Safest roads between Edgeworthstown and Roscrea

ectoraige

I have to drive late tonight which will take me from Edgeworthstown to Roscrea. Ordinarily I'd just follow the shortest route that Google throws up.

However, I've never driven any of these roads, the weather forecasts are uncertain, and on top of that, the vehicle I'll be driving isn't my own, could do with fresh tyres, and has a rear-end that likes to slide around corners. So just for tonight, I'd like to stay on the best roads as far as possible, I don't really mind how long it takes.

The most direct route seems to be the N55 to Athlone, and then the N62 on to Birr and Roscrea. Looking at them on streetview though, They seem to be pretty poor roads though, for national routes.

Alternatively, I could stay on the N4 to Mullingar, down to Kilbeggan via either N52/Tyrellspass or N4/Kinnegad/M6, and then on to Tullamore. From there I can go via Birr, or on to Portlaoise, out onto the M7 as far as Borris-in-Ossory, and then to Roscrea. Other than the N4 and M7 sections though, would they be any better than the N55/N62?

Third option is to stick to motorways as much as possible, so that's carrying onto M4, and cutting across to the M7 - what would be the best route between these two? Kilcock/Clane? Maynooth/Straffan?

Given the only variable I can alter is the route, any advice?

schemingbohemia

ectoraige wrote: »

I have to drive late tonight which will take me from Edgeworthstown to Roscrea. Ordinarily I'd just follow the shortest route that Google throws up.

However, I've never driven any of these roads, the weather forecasts are uncertain, and on top of that, the vehicle I'll be driving isn't my own, could do with fresh tyres, and has a rear-end that likes to slide around corners. So just for tonight, I'd like to stay on the best roads as far as possible, I don't really mind how long it takes.

The most direct route seems to be the N55 to Athlone, and then the N62 on to Birr and Roscrea. Looking at them on streetview though, They seem to be pretty poor roads though, for national routes.

Alternatively, I could stay on the N4 to Mullingar, down to Kilbeggan via either N52/Tyrellspass or N4/Kinnegad/M6, and then on to Tullamore. From there I can go via Birr, or on to Portlaoise, out onto the M7 as far as Borris-in-Ossory, and then to Roscrea. Other than the N4 and M7 sections though, would they be any better than the N55/N62?

Third option is to stick to motorways as much as possible, so that's carrying onto M4, and cutting across to the M7 - what would be the best route between these two? Kilcock/Clane? Maynooth/Straffan?

Given the only variable I can alter is the route, any advice?

Do you have to go? Driving in a car you know to be dodgy when the forecast is predicting -7 tonight is not sensible. Wait until tomorrow.

munchkin_utd

ectoraige wrote: »

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The most direct route seems to be the N55 to Athlone, and then the N62 on to Birr and Roscrea. Looking at them on streetview though, They seem to be pretty poor roads though, for national routes.

Alternatively, I could stay on the N4 to Mullingar, down to Kilbeggan via either N52/Tyrellspass or N4/Kinnegad/M6, and then on to Tullamore. From there I can go via Birr, or on to Portlaoise, out onto the M7 as far as Borris-in-Ossory, and then to Roscrea. Other than the N4 and M7 sections though, would they be any better than the N55/N62?

Third option is to stick to motorways as much as possible, so that's carrying onto M4, and cutting across to the M7 - what would be the best route between these two? Kilcock/Clane? Maynooth/Straffan?

Given the only variable I can alter is the route, any advice?

I've done both your last options a number of times for similar reasons. As in to avoid crap roads and accepting a longer distance for an easier drive.

To go N4 to Mullingar-then Tullamore-Portlaoise has you on probably one of the best secondary roads in Ireland and the last remaining bad section was completely rebuilt there a couple of years ago. The only section not rebuilt in the last decade is the last few km to Portlaoise, but its mainly straight anyhow so a handy enough road to drive.

To go via Clane (or Maynooth - we have done both) is another thing we used to do in order to get to the M7 from Cavan (so same as you, we needed to go via Edgeworthstown). Its more motorway, but the regional roads in Kildare are slow and windy, theres a bit of a diversion needed about Naas to get onto the M7 and in general the few extra km on motorway and an extra toll is not worth the hassle compared to whats a quicker and more than acceptably straight forward drive via Tullamore.

ectoraige

schemingbohemia wrote: »

Do you have to go? Driving in a car you know to be dodgy when the forecast is predicting -7 tonight is not sensible. Wait until tomorrow.

Well, I could go tonight at 8pm, or wait until 5am tomorrow morning when it's still dark and give the ice a real good chance to form.

ectoraige

munchkin_utd wrote: »

I've done both your last options a number of times for similar reasons. As in to avoid crap roads and accepting a longer distance for an easier drive.

To go N4 to Mullingar-then Tullamore-Portlaoise has you on probably one of the best secondary roads in Ireland and the last remaining bad section was completely rebuilt there a couple of years ago. The only section not rebuilt in the last decade is the last few km to Portlaoise, but its mainly straight anyhow so a handy enough road to drive.

To go via Clane (or Maynooth - we have done both) is another thing we used to do in order to get to the M7 from Cavan (so same as you, we needed to go via Edgeworthstown). Its more motorway, but the regional roads in Kildare are slow and windy, theres a bit of a diversion needed about Naas to get onto the M7 and in general the few extra km on motorway and an extra toll is not worth the hassle compared to whats a quicker and more than acceptably straight forward drive via Tullamore.

I'll probably aim for Tullamore so, and if conditions seem dodgy I may end up on the M50!