M18 - Gort to Crusheen

Tech3 · 28-07-2009 6:11pm

I gathered some important information re the steel barrier.

In short H2 barriers are the European norm for central medians up to 7.5m in width. These are available in steel or concrete. It is up to the contractor which type of H2 barrier can be chosen for the scheme not the NRA. Therefore Gort-Crusheen could be a concrete H2 barrier if the contractor decides to do just that.

Tech3 · 28-07-2009 6:16pm

Chris_533976 wrote: »

I think the only use of the Barefield junction will be the tie-in of Ennis bypass to Crus-Gort. My guess is they'll put up the Barefield Bridge (to connect Barefield to the current N18) first, then just redirect traffic through Barefield and over the bridge while they build the tie-in. Will be interesting to see if thats what they do.

When I took the photos of the new ADS signage on the current DC I had a look at the first few bridges on Gort-Crusheen again. That Barefield bridge is getting very advanced now actually. I'm not familar with that whole area, will it be a long divert when the traffic is taken over that bridge?

Chris_533976 · 28-07-2009 8:21pm

tech2 wrote: »

When I took the photos of the new ADS signage on the current DC I had a look at the first few bridges on Gort-Crusheen again. That Barefield bridge is getting very advanced now actually. I'm not familar with that whole area, will it be a long divert when the traffic is taken over that bridge?

Not really, probably a kilometre max through Barefield. There might be small jams in Barefield while its done, but nothing terrible.

Tech3 · 28-07-2009 9:23pm

Chris_533976 wrote: »

Not really, probably a kilometre max through Barefield. There might be small jams in Barefield while its done, but nothing terrible.

That isint so bad I've never been in Barefield but I can imagine traffic will jam up very fast. Just out of curiosity was the Ennis bypass constructed with wider lanes than the typical new inter urbans?

Chris_533976 · 28-07-2009 9:39pm

Nope. If anything the Ennis bypass is of slightly lower quality. It was built in the old style of "Standard Dual Carriageway" rather than "HQDC" and uses mostly compact GSJs. Still perfectly reasonable for a motorway though.

Barefield is a typical Irish village, Pub, House + petrol station I think, with maybe an estate tacked on the side owned by a now-rich farmer. Shouldnt be too bad for jamming up, it was never a problem in the pre-Ennis bypass days. Might be a slight hold up coming from the south but coming from the north it'll be fine. Still wont be as bad as Gort can get!

Chris_533976 · 01-08-2009 12:23pm

Heres a thought... with Athlone - Ballinasloe open for the races this year, what do ye reckon about an unofficial target of Races 2010 for Crusheen - Gort opening? Would be a reasonable guess IMO and attainable judging by the speed they're going.

(Also since Gort was jammed up for 20 - 30 minutes both ways most of the week)

Tech3 · 01-08-2009 6:48pm

Chris_533976 wrote: »

Heres a thought... with Athlone - Ballinasloe open for the races this year, what do ye reckon about an unofficial target of Races 2010 for Crusheen - Gort opening? Would be a reasonable guess IMO and attainable judging by the speed they're going.

(Also since Gort was jammed up for 20 - 30 minutes both ways most of the week)

I would go along with that. The scheme should finish around July if progress keeps going the pace it is at the moment. I went for September solely on being a safe date in case the pace of construction does slow down.

I will check out the scheme in a few weeks time as it will be 2 months since my last batch of updates. Hopefully the Tubber-Gort overbridge will be open to traffic by then.

sdanseo · 02-08-2009 11:52pm

Chris_533976 wrote: »

Heres a thought... with Athlone - Ballinasloe open for the races this year, what do ye reckon about an unofficial target of Races 2010 for Crusheen - Gort opening? Would be a reasonable guess IMO and attainable judging by the speed they're going.

(Also since Gort was jammed up for 20 - 30 minutes both ways most of the week)

Ballinasloe yesterday was unbelieveable, took 40mins to get through the town. Why in the name of God could they not do the M6 to the other side of the town? Pure and utter pointless opening what they did.

mysterious · 03-08-2009 12:01am

sdonn wrote: »

Ballinasloe yesterday was unbelieveable, took 40mins to get through the town. Why in the name of God could they not do the M6 to the other side of the town? Pure and utter pointless opening what they did.

It doesn't make a difference this scheme was going to be finished before the other scheme either way.

When is the other scheme opening? early 2010?

sdanseo · 03-08-2009 9:54am

mysterious wrote: »

It doesn't make a difference this scheme was going to be finished before the other scheme either way.

When is the other scheme opening? early 2010?

Yeah, but I meant why couldn't they push the extra 2km through NOW rather than in a year's time. What idiot thought that up?

Chris_533976 · 03-08-2009 10:57am

Because theres the most difficult part of the scheme engineering wise in the way, the Suck Bridge.

Sponge Bob · 03-08-2009 11:41am

That bridge has been built for some time Chris,

http://gallery.m6.kaizersoze.net/index.php?album=suck-bridge-june-2009&image=DSC00216.JPG

some overbridges and road realignments south of Ballinasloe town need completion and the large junction east of Aughrim of course . Maybe the Kaizer will kindly drive and video it again for us like he did 2 months back

Chris_533976 · 03-08-2009 12:02pm

Thx, hadnt seen that pic, most recent I've seen had a load of steel rebar sticking out of the surface of it.

The contractor should be forced to do a sectional opening, its absolutely daft not to. Ballinasloe is the last major M6 bottleneck (we wont mention the roundabout terminus in Galway), and it would be very easy to bypass it.

kaizersoze · 03-08-2009 12:43pm

sdonn wrote: »

Yeah, but I meant why couldn't they push the extra 2km through NOW rather than in a year's time. What idiot thought that up?

Closer to 4km and a pricey 4km at that. The idiot that signs the cheques thought it up.

Sponge Bob wrote:

That bridge has been built for some time Chris,

http://gallery.m6.kaizersoze.net/ind...e=DSC00216.JPG

some overbridges and road realignments south of Ballinasloe town need completion and the large junction east of Aughrim of course . Maybe the Kaizer will kindly drive and video it again for us like he did 2 months back

Guard rail on bridge almost complete. Bridge deck being sand blasted and sealed atm.
J15 at Mackney progressing. Fancy columns poured, abutments done and load beams in place. Work on the deck not started yet. Ground work advanced on the 4 RABs and links to Portumna road and N6.
Pedestrian footbridge at Moher has load beams in place and work on the deck has started.
Local overbridge at Pollboy has beams in place and deck is being worked on.

No vids possible now sponge. Site well locked up and security patrols.
Most recent one from June 21st.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nmfyg6VOmE

Chris_533976 wrote:

The contractor should be forced to do a sectional opening,

Why? Thats not the contract signed. Why would he unless there was some financial incentive which is unlikely. I've said it before but I'll say it again. If there wasn't delays starting the Bal to Gal section (not the contractors fault or problem) then both sections would have been completed at the same time or close to it.

Chris_533976 · 03-08-2009 12:58pm

Oh btw if people want G-C pics the whole site is wide open and almost empty (although theres a bit of work being done even in the builders holidays). Might be worth having a snoop if anyones bored

serfboard · 03-08-2009 1:28pm

Chris_533976 wrote: »

Heres a thought... with Athlone - Ballinasloe open for the races this year, what do ye reckon about an unofficial target of Races 2010 for Crusheen - Gort opening? Would be a reasonable guess IMO and attainable judging by the speed they're going.

I'd agree with this. I passed it at the weekend (sorry, no pictures) and the pace of construction is phenomenal.

murphaph wrote: »

I noticed you ignored the other scenarios (cyclists and peds using this fast interurban road for recreational purposes).

I was on the Ennis Bypass at the weekend and there was some gobsh1te cycling along it, while cars were whizzing past him. I've also seen cyclists on the Newmarket-On-Fergus bypass. :mad:

Chris_533976 · 03-08-2009 11:14pm

AFAIK Gort - Oranmore has one at Kiltiernan and then the Stack at Rathmorrisey.

AugustusMaximus · 03-08-2009 11:15pm

tech2 wrote: »

Yeah just those two. I'm sure about Gort-Oranmore would need to check the map

Updated. I've take it that the R458 is conecting both Crusheen and Gort to the M18.

I'd do the Gort to Oranmore section although the NRA website seems quite dodgy tonight.

Junction 1 to 8 are going to be problematic. Does anyone know for definate what the NRA is planning with this stretch of road ? 8 junction is prob too many.

AugustusMaximus · 03-08-2009 11:22pm

Chris_533976 wrote: »

AFAIK Gort - Oranmore has one at Kiltiernan and then the Stack at Rathmorrisey.

Whats happening at that junction.

Is it basically the M6 running accross the M18 with the M18 becoming the M17 once past the M6 ?

Zoney · 04-08-2009 11:48am

You could email NRA to ask about the junction numbers - I received ones for N7 and N4 previously. They probably have included the existing N18 junctions (i.e. Bunratty - Limerick) in the numbering scheme. It would be interesting to know what numbers have been allocated as there seem to be too few junctions (presuming the N7 junction will be J1).

L1011 · 04-08-2009 7:48pm

Longford N5 bypass is being redesigned to meet the N4 Mullingar-Roosky 2+2 is it not? So its no longer a piss easy one thats close to ready to go..

glineli · 13-08-2009 9:27am

Went for a walk down the Crusheen side last night, they were still working on the bridge at the Crusheen junction last night at 9pm and when herself went for a walk this morning at 7 she said they were working away. They must be putting in some amount of hours

KevR · 13-08-2009 9:35am

Brilliant picture tech2!

Glineli, it's encouraging to hear that they're putting long hours in.

glineli · 13-08-2009 10:30am

KevR wrote: »

Glineli, it's encouraging to hear that they're putting long hours in.

Yeah, its great. The bridges down the Crusheen end are really coming along. I will try to get some pics at the weekend

Tech3 · 13-08-2009 8:09pm

glineli wrote: »

Yeah, its great. The bridges down the Crusheen end are really coming along. I will try to get some pics at the weekend

Cheers glineli forgot to check out the Crusheen interchange and the Lahardan overbridge.

Tech3 · 17-08-2009 9:16am

I found another gem of a website this morning.Its crusheen.com and includes a few images of construction of the Gort-Crusheen scheme. Maybe they might like a few photos off me as its a little outdated!

http://www.crusheen.com/V4/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=60:media-churchesandschools&catid=18:media&Itemid=9

westtip · 25-08-2009 4:03pm

BTW what is the latest on when the new section will actually be opening - too lazy to trawl the thread! dn don't believe NRA website

Tech3 · 25-08-2009 4:08pm

westtip wrote: »

BTW what is the latest on when the new section will actually be opening - too lazy to trawl the thread! dn don't believe NRA website

Its looking more and more likely to be July next year. I will add a few photos updates in a month or two.

Chris_533976 · 25-08-2009 5:35pm

westtip wrote: »

BTW what is the latest on when the new section will actually be opening - too lazy to trawl the thread! dn don't believe NRA website

Its going really quickly so uneducated guesswork is suggesting next July, before the Galway Races 2010, similar to what happened with Athlone - Ballinasloe this year.

Tech3 · 26-08-2009 5:03pm

A question I thought I might put across to fellow road nuts.

With the N7 tunnel, redesignations on Ennis-Shannon and Gort to Crusheen completed next year how much time saving do ye reckon will be made on a trip from Limerick-Galway?

10 mins would be a significant drop I reckon.

Chris_533976 · 26-08-2009 5:22pm

Probably. The real benefit is when Gort gets bypassed; that'll pull about 20 minutes off the time in itself during rush hour.

Carawaystick · 26-08-2009 8:01pm

murphaph wrote: »

Thanks, that ADS is quite misleading given the fact we have pretty much no such LILO junctions on our motorway network and I presume the sign it replaced was a stack type sign with a left arrow rather than a full fork style ADS?

The sign should be patched to show the driver it's a particularly sharp left hand curve they are about to encounter IMO. People are used to a fork sign indicating a slip road on which they will be able to decellerate off the mainline. It's dangerous as it is tbh but could be sorted so easily.

On the N11, going south coming up the hill from the Glen of the Downs, there's an ADS sign with a left stub for a lilo and also on the sign is the left fork for the Greystones junction. These two junctions come under the same junction number.
There's similar signage going the other way at Kilpeddar and down in the Glen itself. The junctions are so close together, that having individual signs wouldn't give enough notice.
I don't know if it's kosher, I could check the traffic sign manual if it was freely available....

L1011 · 26-08-2009 8:17pm

murphaph wrote: »

The A57(M) and many other places in the UK warns drivers of a sharp slip road:

We already have precedent here, but not on a motorway. There's a junction on the Cork SRR with a max exit speed panel on its gore signage.

Tech3 · 27-08-2009 12:10am

Chris_533976 wrote: »

Probably. The real benefit is when Gort gets bypassed; that'll pull about 20 minutes off the time in itself during rush hour.

I agree and hopefully Clarinbridge wont jam up too bad afterwards. Also the rest of the road to Oranmore is relatively ok with some overtaking bits.

What is the next stage in the PPP process for the Gort-Tuam scheme? I wont be holding my breathe for it to start this time next year though.

westtip · 27-08-2009 10:04am

tech2 wrote: »

A question I thought I might put across to fellow road nuts.

With the N7 tunnel, redesignations on Ennis-Shannon and Gort to Crusheen completed next year how much time saving do ye reckon will be made on a trip from Limerick-Galway?

10 mins would be a significant drop I reckon.

I'd say more - the key issue of measuring any journey time is the time delays in the urban areas you have to drive in - how long is a piece of string - it is the consistency of time of the journey from where you get on the dc at Limerick to a fixed point that might be worth looking - for this example - lets say how long it takes to get to the oranmore roundabout, which I think should take just under an hour when the new Gort bypass opens. How long does this part of the Limerick -Galway journey take you now?

Nath · 27-08-2009 10:41pm

westtip wrote: »

I'd say more - the key issue of measuring any journey time is the time delays in the urban areas you have to drive in - how long is a piece of string - it is the consistency of time of the journey from where you get on the dc at Limerick to a fixed point that might be worth looking - for this example - lets say how long it takes to get to the oranmore roundabout, which I think should take just under an hour when the new Gort bypass opens. How long does this part of the Limerick -Galway journey take you now?

I do Galway to Limerick and vice versa twice a week, usually about 1hr 5m to Limerick and about 1hr 10min to Galway, slightly longer going back because of heavier traffic in the evening.
This is measured between the roundabout beside the Galway Clinic and the first roundabout in Limerick (there's loads of roadworks going on now near Limerick now so it wont be possible to measure this again for a few months).

I reckon that it will be possible to do this journey in 55 mins when Gort-Crusheen is opened, so a time saving of 10-15 mins in my opinion.

Tech3 · 28-08-2009 9:19am

westtip wrote: »

I'd say more - the key issue of measuring any journey time is the time delays in the urban areas you have to drive in - how long is a piece of string - it is the consistency of time of the journey from where you get on the dc at Limerick to a fixed point that might be worth looking - for this example - lets say how long it takes to get to the oranmore roundabout, which I think should take just under an hour when the new Gort bypass opens. How long does this part of the Limerick -Galway journey take you now?

Not necessarily just urban areas, we have to remember that this road is poor for overtaking opportunities too. I rarely ever get a easy drive from Limerick - Galway always get caught up by a least on vehicle going 80km/hr.

I mainly use the route to drive Limerick - Sligo so my accuracy of Limerick-Galway commute time would be a little off. I would say Coonagh - Oranmore is about 1hr ish at the minute.

Also on topic I have updated the M18 wikipedia page and cleaned it up a bit:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M18_motorway_(Ireland))

westtip · 28-08-2009 9:31am

tech2 wrote: »

Not necessarily just urban areas, we have to remember that this road is poor for overtaking opportunities too. I rarely ever get a easy drive from Limerick - Galway always get caught up by a least on vehicle going 80km/hr.

I mainly use the route to drive Limerick - Sligo so my accuracy of Limerick-Galway commute time would be a little off. I would say Coonagh - Oranmore is about 1hr ish at the minute.

Also on topic I have updated the M18 wikipedia page and cleaned it up a bit:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M18_motorway_(Ireland))

Yes agree with you about thd overtaking opps, I did Ballina - Shannon in 2 hours 15 a few months back - mind you left at 4.30 am so with nothing on the road it was a breeze for the 135 miles it is. Coming back having dropped someone off at Shannon at 6.45 stoping for a cup of tea and leaving shannon at 7 was of cours a different story; in particular getting round ClareGalway - as per usual - the back up coming south into Galway stretched back to the Roscommon road junction (at about 8.30 am), all the more reason for the Gort Tuam section to be pushed on with, an extra hour coming back. Of course if the Western Rail Corridor was up and running I could have taken the train the day before, booked into a hotel and spent the whole of the next day travelling back in leisure on the wee train up through Claremorris (I jest of course). The N17/18 upgrade is the single most important infrastucture project for us west of the shannon!

BTW your wikipedia page is very good - well done.

Tech3 · 28-08-2009 9:44am

westtip wrote: »

Yes agree with you about thd overtaking opps, I did Ballina - Shannon in 2 hours 15 a few months back - mind you left at 4.30 am so with nothing on the road it was a breeze for the 135 miles it is. Coming back having dropped someone off at Shannon at 6.45 stoping for a cup of tea and leaving shannon at 7 was of cours a different story; in particular getting round ClareGalway - as per usual - the back up coming south into Galway stretched back to the Roscommon road junction (at about 8.30 am), all the more reason for the Gort Tuam section to be pushed on with, an extra hour coming back. Of course if the Western Rail Corridor was up and running I could have taken the train the day before, booked into a hotel and spent the whole of the next day travelling back in leisure on the wee train up through Claremorris (I jest of course). The N17/18 upgrade is the single most important infrastucture project for us west of the shannon!

BTW your wikipedia page is very good - well done.

Interesting journey times, I managed to travel from Sligo to Limerick one night in 2hr 30 mins without breaking the limit. I reckon when the M17/M18 is done the same trip will be just over 2hrs. The most crucial part of this is there is no toll on the entire length only the Limerick tunnel.

Yes the wikipedia page is taking shape now but I it has been updated also by other boards members. I would like to gather more history particularly on the Shannon - Newmarket-on-Fergus stretch though.

westtip · 28-08-2009 11:37am

tech2 wrote: »

Interesting journey times, I managed to travel from Sligo to Limerick one night in 2hr 30 mins without breaking the limit. I reckon when the M17/M18 is done the same trip will be just over 2hrs. The most crucial part of this is there is no toll on the entire length only the Limerick tunnel.

.

Yep at 227 km according to the AA route planner at 120 kph an hour on dc and 100 kph on non dc it will make the journey of Sligo limerick very doabble in just over 2 hours. even one toll would not hold you up that much - we will never go back to the days of toll queues like the M50 bridge - will we??

Limerick galway BTW at just over 100k should take about an hour - or as mentioned on the WRC thread before you could take the train and take 1 hour 50 minutes plus your travel time to the station - and maybe four trains a day to pick from - but there you go my views on that one well known!

Tech3 · 08-09-2009 3:41pm

westtip wrote: »

I am getting an error message from the NRA website when I click on the N17 Oranmore - Gort section and on the N18 Tuam bypass section - have the NRA removed any updates to these projects?

There seems to be an issue with the road scheme activity section of the website. This problem has been ongoing for a few months now.

Has anyone passed Gort-Crusheen lately? Any updates?

Nath · 08-09-2009 4:53pm

tech2 wrote: »

There seems to be an issue with the road scheme activity section of the website. This problem has been ongoing for a few months now.

Has anyone passed Gort-Crusheen lately? Any updates?

I passed it on Monday morning, the bridge for the junction with the old N18 at Barefield is progressing reasonably well, as is the visible section of the road running alongside the old N18 between there and Crusheen. It's hard to tell how progress further on is progressing though.

Tech3 · 08-09-2009 5:28pm

Nath wrote: »

I passed it on Monday morning, the bridge for the junction with the old N18 at Barefield is progressing reasonably well, as is the visible section of the road running alongside the old N18 between there and Crusheen. It's hard to tell how progress further on is progressing though.

Thanks Nath. I have covered the whole scheme a few times but just havnt got the chance to check it out in the last month where the Tubber-Gort road overbridge was still not opened to traffic.

If people ever want to cover that section of the scheme the best way to do this is to drive on the tubber-gort road which is just off the N18 north of Crusheen. The structures are then on link roads on the right side of the road until it crosses over the main road south of Gort.

Nath · 09-09-2009 10:29pm

tech2 wrote: »

Thanks Nath. I have covered the whole scheme a few times but just havnt got the chance to check it out in the last month where the Tubber-Gort road overbridge was still not opened to traffic.

If people ever want to cover that section of the scheme the best way to do this is to drive on the tubber-gort road which is just off the N18 north of Crusheen. The structures are then on link roads on the right side of the road until it crosses over the main road south of Gort.

Some pictures I took this evening between Barefield and Gort via Tubber. They are flying through this, I was very surprised at the progress they have made, especially around the intersection with the Gort-Tubber road.

Sponge Bob · 10-09-2009 1:44pm

It would be a very very good idea to restrict or partly restrict that junction once the Barefield 'North' junction is built .

Chris_533976 · 10-09-2009 3:03pm

There isnt a Barefield north junction though. The bridge thats being built at Barefield will link the old N18 (pre bypass that goes through Barefield) with the current N18, and the mainline will continue north to Crusheen. There is no junction, just a bridge.

Only junctions on this scheme are Crusheen and Gort. And they very sensibly decided to built a full GSJ at Gort now, as it avoids a messy tie in. Only a roundabout was initially proposed, to be upgraded to a full GSJ as part of the Gort - Oranmore scheme.

Sponge Bob · 10-09-2009 3:19pm

My apologies , I though that was a GSJ they were building north of Barefield. Scrap that so

Tech3 · 11-09-2009 1:38pm

Nath wrote: »

Some pictures I took this evening between Barefield and Gort via Tubber. They are flying through this, I was very surprised at the progress they have made, especially around the intersection with the Gort-Tubber road.

Thanks alot Nath, from the pics the R460 overbridge shocked me the most. It was barely started 2 months ago. Still dissapointed the gort-tubber overbridge isint open to traffic. It is very good that the Crusheen-Tubber and the Tubber-Gort road is parallel to the new motorway isint it!

Other structures that are currently being worked hard on is the crusheen interchage and the lahardan overbridge. Both of these can be accessed as you come into Crusheen from south side go straight on instead of going under the railbridge, you will see the lahardan overbridge after about 1km straight down that road. If you look south of that you will see the Crusheen interchange.

Next summer is looking good to see this completed anyway. I will be travelling on the N18/N17 nearly every week again from September so will give updates again more often on the scheme.

Carawaystick · 11-09-2009 3:06pm

The road doesn't cross the rail line at all does it? IE pull shenanigans for every new bridge over their lines.

Nath · 11-09-2009 3:41pm

Carawaystick wrote: »

The road doesn't cross the rail line at all does it? IE pull shenanigans for every new bridge over their lines.

No, all this scheme keeps west of the rail line.
It does run right alongside the rail line for two miles north from Rathwilldoon (just east of Tubber)

M18 - Gort to Crusheen

Comments