Literally 3 minutes off the motorway. Alot handier (and quieter!) than trying to get to the Athlone Supermacs. Take the first Ballinasloe East/Shannonbridge Exit off the motorway and follow the Ballinasloe signs.

Big Nasty

Eh, it's less than 2 hrs Dublin to Galway City - tell him to wait. A veggie and only eats in Supermacs - great taste!:D:D