N6 - Athlone, Garrycastle Bridge works to finally start in three months

veryangryman

munchkin_utd wrote: »

it makes massive sense
a ) to upgrade the road with regards to the R916 being the primary route, rather than for local preferences to get to an estate or school or whatever
b ) to upgrade the route that links the north midlands to the Athlone IT, if not the rest of Ireland, from the N6 bypass to the facility over some local preferences that see a route to the shops or schools as more pressing.

From seeing it first hand last weekend its way worse than any google streetview would give the impression of. A very narrow bridge that 2 cars can barely pass on, followed by a blind 90 degree bend. It'd be interesting to see how a truck would attempt to negotiate the bend without causing utter traffic chaos.
Its actually the sort of stuff that the councils should have had in the drawer before the boom so that it could be carried out should "funds become available".
It doesnt look as if it will be finished anytime soon, but maybe someone with inside knowledge could enlighten us as to when this will actually be finished.

The schools contain ~2000 students+staff, not to mention a few hundred residents going towards Garycastle/IDA/Ericsson/bypass. Surely the point of prioritisation is that the majority get what they need.

The college is not really a bottleneck by comparison. They have Kilmartins exit should they require. In fact this is the route signed on the N6->N62->R446->college

By the way, is the old bridge to be destroyed?

Zubeneschamali

veryangryman wrote: »

By the way, is the old bridge to be destroyed?

From my reading of the plans, no. It just won't be a through route for motor traffic anymore.

Zubeneschamali

veryangryman wrote: »

Anyone know a finish date for this? I imagine it will take a year or so

From September's council meeting:

2. Cllr. A. Shaw:
What is the status of the construction project at Garrycastle Bridge in terms of projected completion date, traffic management at the site and general stage of completion as against the time plan set out at the start?

Reply: The projected completion date for the R916 Garrycastle Bridge Realignment Scheme is 13th February 2014 as per the contract for the works and the contractor is currently on target to meet this date. The contractor is currently concentrating his resources on the completion of the bridge and the associated approach structures and this element of the works is approximately 80% complete at this time. It is expected that construction of the road on both sides of the bridge will commence within the coming 2 months. Traffic Management Plans are being formulated by the contractor for those parts of the works which interface with the public roads. A number of utilities require diversion where the new road joins into the existing roads but it is expected that there will not be any significant impact on current traffic flows while the works progress as most of the work will be carried out off the public road. The contractor must liaise with An Garda Síochána, the Roads Authority and transport companies to give advance notice of such works. When Traffic Management Plans for those parts of the works which impact on the public road are received and approved, these will be brought to the attention of the Members and the public.

veryangryman

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

From September's council meeting:

2. Cllr. A. Shaw:
What is the status of the construction project at Garrycastle Bridge in terms of projected completion date, traffic management at the site and general stage of completion as against the time plan set out at the start?

Reply: The projected completion date for the R916 Garrycastle Bridge Realignment Scheme is 13th February 2014 as per the contract for the works and the contractor is currently on target to meet this date. The contractor is currently concentrating his resources on the completion of the bridge and the associated approach structures and this element of the works is approximately 80% complete at this time. It is expected that construction of the road on both sides of the bridge will commence within the coming 2 months. Traffic Management Plans are being formulated by the contractor for those parts of the works which interface with the public roads. A number of utilities require diversion where the new road joins into the existing roads but it is expected that there will not be any significant impact on current traffic flows while the works progress as most of the work will be carried out off the public road. The contractor must liaise with An Garda Síochána, the Roads Authority and transport companies to give advance notice of such works. When Traffic Management Plans for those parts of the works which impact on the public road are received and approved, these will be brought to the attention of the Members and the public.

Looks good for that date based on progress. A glance from the road shows the new bridge taking shape. Nice work

whyulittle

Noticed the outline of a roundabout today, not far off the road between Cyrpus Gardens and the College gate.

veryangryman

Looking good for an ontime completion, largely taken shape at this stage.

veryangryman

veryangryman wrote: »

Looking good for an ontime completion, largely taken shape at this stage.

A bit late according to latest reports. New traffic management plan for now upto 21 February. I guess an extra week or so is acceptable when youve been waiting for this like monkeys for feeding time in the zoo

whyulittle

They've started to tie in the AIT to Cypress Gardens road into the new layout.

whyulittle

whyulittle wrote: »

They've started to tie in the AIT to Cypress Gardens road into the new layout.

One lane is running (the short way round)on the new roundabout this afternoon , alternate ways.

whyulittle

R916 Garrycastle Bridge Realignment Scheme - Traffic Management Notice issued Friday 21st February 2014

Due to the recent period of poor weather we wish to advise that the alternate single lane traffic management (controlled by traffic lights) currently in operation on the R916 Wash House Road between the Cypress Gardens entrance and the side entrance to Athlone Institute of Technology will continue until Wednesday 26th February 2014 to facilitate the connection of the new roundabout to the existing road at this location as part of the above roadworks scheme.

Westmeath Local Authorities regret any inconvenience caused.

http://www.athlone.ie/council-notices/r916-garrycastle-bridge-realignment-scheme-traffic-management-notice-issued-friday-21st-february-2014#.Uwd3xU4Yllc.facebook

veryangryman

Still no sign of completion almost a month after the scheduled completion date and the site itself is a mess right now.

Hope the contractor is not getting extra for this

Is traffic using it yet?

veryangryman

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Is traffic using it yet?

I don't think so. Pile of cars parked on the side of it

veryangryman

Hi XXXXXX,

Thanks for your e-mail earlier today in relation to the notice on the Council website. This notice was part of a series of notices which were put up a few weeks ago while the works on the southern section of this road scheme were ongoing. These works impacted traffic flows on the public road close to the side entrance to Athlone IT and Cypress Gardens and the notices were designed to give advance notice of the traffic restrictions to users of that section of road. As you may be aware, two-way traffic flow was restored on 16 Feb ’14 as promised and the web notice should then have been removed. This has now been actioned.

In relation to the remainder of the scheme, works to the bridge are complete and the main road alignment (approx. 700 metres) is practically complete. You may be aware that works are currently concentrated on the section adjacent to the Spar shop and FÁS (Garrycastle). The new roundabout at this location and the roads on either side are now at an advanced stage. I expect to have these completed within the next 5 – 6 weeks. Traffic will be diverted onto the new road and away from the old bridge during this period in order to complete the works to the roundabout.
Regards
Alan
Alan Kelly S.E.E.
Project Resident Engineer, R916 Garrycastle Bridge Realignment Scheme

whyulittle

Date out to May now according to local paper today.

veryangryman

R916 GARRYCASTLE BRIDGE REALIGNMENT SCHEME – TRAFFIC DELAYS EXPECTED

We wish to advise that alternate single lane traffic management (controlled by traffic lights) will be in operation on the R916 between the Athlone Relief Road (Junction 9, Garrycastle) and the old Garrycastle Bridge during the following times for next week:

• From 4pm on Sunday 6th April ’14 to 7am on Monday 7th April ’14, and
• From 10am on Monday 7th April ’14 through to 5pm on Friday 11th April ’14.


Westmeath Local Authorities regret any inconvenience caused.

whyulittle

Bridge set for an April 19th opening now, says local paper.

veryangryman

whyulittle wrote: »

Bridge set for an April 19th opening now, says local paper.

Ambitious at best. Unless they mean the diversions to the new bridge (which would temporarily close the old one) start that day.

Id say this will run into May for total completion

veryangryman

veryangryman wrote: »

Ambitious at best. Unless they mean the diversions to the new bridge (which would temporarily close the old one) start that day.

Id say this will run into May for total completion

I expect that the traffic will be switched to the new bridge with single line working by the shop while road is built. The old bridge will never reopen, it'll be pedestrian only.

whyulittle

According to online reports, the bridge has opened.

veryangryman

Deleted User wrote: »

I expect that the traffic will be switched to the new bridge with single line working by the shop while road is built. The old bridge will never reopen, it'll be pedestrian only.

Do we know this for a fact? How would that be policed?

Zubeneschamali

veryangryman wrote: »

Do we know this for a fact? How would that be policed?

According to the plans linked upthread, the bridge will be open to all traffic, but the Spar will be at the end of a cul-de-sac, that road will not be accessible from the roundabout beside the shop on the Western end.

veryangryman

Used it for the first time this week.

Spar shop cul de sacs an ok idea as it allows more flow of traffic.

Bad thing though: Traffic priorities have not been updated to suit this. You still have to yield to traffic coming from Spar if your going Schools towards college.

I guess this will come in time but for now its confusing and may cause an accident.

flazio

I'd prefer it if the access to the Spar was from the Garrycastle side and the bridge closed to vehicle traffic. If priority was changed then pulling out of the bridge onto the road would be quite dangerous

SeanW

Anyone have pics?

Zubeneschamali

flazio wrote: »

I'd prefer it if the access to the Spar was from the Garrycastle side

The SPAR have opened a new carpark at the rear of the shop on the Garrycastle side. I'd say traffic to the front door over the old bridge will be near zero in time.

I'd agree that they should close it to vehicular traffic.

Zubeneschamali

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

The SPAR have opened a new carpark at the rear of the shop on the Garrycastle side. I'd say traffic to the front door over the old bridge will be near zero in time.

I'd agree that they should close it to vehicular traffic.

That is probably the long term plan.

veryangryman

Anyone got any opinion of the new bridge?

IMO they've made a balls of it. Between the pre-existing traffic lights that nobody wanted and the sluggish roundabouts, its pretty p1ss poor and doesn't do anything really to speed up the average journey.

Why the road couldn't have been straighter too is beyond me. Why did they need to make a roundabout when they could have just gone through the land that the old abandoned house was.

I agree the old bridge should be closed to traffic. Spar is grand for deliveries on the back side (which is also convenient to said trucks for the M6).