N5 - Westport to Turlough [open to traffic]

They seem to have a lot of saplings planted in certain places. Hard to tell sometimes when the grass is almost as high. They may have more to do.

I haven't heard of any funding for surfacing the old road but the council have previously mentioned developing a Westport-Castlebar Greenway possibly alongside the old N5 once the new road opened.

The surface on the old road, which has now been downgraded to a regional route, seems ok to me so I'd imagine any investment will be mainly on a greenway. If it doesn't come from the DC budget it will come from the Dept of Transport. As far as I know the DC budget would only extend to repairing approach roads due to construction but I'm open to correction.

https://www.con-telegraph.ie/2020/01/30/n5-castlebar-westport-greenway-proposal/

Westport councillors are unhappy with the signage approaching the town from the new N5 (they seem to love a rant). Granted the omission of Louisburgh and Leenane seems a bit strange alright but Westport and Westport North is clearly signposted on the approach so not sure why people are continuing to the Newport road side if they want to get into town. More of a case of people not understanding the layout of the town IMO. Would imagine it will resolve itself as people get more familiar with the new roads.

https://www.mayonews.ie/news/home/1256359/claims-signage-on-new-n5-causing-traffic-chaos-on-newport-road-in-westport.html

Charming

Seems weird to have Islandeady on that sign. If you were going to Islandeady from that direction, surely you'd have come off the dual carriageway at the roundabout outside Castlebar? But no mention that that's the best way to the coast road or the N59 going south?

Some of those Councillors talk a serious amount of rubbish, but I'll give them that one, there are a number of issues with that sign.

Islandeady seems strange alright - almost as if it's there to direct people who may have missed the sign at the Pheasant hill roundabout. Hard to argue that it should have precedence over directing traffic to Leeane, Louisburgh though. Think we all agree they should be included.

Strictly speaking Westport itself is probably correctly labeled. The addition of "Westport North" might be confusing people as to which way to go but in theory it should be a help in splitting traffic to different parts of the town and reducing the previous issues with tailbacks at Knockranny. Castlebar could do with similar signage - for example if you are driving from Westport you are directed into town on the R309 at the first roundabout regardless of what part of Castlebar you are bound for. Signs saying Castlebar West, South etc might be better, especially for busy times of the day.

Changing the Westport label to 'Westport Town centre' and adding the N59 desinations might be the solution.

Theres just 2 primary roads in the area - the N5 and N59 - and they omit signage for the N59 south but signpost a Regional road. Seems illogical but is this because of some rule that you can't mention the N59 south because you have to go through regional roads to get to it (if taking a left at the first roundabout)? Someone mentioned something like this before in relation to Ballina not being signposted on the new N5 because its separated from the N5 by the N26. If this is the case the rules aren't always very practical and may need to be looked at.

That sign looks correct to me. Going straight on keeps you on the N5 which brings you to the N59, going left brings you onto the R309. Having "town centre" under Westport on the left turn would have been helpful.

You could possibly argue that the N59 south of Westport should be accessed by going through the town along the old N5 route but it would be odd to signpost a N road via an R road when that same N road can be accessed via a brand new R road. In this case, it doesn't really make much difference as you go through the town either way.

It probably would have been better for the N5 to end at the roundabout and for the Westport bypass to be N59 (this would have to happen if the Westport southern bypass ever gets built). As it is, the sign is directing all N59 traffic onto th bypass and presumably is then directed north/south when you reach the N59.

I presume the issue is that locals are so used to going south via the old route that they can't understand the other routing but from an irregular visitor pov, going N road to N road does make sense over going N road > R road > N road.

"Town centre" would ease the problem alright I think. Westport will always be a bit of a bottleneck until the southern ring is eventually developed but the Newport road seems less able to cope with extra traffic than the R309 approach by Knockranny. At least the traffic can split at the castlecourt, and after the lights you can go straight across the bridge unimpeded on to Bridge street, instead of getting stuck along the Mall when coming in the Newport road side.

If the southern ring road was built I would think that might become the new N59 and the road through the town would revert to regional route. That would mean renaming the part at the end of the N5 to N59 as you mentioned.

Its sending traffic from the N5 to the N59 south via the R309. So that's probably a good thing. A lot of tourists would be using google maps I would think so it maybe it is more a local issue.

Another aspect of that which we don't use here (properly or much) is using a different background colour when grouping related information, particularly when using symbols like the bulls-eye and Roma in that one, or the airport symbol. The view below shows the approach to the M17/M18 with a sign for Shannon airport. At least the name of the airport is shown, but it is conceivable that a visitor heading to Ireland West Airport could see the airport symbol and not associate it with Shannon on that sign.

Drove this yesterday in heavy rain. The drainage doesn't appear to be great, lots of standing water and spray compared to say the M4 or M6 in similar weather.

The offending Westport North destination on the roundabout sign has been painted over. Perhaps a temporary measure until updated signage is installed?

Hopefully an end to the wall saga.

Drove this road both directions at the weekend for the first time, and what a fantastic road it is. It was dry when I was on it so I didn't get to see how it behaves (or not) in the rain.

The road feels like you could go a lot faster than the 100km/h limit, but, given Garda activity on the road yesterday, it wouldn't be advisable. However, with the part from the Western Castlebar roundabout to the Eastern Westport roundabout being only 10km, the drive is almost over before you know it.

What was more impressive for me is the ring road north of Westport. They made a super job of it.

The benchmark for insanely smooth roads is the M6 from Galway to Ballinasloe. How does the new N5 compare to that one?