N59 - Moycullen Bypass [opening late 2023]

dastardly00

Road markings were done a few days ago

Hotblack Desiato

We continue the baffling Irish practice of wasting almost half of a road, I see.

KrisW1001

It's not wasted. Wide shoulders suit our rural primary routes, which have low traffic volumes but a relatively high number of slow vehicles. Giving slower traffic a space to pull in safely prevents long tailbacks from forming.

There is nowhere near enough traffic here to justify a dual carriageway. The other alternative of two lanes each way with no median divider is proven to be far, far more dangerous than a single carriageway with wide shoulders, and so it isn't permitted for new construction.

Hotblack Desiato

Nobody is asking for a dual carriageway but there is almost enough space to allow for two lanes in each direction.

Giving slower traffic a lane to travel in not just a half-arsed space for them to pull into if they can be bothered, but will remain completely unused almost all of the time.

How is it safer to NOT have an overtaking lane?

Pete_Cavan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121308812#Comment_121308812

Wait, so you are not asking for a dual carriageway but want an overtaking lane?

Hotblack Desiato

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121310455#Comment_121310455

They're not the same thing. Why make the road that wide but only have one lane that can actually be driven in? It's not like there's a cycle lane or footpath, either, or any need for them on this route. Waste of tarmac.

Pete_Cavan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121313531#Comment_121313531

An overtaking lane on a short stretch of new road like the Moycullen bypass is essentially a dual carrigeway, unless you want a 2+1 which we don't build. The hard shoulders are too narrow for driving lanes so can't just be converted.

Hard shoulders allow for breakdowns or accidents to be moved to the side, avoiding delays and reducing potential for further accidents. The margonal extra cost of the hard shoulders is small and brings benefits, I really don't see what your problem is.

Chris_5339762

This was originally due to be 2+2, or at least dual carriageway before the idea of "2+2" came into being. Probably would have been better for safety reasons, but its a case of build whatever we can at the moment I guess.

Paddico

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121299134#Comment_121299134

Holy shít, a dual carriage way around the village of Moycullen.

Ive seen it all now

KrisW1001

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121313531#Comment_121313531

Because this configuration is safer. The thing you’re suggesting, a four lane road without a median divider, is proven to be lethal in every country it’s been tried.

On this type of road, the hard shoulder is there for the use of non-motor users including cyclists and pedestrians, and there is a need for them because this is a national road, and thus a public right of way.

Hotblack Desiato

Again I ask, how does adding an overtaking lane make a road less safe?

Would cyclists or pedestrians in particular take a long detour on this road instead of going through the town?

KrisW1001

If you provide an overtaking lane on the open, flat road, there's a significant share of drivers who will speed up to use them, even if they were already driving at the speed limit: we all know the type - needs to be ahead of everyone else. The problem with this is that when the lane ends, they can end up facing oncoming traffic, at high speed. This behaviour was seen on all of the 2+1 pilot roads with significant traffic, and that's why we don't do 2+1 roads anymore. (undivided 2+2 roads are lethal in a different way, because cars travelling fast in the passing lane can meet cross traffic or right-turners from the opposing lane).

Overtaking lanes are only used on hills, so that traffic doesn't get stuck behind heavy vehicles, but in this case the steep gradient also prevents excessive speed from overtaking cars.

Hotblack Desiato

So really the problem is bad drivers and poorly designed junctions not the road itself. 2+1s with the alternating overtaking lane vs no overtaking lane just gave eejits more opportunity to be eejits, but we're not talking about a 2+1 here.

There is (or used to be) a really low quality DC near Mullingar with badly designed junctions, it wasn't the presence or absence of a divider in the middle which made that road less or more dangerous.

Hotblack Desiato

I doubt there's more than one dual carriageway in Mullingar, but it was the main N4. Looking at a map the junctions are grade separated now.

yannakis

Have they published a date when this is expected to open?

Also, do we know the old N59's part new road name/number?

Andrea B.

Again yesterday morning watched an articulated trunk trundle from it's depot past a busy national school and with great difficulty manoeuvre the tight junction in village.

Anyone familiar with the bypass going under Church Road can see the available land which would have allowed an entrance/exit City side only between the bypass and Church Road.

The madness (Irish type) is, that it will be done. At a later date with inconvenience and cost. Just not now.

dastardly00

The bypass is opening on December 11th

https://m.independent.ie/regionals/galway/news/moycullen-bypass-official-opening-date-confirmed-as-project-set-to-remove-heavy-traffic/a940976334.html

Mrs Dempsey

The bypass received planning permission in 2012 and started construction in January 2022

Decade dance

L1011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121402985#Comment_121402985

It was on GCC development plans from the 70s.

The main section of the ring road of my town was on development plans from 1987 onwards and still hasn't broken ground (although I think the CPOs have vested). One section is built through two estates and still closed. We may beat Moycullen yet.

spacetweek

Which town is your town?

what_traffic

Hope Moycullen can now get the long awaited bus shelters in the Village itself. Waiting decades for them

tphase

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121320915#Comment_121320915

a real pity they didn't include a hard shoulder on the N59 Bunnakill to Maam Cross section. I believe the logic was it would make the carrigeway feel wider and drivers would be more likely to speed. Instead they have 50cm of tarmac and a wide grassy area on either side of the road with the result that it does feel wide to drivers but it's not particularly safe for cyclists (or pedestrians but not that many of those would use that section of road) .

tphase

you must be thinking of a different road....

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121416042#Comment_121416042

what_traffic

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121413801#Comment_121413801

Have to wait for the Greenway.........will be the northern side of this section that was done from Bunnakill to Maam Cross. Pretty simple job this stretch, nearly 100% on the old railway alignment and was used as a road to service the bog when Keoghs cut turf here until recently.

tphase

looking forward to the greenway but it won't suit the Tour de Connemara boys out on their Sunday spin