M17/M18 - Gort to Tuam [open to traffic]

JCX BXC wrote: »

One could also argue that this infrastructure should never have been built, and the money instead poured into the more logical M20, but you should thank your local politicians for doing their work and getting the M17/M18 on track first.

The nation as a whole benefits from either or both of these schemes. Both should have been put in place long ago and the fact that the M20 still sits on the shelf is another indictment of the quality of our politicians in general yet I am sure when it is eventually built there will be plenty politicians queuing up to cut the ribbon on it.
Am glad to see any improvements in the countries infrastructure and I've a skeptical enough view of politicians so perhaps my views are a bit biased.

Speculation on whether tuam bypass will open early as stand-alone

The m17 at ballybanagher corofin 17/04/1517/11/16

I'd imagine the construction consortium will want some ppp money coming in if they open the tuam bypass, and the state won't want to pay.

Noise barrier now in place on the m17 at mahangh bridge 19/11/16

The m17 1km form annagh hill looking towards tuam 20/11/16looking towards rathmorissyfoot bridge will be in place where the old n63 was by the end of Decemberannagh hill tuam sidetop of the flyover looking towards tuamlooking towards rathmorissy

The townland of kilcloghans on the tuam bypass looking towards milltownlooking towards the kilmore roundabout

marno21 wrote: »

Surely be an early opening by the look of these pics. The Tuam BP is only 4km long, if there's tarmac down in parts and there's no major structures to be completed it will surely be ready in 3-4 months.

I was going to say Easter 17, it's 4.5kms with 2 flyovers

The tuam bypass 21/11/16 weir roadtop of the flyoverriver nanneytop of bridgerailway bridgetop of bridgeposts in place for the noise barrierballygaddy road junction

Are we expecting a staggered opening for any of this scheme?

Also M17, what's your feel for the scheme build. I've always thought that some of the corner radii are a bit tight on the Ennis to Gort section of the M18 for a motorway.

m17 wrote: »

There still saying there will be no phased openings but the way it's looking there will be three openings tuam bypass,tuam to rathmorissy,rathmorrisy to gort also the m17 isn't as tight as the m18

I'm not sure who 'they' are but if it's anything to do with politicians there will be three openings. Why have one picture in the papers when you can have three!

BTW M17 thanks a million for all the updates.

WildWater wrote: »

I'm not sure who 'they' are but if it's anything to do with politicians there will be three openings. Why have one picture in the papers when you can have three!

You could get great political bang for the buck out of three openings:

• Tuam-based councillors for the Bypass ("A great day for the people of Tuam - removing X vehicles from the town and giving the town back to the community")
• Claregalway-based councillors (and "super-councillor" Noel Grealish) for the Tuam->Rathmorrisy section ("A great day for the people of Claregalway - removing Y vehicles from the town and giving the town back to the community")
• And Clarinbridge-based councillors for Rathmorrisy->Gort ("A great day for the people of Clarinbridge - removing Z vehicles from the town and giving the town back to the community")

In reality though, I think there'll only be two - while the Tuam bypass might open early (depending on whether the government will stump up money earlier than it intended to), I think the rest will open in one go. TII and the Minister (Shane Ross, God help us) won't want to keep opening bits of it.

serfboard wrote: »

You could get great political bang for the buck out of three openings:

• Tuam-based councillors for the Bypass ("A great day for the people of Tuam - removing X vehicles from the town and giving the town back to the community")
• Claregalway-based councillors (and "super-councillor" Noel Grealish) for the Tuam->Rathmorrisy section ("A great day for the people of Claregalway - removing Y vehicles from the town and giving the town back to the community")
• And Clarinbridge-based councillors for Rathmorrisy->Gort ("A great day for the people of Clarinbridge - removing Z vehicles from the town and giving the town back to the community")

In reality though, I think there'll only be two - while the Tuam bypass might open early (depending on whether the government will stump up money earlier than it intended to), I think the rest will open in one go. TII and the Minister (Shane Ross, God help us) won't want to keep opening bits of it.

The reason I was saying there be three openings the tuam bypass will be ready end of April,the m17 is miles ahead of the m18,l was down at rathmorissy last weekend the making great progress on the roundabout,they have a lot of work do on the m17/m18 flyover and the end of the m18 and forget Shane ross we'll open it ourselves

AugustusMinimus wrote: »

How come the M17 is so far ahead of the M18? Easier terrain?

Last year's flooding on the m18 has set langans back month's2

Question for you all. The road to Clarinbridge will still be used after the M18 decides to be opened as can you imagine the carnage on Junction 19 on the M6 , It will be like going through Claregalway once again with serious delays. The only time I'll see a benefit to the M6 is when Galway city is bypassed!

As for the Rathmorrissey Junction 18 on the M6/M18 and Junction 1 on the M17 do the expect traffic from Tuam to drive down Athenry to go to Galway and Gort traffic to drive to Athenry to go to Galway? Lets just say that traffic will not be doing this because that's why there is such a poor uptake of the Western Rail Corridor part 1 . This is coming from a person who used to live on the N18 outside Gort.