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N/M18 (for discussing COMPLETED sections)

Chris_533976

On another note - what on earth is going on with the rest of the Ennis bypass? The mainline N18 is open and done, thats no problem. But the intermediate junctions STILL ARENT FINISHED. Originally they were supposed to be done in the summer, then the autumn, but they still arent open. I understand the rain held them up a bit but they need to get the finger out and finish them.

I cant speak for the parts to the west of Ennis, as I havent been in there.

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murphaph

Fantastically accurate reporting from RTE as usual :rolleyes:

The speed limits on these roads will be increased from 100 to 120km/ph, which will mean that learner drivers, certain types of agricultural vehicles and motorbikes will be banned.

Nath

2 Espressi wrote: »

Soo...

M18 not mentioned on the news bulletins this morning (TodayFM), and 100kph signage still in place between Killow and Tulla Rd. junctions. Has the rug been pulled from under us?

Some links that may be of interest...

http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0828/roads.html

http://www.transport.ie/pressRelease.aspx?Id=124

Zoney

tech2 wrote: »

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.

Official opening of Newmarket-on-Fergus bypass was 30 Sept 2002 (link).

It was around the time of the Newmarket-on-Fergus bypass that the old Shannon Town junction was removed and just a single LILO on northbound remaining (with proper acceleration/deceleration lanes), both carriageways of the N18 DC rebuilt properly back to the end of the Bunratty bypass, and a new GSJ for Hurlers Cross put in (old at-grade crossing removed) also at that point. Also a parallel access road was built between the new N19 junction and the new Hurler's Cross junction.

Here's a link of active road projects in 2001 and N18 is mentioned as "Hurler's Cross/Newmarket-on-Fergus bypass".

Basically between the current (new) N19 junction and the Hurler's Cross GSJ was already dual carriageway before the Newmarket-on-Fergus bypass, but that section was entirely rebuilt.

KevR

100kmh speed limit signs still on the M6 Athlone-Ballinasloe. I'm sure they'll be changed to 120kmh signs at some point soon on all routes.

2 Espressi

Soo...

M18 not mentioned on the news bulletins this morning (TodayFM), and 100kph signage still in place between Killow and Tulla Rd. junctions. Has the rug been pulled from under us?

Sponge Bob

Furet wrote: »

What I find interesting is the fact that the road is reported as being designed for "80km/h" according to a former engineer. .

Arse , the speed limit was 100kph when it was designed and some of the slips were not EVEN designed for 80kph with curves like that .

Amtmann

corktina wrote: »

thats just unbelievable!.Its a fine road and any idiot can see its perfectly safe as a Mway.....(and practically empty

What I find interesting is the fact that the road is reported as being designed for "80km/h" according to a former engineer. One wonders if there's another agenda at work here. Striking too is the paltry reportage of the NRA's rebuttal.

Tech3

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.

I'm cant think of what kind of sign was there beforehand. I have a short memory :pac:

I agree a patching of the sign and extending the acceleration and develeration lanes would make a big difference to the safety of this section.

murphaph

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.

Tech3

murphaph wrote: »

The issue of acceleration and decelleration is easy to solve-just extend the road markings along the HS either side of the junction to give people more time to adjust their speed. The junctions themselves are well able to handle traffic to/from unrestricted sections of Autobahn so a lightly trafficked Ennis Bypass with 120km/h and excellent visibility either side of the exits should be no bother.

What's the ADS for this junction look like? Is it a fork sign? If so, the fork arm should have a diamond warning patch layed over it like other countries where they warn of particularly sharp exits. It shouldn't require any modification to the junction itself. Drivers just need to learn to drive really.

It would be ideal if the acceleration and deceleration lanes were extended while working on the delineation. I wonder if the NRA planned this but I doubt it as a statement lately was issued which said there was no intention to carry out work on the junctions in question.

Yeah the ADS is a fork sign. I like the idea of the patched diamond warning sign at the end of the fork. Here is the sign in question:

serfboard

Sponge Bob wrote: »

The current arrangement ( incl Barefield north under construction) would have 5 entrances/exits from north of ennis to south of ennis , where they only actually need 3 maybe 4 being nice to them .

Agree. The NRA should tell them: "Well lads, if the Tulla junction is a problem we can always close it off ..."

That'd soon shut them up.

murphaph

Thanks kev, is it stuck on as a patch to the ADS or a dopey seperate sign? Please tell me it's included on the ADS as a patch on the fork arm.....pics?

KevR

The Roscommon exit Eastbound on the Athlone Bypass has a warning sign similar to this one:

Not sure about the Westbound exit for that junction or the Tuam junction, never took any notice.

murphaph

tech2 wrote: »

Nevertheless it is a severe curve no chance of reaching 80km/hr never mind 120km/hr. I have no problem with these junctions IF motorists pulled into the overtaking lane to let others merge from the junction. Unfortunately I see very little people with that mindset.

Yeah I wasn't making a comment either way about the difficulty/danger/otherwise of merging/exiting at these tight junctions, just pointing out that they are not at-grade junctions, rather fully grade-separated.

The issue of acceleration and decelleration is easy to solve-just extend the road markings along the HS either side of the junction to give people more time to adjust their speed. The junctions themselves are well able to handle traffic to/from unrestricted sections of Autobahn so a lightly trafficked Ennis Bypass with 120km/h and excellent visibility either side of the exits should be no bother.

What's the ADS for this junction look like? Is it a fork sign? If so, the fork arm should have a diamond warning patch layed over it like other countries where they warn of particularly sharp exits. It shouldn't require any modification to the junction itself. Drivers just need to learn to drive really.

Edit: A patch like they have on the A57(M) and many other places in the UK warns drivers of a sharp slip road:

Tech3

murphaph wrote: »

It's not an at grade junction. It's a grade separated junction with short slips. An at grade junction is one with a gap in the median for turning right instead of a bridge to get you over there to turn left onto your desired carriagweay. ALL motorway junctions (in Ireland) are LEFT IN LEFT OUT, the only difference is the severity of the curve on the offslip.

Nevertheless it is a severe curve no chance of reaching 80km/hr never mind 120km/hr. I have no problem with these junctions IF motorists pulled into the overtaking lane to let others merge from the junction. Unfortunately I see very little people with that mindset.

murphaph

tech2 wrote: »

Left in, Left out. Its an at-grade junction.

It's not an at grade junction. It's a grade separated junction with short slips. An at grade junction is one with a gap in the median for turning right instead of a bridge to get you over there to turn left onto your desired carriagweay. ALL motorway junctions (in Ireland) are LEFT IN LEFT OUT, the only difference is the severity of the curve on the offslip.

Tech3

corktina wrote: »

wassa LILO?

if 120k is a problem on the slip roads, just move the derestriction board back to half way up the slip..or are you saying there isnt enough room on the slip to accelerate to c 120k?

Left in, Left out. Its an at-grade junction. There absolutely no space to accelerate up to 120km on that junction. I have tested it myself it definitely needs more or a deceleration and acceleration lane. I cant wait to drive on the M18 though on Friday!

This is the Tulla one which I took a few weeks ago:

corktina

wassa LILO?

if 120k is a problem on the slip roads, just move the derestriction board back to half way up the slip..or are you saying there isnt enough room on the slip to accelerate to c 120k?

murphaph

Those dopes should have their driving licences stripped from them if they can't stop crashing into slip road barriers.

Typical irish attitude-always somebody else's fault and never the driver etc.

The Ennis bypass is a fine road-the lads in SABRE would love roads like that connecting two places with the population of Limerick and Galway. They don't even have a motorway type road between Manchester and Sheffield (probably shorter, albeit across the Pennines), only ****ty S2 roads between 2 cities of a million people each!

M18 it is and rightly so, given those numpties in Clare's tendency to build on any road available!

Tech3

corktina wrote: »

thats just unbelievable!.Its a fine road and any idiot can see its perfectly safe as a Mway.....(and practically empty

Well in terms of the mainline it is perfectly ok sightlines are fine, it is the Tulla and Barefield junctions that are brought into question.

The two junctions are LILO's but these are frequently seem on motorways all around Europe. If its an issue close off the bloody junctions altogether, no need for a junction between Ennis and Crusheen in the first place.

corktina

Furet wrote: »

More from the concerned locals adjacent to the Ennis Bypass: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0825/1224253194826.html

Someone needs their head examined.

thats just unbelievable!.Its a fine road and any idiot can see its perfectly safe as a Mway.....(and practically empty

Nath

Furet wrote: »

More from the concerned locals adjacent to the Ennis Bypass: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0825/1224253194826.html

Someone needs their head examined.

No wonder there are collisions when some idiots have no idea how to drive on these roads, there really needs to be some form of motorway driving education promoted.

Sponge Bob

Furet wrote: »

Someone needs their head examined.

They do have a point but are not entitled to make a bloody circus of it

One northbound exit around there ( Tulla or Barefield) is very tight but that is once you get OFF the Motorway .

This can be dealt with as a signage issue , mainly by using a giant SLOW sign and some rumble strips on the slip road .

Entering and merging northbound is sub optimal in smaller cars as there is a bit of a climb so close that and let them use the new Barefield NORTH entrance instead where they get a flyer down a ramp before they merge .

The current arrangement ( incl Barefield north under construction) would have 5 entrances/exits from north of ennis to south of ennis , where they only actually need 3 maybe 4 being nice to them .

The main carriageway is safe enough @ 120kph unlike that primitive Athlone bypass ......as I have often commented .

Amtmann

More from the concerned locals adjacent to the Ennis Bypass: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0825/1224253194826.html

Someone needs their head examined.

Tech3

Furet wrote: »

It does have wiki potential. I'd crop it slightly first, though. A little less sky for instance! That page is looking a lot better now for all your photos Tech2.

Yeah I've been trying to do something with that photo but most of the time it comes out awful. Some of the photos are really temporary as I would like to get some better shots on the overbridges too. I would like to find some information regarding all the phases of the N18 too like the Newmarket-on-Fergus bypass and the Shannon section so I can expand the M18 page further.

Amtmann

It does have wiki potential. I'd crop it slightly first, though. A little less sky for instance! That page is looking a lot better now for all your photos Tech2.

bacon&cabbage

tech2 wrote: »

Btw Anyone approaching Limerick at busy hours on the N18 that there was a massive tailback today as both north and southbound have been reduced to one lane near the N7/N18 bridge.

I reckon they're going to open the slip road between N7/N20 so they can do some more work on the N7/N18 interchange - but I'm only guessing

Tech3

Another new motorway sign on the M18. I was taking this one for potential wikipedia upload. Nearly all southbound signs have been changed over.

Tech3

Zoney wrote: »

tech2: that's my favorite section too (although there are many nice points along that route - even the older N18 DC bits are nice). If you get a clearer photo when the M18 sign goes up, you should submit it to SABRE photo of the month. It would work well on the banner.

I took one today and it came out too fuzzy :mad. The sign is up but its a next exit sign on it. Still I will try and get a shot when the continuous yellow line is down. Also to note most of the new catseyes have been installed and the older ones removed. There are on the right side of the yellow line.

Btw Anyone approaching Limerick at busy hours on the N18 that there was a massive tailback today as both north and southbound have been reduced to one lane near the N7/N18 bridge.

Gort-Crusheen update: Not much work done on anything since I've been through last the R460 overbridge is getting more advanced though.

Zoney

tech2: that's my favorite section too (although there are many nice points along that route - even the older N18 DC bits are nice). If you get a clearer photo when the M18 sign goes up, you should submit it to SABRE photo of the month. It would work well on the banner.