N17 - Claremorris / Knock bypass

marno21

Whilst this is a fantastic stretch of road, it has a major Achilles heal. Two grade separated junctions provide access to the bypassed town of Claremorris and village of Knock, however all other minor roads along the route front directly onto the N17 mainline. This stretch of road is high speed and quite busy, and an accident involving one of these minor roads (old N17 at the southern terminus of the scheme) took the lives of 3 people last year

At the inquest, the coroner described accessing the N17 via these roads as "almost like Russian roulette". In my opinion, some of these roads should be closed up as they are used as ray runs for accessing the towns, which are accessible via the official junctions, and right turns across busy lanes are quite dangerous.

https://www.rte.ie/news/2018/0918/994564-inquest-mayo-crash/

marno21

marno21 wrote: »

Whilst this is a fantastic stretch of road, it has a major Achilles heal. Two grade separated junctions provide access to the bypassed town of Claremorris and village of Knock, however all other minor roads along the route front directly onto the N17 mainline. This stretch of road is high speed and quite busy, and an accident involving one of these minor roads (old N17 at the southern terminus of the scheme) took the lives of 3 people last year

At the inquest, the coroner described accessing the N17 via these roads as "almost like Russian roulette". In my opinion, some of these roads should be closed up as they are used as ray runs for accessing the towns, which are accessible via the official junctions, and right turns across busy lanes are quite dangerous.

https://www.rte.ie/news/2018/0918/994564-inquest-mayo-crash/

Only Dublin and Cork had higher road deaths than Mayo last year. Our roads are all single lane, with all junctions leading into traffic.

The N5 between Bohola and Swinford, while been a wide two lane road and ony several km long is one of the worst stretches for road deaths in the country, with two more this year. The T junctions are turning onto 100km/hr traffic. If main roads are improved to allow traffic to drive faster, then the junctions accessing those faster roads should be made safer.

hans aus dtschl

I agree with all of the above.

There's a large number of side roads, and the traffic is rat-running between all the towns using these roads.
The lack of a direct road between Claremorris and Ballina, or, say Knock and Ballina leads to a plethora of different route possibilities for end-to-end traffic too.

Not an easy thing to fix AFTER the N17 and N5 have been upgraded.

Donegal Storm

Another issue with this stretch of road and others like it is that it leads to a free-for-all when it comes to overtaking. Slow cars drive half way into the shoulder and people overtake despite incoming traffic. Generally there's enough space but I've seen a few close calls with cars on both sides overtaking at the same time or where the car in the shoulder needs to suddenly pull out.

Not sure what they could really do about combating it though..

BelfastVanMan

Donegal Storm wrote: »

Another issue with this stretch of road and others like it is that it leads to a free-for-all when it comes to overtaking. Slow cars drive half way into the shoulder and people overtake despite incoming traffic. Generally there's enough space but I've seen a few close calls with cars on both sides overtaking at the same time or where the car in the shoulder needs to suddenly pull out.

Not sure what they could really do about combating it though..

2+2 Conversion.

Just another legacy of having too many roads and one off housing buttered all over the place.

These minor roads should be closed off from the N17 and accessed locally only.

yew_tree

In light of that terrible accident I see that the recommendation is for the Ballinrobe Rd turn off to be turned into a flyover. Same with knock airport

marno21

yew_tree wrote: »

In light of that terrible accident I see that the recommendation is for the Ballinrobe Rd turn off to be turned into a flyover. Same with knock airport

Is there a published source for this?

yew_tree

marno21 wrote: »

Is there a published source for this?

https://www.midwestradio.ie/index.php/news/26610-tii-recommends-overbridge-at-dangerous-lisduff-junction-on-the-n17-near-claremorris

marno21

Thank you

I think an N17 Knock-Claremorris scheme including GSJs, widening to 2+2 and closure of accesses is a meritorious project, especially with Knock-Sligo on the way too.

yew_tree

marno21 wrote: »

Thank you

I think an N17 Knock-Claremorris scheme including GSJs, widening to 2+2 and closure of accesses is a meritorious project, especially with Knock-Sligo on the way too.

Claremorris to Charlestown upgrade won’t be done for many years in my view. Many other projects need attention first.

marno21

TII are proceeding with an overbridge at the junction of the N17 Claremorris bypass and the old detrunked N17 south of Claremorris.

https://www.advertiser.ie/mayo/article/107031/dangerous-n17-junctions-to-be-addressed

The proposed GSJ at Knock Airport will not go ahead. This section of N17 is to be bypassed by a new dual carriageway over the coming years anyway.

marno21

https://www.mayo.ie/news/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Appendix-A-Part-8-Drawings.pdf

Junction with old N17 south of Claremorris to be grade seperated.

Includes sufficient space under the bridge to allow for a future Type 2 DC underneath.

DumbBrunette

Update on new N17 GSJ in Mayo:

It is anticipated that the N17/R320 Junction at Lisduff construction contract will proceed to tender during Q1/Q2 2021, subject to TII approval. If approval is given it is anticipated that a contractor will be on site by mid-2021. Negotiations with landowners will commence in Q1 2021.

marno21

https://irl.eu-supply.com/ctm/Supplier/PublicPurchase/180787/0/0?returnUrl=ctm/Supplier/PublicTenders&b=ETENDERS_SIMPLE

Tender out for construction of the N17/R320 interchange.

DumbBrunette

It's amazing how quickly these projects can get done if the will is there. There is a strong incentive to fix this junction due to a horrific accident in 2017, so this project was conceived, designed and brought to construction in 3-4 years (which should be the norm for small projects).

On the other hand, there are 3 'bad bend' schemes on the N60 between Castlebar and Claremorris, all of which were first funded in 2011. Two got planning in 2014 and one of these was built in 2019 (Lagnamuck), the other has still not been tendered (Heathlawn).

The third project, at Manulla, hasn't even gone to Bord Pleanala yet, 10 years after it was first funded.

marno21 wrote: »

https://irl.eu-supply.com/ctm/Supplier/PublicPurchase/180787/0/0?returnUrl=ctm/Supplier/PublicTenders&b=ETENDERS_SIMPLE

Tender out for construction of the N17/R320 interchange.

DumbBrunette

DumbBrunette wrote: »

It's amazing how quickly these projects can get done if the will is there. There is a strong incentive to fix this junction due to a horrific accident in 2017, so this project was conceived, designed and brought to construction in 3-4 years (which should be the norm for small projects).

On the other hand, there are 3 'bad bend' schemes on the N60 between Castlebar and Claremorris, all of which were first funded in 2011. Two got planning in 2014 and one of these was built in 2019 (Lagnamuck), the other has still not been tendered (Heathlawn).

The third project, at Manulla, hasn't even gone to Bord Pleanala yet, 10 years after it was first funded.

Funding is done in stages so it's unlikely all 3 received full funding for all stages back then

DumbBrunette

That's fair enough, but all three projects have been funded every year since 2011. It makes me wonder what the money has been spent on, given the lack of progress.

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Funding is done in stages so it's unlikely all 3 received full funding for all stages back then

DumbBrunette

DumbBrunette wrote: »

That's fair enough, but all three projects have been funded every year since 2011. It makes me wonder what the money has been spent on, given the lack of progress.

Did you ask the local councillors or the council themselves? They would be best positioned to clarify

DumbBrunette

I have a request in with TII so we'll have to wait and see what they come back with.

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Did you ask the local councillors or the council themselves? They would be best positioned to clarify

marno21

BAM appointed as contractor. 2022 start, 2023 opening.

https://www.con-telegraph.ie/2021/11/30/contract-awarded-for-bridge-on-n17-at-claremorris/

Future proofed for when the Claremorris/Knock bypasses are dualled, at this rate likely in the latter half of this century.

DumbBrunette

More info here, construction to be completed by February 2023:

https://www.mayo.ie/en-ie/news/bam-civil-ltd-awarded-construction-of-the-n17-r320

And a map of the new scheme, nearly 1km of connecting roads:

yannakis

A bit more detailed view from the planning files.

DumbBrunette

€6m allocated to the new GSJ in Claremorris for 2022 in the TII allocations.

spacetweek

https://twitter.com/CISireland/status/1471827522144727050?s=20

marno21

Contract award

https://irl.eu-supply.com/ctm/Supplier/PublicTenders/ViewNotice/253621

€5.19m is the contract value.

serfboard

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118301962#Comment_118301962

That junction seems very complicated to me. A junction like this one on the N17, would surely be simpler and cheaper, and would work just as effectively?

Pete_Cavan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118421387#Comment_118421387

They are pretty much the same thing only that the junctions are further apart at Claremorris and two roundabouts instead of one.

DumbBrunette

https://www.con-telegraph.ie/2022/01/27/reduced-speed-limit-on-n17-for-mayo-bridge-works/

Works starting on the new GSJ in the next few days

DumbBrunette

Passed by today and work has definitely started. Vegetation is being cleared and the new speed limit is in place.

DumbBrunette

https://www.con-telegraph.ie/2022/05/16/planned-temporary-n17-closure-for-mayo-bridge-works/

..

DumbBrunette

https://twitter.com/MayoCoCo/status/1539516826660511746?t=hllPwUgnGBSTNo0wyaq5vw&s=19

Drone video of the beam lift for the new overbridge at Claremorris.

DumbBrunette

https://youtu.be/oNCIsVKKPnI

Better video with some good shots of the giant crane in action.

DumbBrunette

And another clip of the new bridge. Project completion is Q1 2023.

https://twitter.com/MayoCoCo/status/1540016836615585792?t=KxNikHuNIN-Yp5nUHxDsEw&s=19

DumbBrunette

Nice pic looking south along the N17. Slip roads taking shape on the left.

KrisW1001

Bridge span looks wide enough to allow the road under to be widened to 2+2. Always nice to see forward thinking...

marno21

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119307284#Comment_119307284

Indeed it was specified early on that the bridge would be wide enough to accommodate a future 2+2 upgrade. Sensible forward thinking

yew_tree

When is this due to open? Seems to be slow enough. There is a very noticeable traffic volume increase thru the town centre since the old ballindine road closed to facilitate the new junction layout.

DumbBrunette

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119608506#Comment_119608506

Next February.

serfboard

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119608506#Comment_119608506

Going northward on the N17, the old Ballindine road is open now, meaning that access to the town from the "Claremorris South" junction has been restored.

DumbBrunette

Opening date for the new junction is now January according to Mayo Co Co. It had originally been due to open in Feb.

DumbBrunette

https://www.con-telegraph.ie/2023/03/03/new-mayo-bridge-over-n17-opening-soon/

Full opening date has slipped again but still a very fast project from conception to delivery, by Irish standards.

brianc89

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120308236#Comment_120308236

How fast we talking?...

UsBus

Every time I drive along this section towards Claremorris/Knock, there are cars exiting out the old Ballindine road turning left onto the N17. They crawl up the N17 a couple of hundred yards, then reverse into one of the side roads. They then proceed to turn out right headed for Ballindine.

I hope they start using the slip road once it's open and stop this dangerous practice.

DumbBrunette

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120308263#Comment_120308263

It was first funded for design work in 2019 I think, with the construction tender awarded at end of 2021. Compare that to the N60 at Heathlawn, first funded in 2011 and tender awarded in 2022 🙄

DumbBrunette

https://www.con-telegraph.ie/2023/03/03/new-mayo-bridge-on-n17-has-opened-today/

The bridge, and presumably the entire junction, has opened today.

spacetweek

"The news was confirmed to local councillors at a Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District meeting this week. It will open in the next few weeks to the general public, members were told, with an official opening event some time later in March or April."

"Update: Since this article was published this morning, Mayo County Council has announced that the bridge has opened today."

Looks like Mayo CC didn't communicate well to the Municipal District meeting!

DumbBrunette

https://westernpeople.ie/2023/07/22/calleary-to-open-e10m-road-re-alignment-in-south-mayo/

Official opening this week :)

cartoncowboy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120885284#Comment_120885284

Ive driven past (under) this a few times now. Is there a reason for the string of orange ballards all over it? The purpose of these is not obvious to me, are they to slow down traffic there or what. I thought them more of a hazard than anything else tbh.

serfboard

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120885492#Comment_120885492

They’re to stop people crossing the road at the junction, which would re-create the problem that the junction was designed to solve. They have to stretch a good bit, otherwise people will just drive around them. There are similar bollards on the Knock bypass.

spacetweek

Open to traffic for 4 months before the official opening? Must be hard to book a Minister these days.