N4 and N5 upgrades

hi5

Business leaders in the Midlands want road improvements along the N4 and N5
including Motorways.

http://www.chambers.ie/events/events/2016/12/13/n4/n5-chambers-presentation-morning/

http://www.longfordleader.ie/news/home/227450/longford-chamber-of-commerce-joins-forces-with-seven-other-chambers-to-demand-action-on-midlands-and-west-of-ireland-roads.html

veryangryman

Mental TBH. Would need to be a long way down the pecking order after roads in south west (M20, Adare bypass, Macroom etc)

I mean where do you really get significant tailbacks on any of those roads.

FWIW i think N26 should get upgraded prior as there is a decent amount of traffic on this

yew_tree

How is it mental that these business leaders are looking out for their own areas?
There is a reason a huge amount of rail freight comes from Mayo. Bad road access is an issue. The N5 dual carriageway is being fenced right now between Westport and Turlough (Dublin side of Castlebar).

marno21

I think it's wonderful that the chambers in the NW are rightly trying to get the terrible stretches of the N4 and N5 upgraded.

It's a pity the south west wouldn't do the same. The constant attempts to get these roads upgraded seems to be working, and it's only going to affect the SW in the long run.

marno21

yew_tree wrote: »

How is it mental that these business leaders are looking out for their own areas?
There is a reason a huge amount of rail freight comes from Mayo. Bad road access is an issue. The N5 dual carriageway is being fenced right now between Westport and Turlough (Dublin side of Castlebar).

Moving freight from Ballina to Waterford will always be more efficient via rail. We should be happy they are doing so rather than more trucks on the roads in fairness.

yew_tree

marno21 wrote: »

Moving freight from Ballina to Waterford will always be more efficient via rail. We should be happy they are doing so rather than more trucks on the roads in fairness.

I am happy we have rail freight and as you say it's the best way to move freight. Fact is major mutlinational companies in Mayo like Coca Cola, Baxter and Allergan have all sat in on meetings down the years highlighting the need for better road access. There were even reports of goods been broken during transport.

Some of the 5 has been upgraded but it is still a pretty poor standard for long sections with many road deaths. That is what is being highlighted here. IT should not be a west v south divide.

marno21

yew_tree wrote: »

I am happy we have rail freight and as you say it's the best way to move freight. Fact is major mutlinational companies in Mayo like Coca Cola, Baxter and Allergan have all sat in on meetings down the years highlighting the need for better road access. There were even reports of goods been broken during transport.

Some of the 5 has been upgraded but it is still a pretty poor standard for long sections with many road deaths. That is what is being highlighted here. IT should not be a west v south divide.

I know it shouldn't be a west vs south divide. But as I've said previously, there are multinationals in all sides of the country with pathetic road access. Mayo is not the only county in this situation. Between Cork/Kerry/Limerick so much time is wasted by trucks and vans sitting in traffic or moving at 60km/h on "national roads". I understand how it is in Mayo but it's a major issue nationwide. Road upgrading needs to go beyond the N4/N5 but it's good to see that the chambers are there highlighting the issue, and maybe something will actually be done about it now. Hopefully if these have success with the N4/N5 getting pushed on other chambers might decide to follow their lead and get the rest of the national road network upgraded. The road/rail network is so Dublin centric at present that it's no wonder regional development is struggling. One motorway in the country that doesn't have Dublin as a terminus is pathetic.

yew_tree

I see you point and I have traveled the Limerick - Cork road and its a disgrace. This thread though and chamber meetings are about the N4/N5.
Sligo has largely been forgotten too.

marno21

yew_tree wrote: »

I see you point and I have traveled the Limerick - Cork road and its a disgrace. This thread though and chamber meetings are about the N4/N5.
Sligo has largely been forgotten too.

Yes, indeed it is.

The N4 Collooney-Castlebaldwin and N5 Westport-Turlough will both start in 2019, possibly earlier. The three other schemes mentioned are:

* N5 Ballaghaderren - Strokestown is going through the planning phases. With funding, it could start in 2020/2021.
* N4 Mullingar - Rooskey is still suspended, and won't be reactivated for quite some time as there is no funding to do so.
* N4 Dromod - Carrick on Shannon is also suspended, but should be on the radar due to congestion through Carrick on Shannon.

ALL remaining schemes on the N5 are active at present, so the N5 could be finished for good by 2023. The DC from Westport through Castlebar connecting to the Flynn expressway/Swinford BP, then the 2006 Charlestown BP, 2014 Ballaghaderreen BP, currently in planning road through to the wide SC at Strokestown and then the Longford BP.

Regarding Sligo:

* The N4 as discussed above is getting its section in Co. Sligo dualled. This must be the biggest priority on the N4 corridor due to the absolute state of the road.

* The N17 from Tuam - Collooney is all suspended. No movement expected soon.

* The N4 Sligo BP has also completely gone off the radar

* The N15 DC north of Sligo, and the 2+2 from there to the county boundary is also suspended. It's unsure what'll happen here as the proposed N16 approaching Sligo will likely connect to this, and onto the N4 Inner Relief Road.

* The N16 is planned to be realigned in full from the NI border to Sligo, but this is being done in sections as funding is unavailable for large schemes. There is currently an active realignment in Co. Leitrim.

road_high

Priority on the N4 needs to be the congested Longford Mullingar stretch. After that until Castlebawldwin it's quite a pleasant road. I certainly wouldn't see it as a priority as the South western roads, they're of a far worse standard. I appreciate Carrick is an issue but it's no way as bad as say Adare.
North of Longford I'd just do the Castlebaldwin stretch, extend the M4 to Longford for now.

bilbot79

There needs to be a proper motorway cutting through the northwest. Every other corner has them but the American tour buses won't go too far there because it's not as accessible

road_high

bilbot79 wrote: »

There needs to be a proper motorway cutting through the northwest. Every other corner has them but the American tour buses won't go too far there because it's not as accessible

But just because other regions have them isn't enough, there needs to be justification to build them. Like the M4 to Longford is justified by the traffic figures for example.
The M17 will be help to the west.
There was a lot of investment in the N4 through the 90s when other routes got nothing. Tour buses would have zero difficulty as it's mostly very high and high standard 2 lane with bits of DC and climbing lanes. Other far worse routes have to take priority just now.

MayoSalmon

M4/N5 is tolerable for the most part. Roscommon stretch is shocking though and dangerous.

Would agree with the M4 to Longford, that should be built tomorrow solely on how busy that section of road is.

SeanW

I'd like to see the Mullingar-Rooskey proposal cut into sections.

2 sections should be started as soon as possible:

1) A Motorway bypass of both of Ballinalack and Rathowen. Grade Separated Junctions near both towns, and Motorway restrictions between them. Current road renumbered R148.
2) A 2+2 bypass of Newtownforbes.

The rest (including Motorway to the N4/N5 split and 2+2 DC from there to the start of the Rooskey-Dromod DC) can be done in a piecemeal fashion, some parts waiting until higher priorities, (M20, Dart Underground etc) are dealt with.

mcneil

yew_tree wrote: »

The N5 dual carriageway is being fenced right now between Westport and Turlough (Dublin side of Castlebar).

How soon does other works commence once all fencing is erected and is there a deadline to when this stretch of road should be completed?

mcneil

marno21 wrote: »

.

ALL remaining schemes on the N5 are active at present, so the N5 could be finished for good by 2023. The DC from Westport through Castlebar connecting to the Flynn expressway/Swinford BP, then the 2006 Charlestown BP, 2014 Ballaghaderreen BP, currently in planning road through to the wide SC at Strokestown and then the Longford BP.

.

Does this include the bohola,ballyvary, turlough and the road to ballina section. My cousin has a holiday home we visit and he mentioned to us and showed maps of this new road. However, he did say the locals are all saying they can't see it being started for a decade or 2. Would he be correct?

marno21

mcneil wrote: »

How soon does other works commence once all fencing is erected and is there a deadline to when this stretch of road should be completed?

When funding is made available for the construction phase, that's what's holding that scheme back.

mcneil wrote: »

Does this include the bohola,ballyvary, turlough and the road to ballina section. My cousin has a holiday home we visit and he mentioned to us and showed maps of this new road. However, he did say the locals are all saying they can't see it being started for a decade or 2. Would he be correct?

Not this side of 2025 anyway. Thread on that scheme here: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055993323

mcneil

marno21 wrote: »

When funding is made available for the construction phase, that's what's holding that scheme back.

So basically the fences could stay there for 5-10 years before a sod of turf is turned!

Not this side of 2025 anyway. Thread on that scheme here: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055993323

marno21

mcneil wrote: »

marno21 wrote: »

When funding is made available for the construction phase, that's what's holding that scheme back.


So basically the fences could stay there for 5-10 years before a sod of turf is turned!



Not this side of 2025 anyway. Thread on that scheme here: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055993323[/QUOTE

Yep, but I presume FG are planning for another election around 2019/2020 and will have a sod turning around then.

N5/N26/N58 is a long way away. However, a realignment at Cloongullane Bridge on the N26 between Swinford and Foxford is planned to start in 2017/18

road_high

So when's the new N4 Castlebaldwin going to construction? Was on it yesterday and looks to be bits of fenced off and ready

marno21

road_high wrote: »

So when's the new N4 Castlebaldwin going to construction? Was on it yesterday and looks to be bits of fenced off and ready

Thread on it here: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057108204&page=2

At present, it's ready to go but no funding available for construction til 2019. A tender will likely appear by year end and depending on how the financial elements work out it could start in late 2019.

Priority seems to be M7 upgrade, Dunkettle then the N4/N5 then N22.

judeboy101

road_high wrote: »

Priority on the N4 needs to be the congested Longford Mullingar stretch. After that until Castlebawldwin it's quite a pleasant road. I certainly wouldn't see it as a priority as the South western roads, they're of a far worse standard. I appreciate Carrick is an issue but it's no way as bad as say Adare.
North of Longford I'd just do the Castlebaldwin stretch, extend the M4 to Longford for now.

The fact every lorry bus and car going to the NW needs to cross the same narrow bridge in Carrick is pleasant?

D Trent

judeboy101 wrote: »

The fact every lorry bus and car going to the NW needs to cross the same narrow bridge in Carrick is pleasant?

And cyclist. I don't mean the Lycra brigade rather old Mrs o keeffe who's returning from the butchers with a Ham joint to boil for mr o keeffes dinner and she dawdling across that bridge.

road_high

judeboy101 wrote: »

The fact every lorry bus and car going to the NW needs to cross the same narrow bridge in Carrick is pleasant?

Well it's hardly a major stumbling block. It's wide enough for two HGVs or buses to psss each other comfortably. Like I said, it needs a proper bypass but there's far worse towns ahead of it

road_high

D Trent wrote: »

And cyclist. I don't mean the Lycra brigade rather old Mrs o keeffe who's returning from the butchers with a Ham joint to boil for mr o keeffes dinner and she dawdling across that bridge.

There's a perfectly acceptable pedestrian bridge for people to use. Simply dismount and walk across that in safety