Killaloe bypass, Shannon crossing & R494 Birdhill-Killaloe

pajoguy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121388754#Comment_121388754

The Road Closure for the R-494 is until 3rd May 2024 so I would assume that section will be open at that stage.

TheBaldyRef

The road closure is till May to facilitate the railway bridge only. When that's complete the road will open but the road upgrade for that section won't be complete. I don't understand why they can't upgrade that road while the bridge closed as very little traffic now. Makes no sense. That point was made to me by a business owner on that road. Very little happening in regards to the road itself which is frustrating.

TheBaldyRef

Drove the section of road from Larkins to the railway bridge. From the river to halfway to Larkins (roughly 500m) one side of the road is complete just an extra layer or two of tarmac. Now working on the the opposite side of the road. Railway bridge still well off. The river crossing has plenty of activity going on.

pajoguy

https://www.clarecoco.ie/services/capital-projects/roads-and-bridges/killaloe-bypass-shannon-bridge-crossing/

further drone footage

source

https://m.independent.ie/regionals/clare/news/new-river-shannon-crossing-to-transform-links-between-tipperary-and-clare/a1530840356.html

Cookiemunster

From the above article. First beam has been placed.

getoutadodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121470454#Comment_121470454

Looks great!

Cookiemunster

Video of the second beam being installed.

https://youtu.be/6q0jedx1by8?si=ZSX4GUGYZCmRbiiZ

Cookiemunster

DroneHawk took a trip to Killaloe.

https://youtu.be/76XtgoZMbzA?si=jKLji8AcRTYOyeR1

Hibernicis

Classically elegant look about that bridge.

Pete_Cavan

Agreed, early days yet but the new bridge looks like it could be one that looks like it has always been there when it opens.

Is there any possibility of the old bridge being made pedestrian/cyclist only after the new bridge opens? I think that would be fantastic but I'm sure there would be plenty of opposition, maybe pedestrian/cyclist only at certain times could be an option?

source

As far as I know the old bridge is to become a 1 way, no idea which direction they're planning.

road_high

This scheme looks very advanced already

pigtown

The existing bridge is to be pedestrianised as part of a town face-lift.

https://www.clarecoco.ie/services/planning/killaloe-ballina-plan/

Pete_Cavan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121688045#Comment_121688045

Fantastic, thanks.

pajoguy

There are monthly updates on the clare county council website of the scheme. Drone footage of the length of the scheme is excellent.

https://www.clarecoco.ie/services/capital-projects/roads-and-bridges/killaloe-bypass-shannon-bridge-crossing/

Chris_5339762

For once they are designing a bridge that looks elegant and decent, rather than one that tries to be a statement piece, or one that is just done in the cheapest way humanly possible.

cnocbui

I tried to find publicly accessable vantage points to take some photos of the progress but they are scant on the Ballina side.

pajoguy

On Approach to Shannon at Midday

Pete_Cavan

What I really like about this project is that it not only provides new modern infrastructure, it also removes the burden of the modern world from historic infrastructure which was never intended to carry huge numbers of 1ton vehicles every day.

I'd love to see a programme of new bridges to allow old stone bridges to be used by pedestrians/cyclists only.

Paddico

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121688766#Comment_121688766

I dunno. The blue is nce but it loosk bland enough.

Maybe give it a fake suspension bridge look and it would be something to be proud of

Pete_Cavan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121824005#Comment_121824005

Bland it may turn out to be but as I said before, I think the new bridge could have that "looks like it has always been there" look about it. That could also fall into the category of bland but I'd prefer an understated charm to trying too hard to impress. Early days yet and it could go either way but I think it is encouraging so far.

cnocbui

Ardnacrusha delivers SFA these days in terms of the grids overall capacity. I'd like to see them decommission it and open all the gates and restore the rapids between Ballina and Killaloe there once were before it was built. And they could also remove that appalling monstrosity of an eel seive tacked onto the stone bridge. You would also get back a small drowned village and church from the waters just south of the new bridge, I believe.

Act Fast

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121825990#Comment_121825990

We need every bit of energy we can get and Ardnacrusha delivers when the wind isn't blowing.

JupiterKid

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121825990#Comment_121825990

Not going to happen, not just for the need for power from Ardnacrusha but also it would cut off boat navigation from Killaloe to Limerick and badly affect the navigation and water levels further up the Shannon.

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121830994#Comment_121830994

Boat traffic to Limerick could continue if the old canal was reinstated.

You'd have a still water canal right into Lock Quay and no strong flow in the Abbey River.

It would be a very attractive navigation for the inland boats but obviously restricted for larger vessels.

But as you say, not going to happen.

cnocbui

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121828432#Comment_121828432

When the wind isn't blowing, Ardnacrusha delivers 86 MW. That's only about 1.5% of demand. But yes, it's not going to happen.

spacetweek

Am I right in saying that the massive Shannon hydropower scheme completed by Siemens in the 1930s and which electrified the whole of rural Ireland only delivered 86 MW? Seems very quaint.

callaway92

Sorry for the questions that have probably been answered a good bit above

Coming from Birdhill side (The Applegreen for example) to Killaloe and onto Ogonnelloe/Scariff, at that roundabout, how long more will the road straight through the roundabout be closed for?

Basically, will a clean route from the Applegreen to Ogonnelloe be back open any time soon or will diversions still be going on for a long time?

Hibernicis

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121832342#Comment_121832342

The station opened in 1929 with three turbines with a combined output of 62MW. The uptake was faster than expected and phase two was initiated in 1933 and went live in 1935 adding a single additional turbine with 24MW capacity, bringing the output to 86MW. The original turbines are still running.

The output was sufficient for the nationwide rural electrification scheme, including many towns and villages, and it also supplanted the "power houses" which were owned and operated in larger centres.

I'm not sure if their ESB are still running tours of the facility. I went some years back and it was fascinating and I would highly recommend it if the opportunity arises.