N6 - Athlone Bypass Upgrade works

Jayuu · 28-07-2011 08:27PM

Driving down to Galway tomorrow and at the moment it look like I'll be hitting Athlone between 5 and 6 (if I'm lucky).
What's rush hour traffic like these days? Should I expect delays?

Zubeneschamali · 28-07-2011 09:46PM

Jayuu wrote: »

Driving down to Galway tomorrow and at the moment it look like I'll be hitting Athlone between 5 and 6 (if I'm lucky).
What's rush hour traffic like these days? Should I expect delays?

Yes, J11 to J12, right over the bridge, is one lane each way.

With added tractors.

Wild Bill · 28-07-2011 11:53PM

Chris_5339762 wrote: »

A new motorway to the south is not needed at all, the bypass is fine as it is. A second regular bridge for the town IS needed. Only then could the Athlone bypass be made motorway at 100kmh (or even 90kmh).

Nobody suggested a new motorway to the south :mad:

I can see how this thread got tired and emotional last time around...:cool:

whyulittle · 29-07-2011 03:36PM

Jayuu wrote: »

Driving down to Galway tomorrow and at the moment it look like I'll be hitting Athlone between 5 and 6 (if I'm lucky).
What's rush hour traffic like these days? Should I expect delays?

It was already starting to back up half-way between J9 and J10 at 3 o'clock.

Looking West

87AC2076E3D84CC39E4B49DAD9CAE40E-0000315944-0002460632-00800L-0BB144E3A3F54D67A7F878526091773B.jpg

Looking East :eek:

8086D24FE179423AAC79A77BAE6D8A92-0000315944-0002460633-00800L-A18E720E670F4AA99AA4A58EF17085F4.jpg

KevR · 29-07-2011 05:00PM

Jayuu wrote: »

Driving down to Galway tomorrow and at the moment it look like I'll be hitting Athlone between 5 and 6 (if I'm lucky). What's rush hour traffic like these days? Should I expect delays?

Just walked over J9 overbridge, traffic looks crazy westbound. At a standstill..

KevR · 29-07-2011 06:40PM

Traffic very busy all around the town, at a standstill going through the town centre.

Oh_Noes · 29-07-2011 06:52PM

whyulittle wrote: »

It was already starting to back up half-way between J9 and J10 at 3 o'clock.

I got caught in it around that time and it was fierce frustrating. A lot of people seemed to be last-minuting the decision to take the J10 exit and were pulling out from stationary in front of cars going normal speed up the slip.

The road merges fairly suddenly as well so there was a lot of tomfoolery with the outside lane.

I still think the company doing this construction work are completely failing in terms of signage and they're lucky that there hasn't been more accidents.

KevR · 31-07-2011 11:37PM

Pictures from J9 at approx 5pm on Friday. Both looking West.

Click thumbnails for full size images

01-08-2011 12:14AM

Oh_Noes wrote: »

I got caught in it around that time and it was fierce frustrating. A lot of people seemed to be last-minuting the decision to take the J10 exit and were pulling out from stationary in front of cars going normal speed up the slip.

The road merges fairly suddenly as well so there was a lot of tomfoolery with the outside lane.

I still think the company doing this construction work are completely failing in terms of signage and they're lucky that there hasn't been more accidents.

I think that one of the main problems appears to be the inability to have the signs accurately depict the (revised) layout ahead, often it says 200m to overtaking lane closing, when in reality it's much longer - puts a false sense of security on some drivers and others jump into the left lane earlier for fear that the signs are "optimistic".

Jayuu · 01-08-2011 12:33PM

Westbound was a disaster on Friday, a combination of poor traffic management and absolutely no Garda presence to help flow. I hit Athlone (almost literally) at around 4:15 and traffic was backed up way beyond the merge.

What was most annoying were the people who were jumping into the hard shoulder, driving down past the stalled traffic, taking Exit 10 (I think) and then rejoining the road after the exit. This in effect meant that there were two merges, one at the junction for the road works and then one after the junction for the smart-asses. If there had been Gardaí on point duty then a lot of this wouldn't have happened and traffic might have moved quicker.

It's irritating that you have constant messages on the radio from the Gardaí and the RSA telling people to be careful on the road and then have no Garda presence whatsoever on a place that is going to be a major bottleneck.

billbond4 · 01-08-2011 12:40PM

Seen two bales of hay on bypass last Wednesday. A stupid farmer overloaded and they must have hit a flyover as a Jeep was pulled in and a ambulance and guard car very just arriving when I drove by on the opposite carriageway.
worst thing was no sign of farmer who caused the accident. Hope bale of hay lands on him and see how he likes it.
Traffic will be very bad on bypass from now on until completion as the Roscommon exit takes a lot of traffic and with that traffic having to go somewhere else it will effect whole bypass
And No extra lighting on bypass

KevR · 01-08-2011 08:38PM

:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

At the top of the Eastbound off-ramp:

Epic blunder! Can't legally exit but you can drive the wrong way down the bypass (I know there are "Wrong Way" signs but still....)

01-08-2011 08:45PM

KevR wrote: »

:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

At the top of the Eastbound off-ramp:

Epic blunder! Can't legally exit but you can drive the wrong way down the bypass (I know there are "Wrong Way" signs but still....)

All temporary, there are plans to completely rebuild the junctions as soon as the main line is completed.

veryangryman · 01-08-2011 10:01PM

Are these traffic lights on some of the junctions planned as part of the upgrade or is that a seperate mini-scheme?

I look forward to Octobers completion - its been a rocky road (literally) but every silver lining has a cloud - a la these new lights

whyulittle · 01-08-2011 10:10PM

Junctions upgrades are only to take place after the current works are finished.

spacetweek · 02-08-2011 08:28PM

whyulittle wrote: »

Junctions upgrades are only to take place after the current works are finished.

Haven't been following this project closely. Am I right in saying that all that's involved is resurfacing and replacement of the concrete barrier?

Any auxiliary lanes gonna be provided? They'd be handy.

When is the work due to be completed?

What upgrades are proposed for the junctions? They could do with being completely reconfigured tbh - change them to diamonds instead of LILOs.

If this Chinese Trading Exhibition Centre goes ahead, we'll surely need the bypass upgraded to motorway. Might be nice and sly to make its upgrade a planning condition. The Chinese have deep pockets!

Oh_Noes · 02-08-2011 08:35PM

I don't see how the bypass being upgraded to a motorway would help an Athlone-based business (if you're talking about the proposed Chinese business centre in Athlone).

I honestly can't see that road ever being changed to motorway, it's too important to the internal infastructure of the town. It can't be a good thing to have someone getting on at Garrycastle to get off at the Ballymahon road to be meeting such high speed on such a short space.

spacetweek · 02-08-2011 08:51PM

veryangryman wrote: »

Wild Bill - thats what im calling you for your last post as opposed to your actual username

If this got built south of the town (which indicates need for motorway and faster journey), it wouldnt have any junctions. The whole purpose of it is to speed up the journey. Closely spaced junctions a la current bypass (god bless it nevertheless) are what slow the journey down.

I had this idea too

whyulittle · 02-08-2011 10:40PM

The junction upgrade details should be on here somewhere.

Basically, lights at J9, 10 and 11. Works at J12 have been put off for some reason. They are supposed to be upgraded after the current works finish in October. No extra auxiliary lanes going in.

If any sort of development was to happen at Chinatown, the bypass being a motorway or not wouldn't matter. The area is at the eastern end of the bypass, so access to the M6 would be via J8. Westmeath Co Co published proposals to dual the N62 between the area and J8.

billbond4 · 08-08-2011 10:26AM

looks like they will be finished the bypass at the end of August, (new signs up at J13, saying exits will be closed from monday the 15th)

Suppose they will start with their dicking around with their traffic lights on the slip roads soon afterwards

veryangryman · 08-08-2011 10:35AM

billbond4 wrote: »

looks like they will be finished the bypass at the end of August, (new signs up at J13, saying exits will be closed from monday the 15th)

Suppose they will start with their dicking around with their traffic lights on the slip roads soon afterwards

Traffic lights on the bypass exits... The horror. The horror.

Does it really need them? I mean i dont think ive ever seen a situation where the slip road queue stretched out onto the bypass (outside of major accidents etc)

If it has to have them, i would like something similar to Clonee/M3 junction. Filter light for turning left. Happy days.

billbond4 · 08-08-2011 10:40AM

It doesnt need them, typical council behavior, they get x amount of money and if they dont spend it they wont get the amount they ask for in their next project.
They would be better off putting more lighting on the bypass and better signage instead of the traffic light

whyulittle · 08-08-2011 12:49PM

The details of the next phase again;

JUNCTION 9 - R916 GARRYCASTLE ROAD

Installation of traffic signals and provision of pedestrian/cycle facilities at the junctions of the R 916 with the N6 Eastbound Off-ramp, the N6 Westbound off-ramp and Baylin Road (L1427). Alteration of the road layout on the existing Garrycastle overbridge by removal of the eastern footpath and widening to four lanes.

Construction of a new Pedestrian/Cycle bridge on the eastern side of the existing Garrycasle Bridge. (To include lining, signage and associated works).

JUNCTION 10 - N55 BALLYMAHON ROAD

Installation of traffic signals and provision of pedestrian/cycle facilities at the junctions of the N55 with the N6 Eastbound Off-ramp, the N6 Westbound off-ramp, the Two Mile Road (L4001) and the Cloghanboy Road (L80272). Alteration of the road markings on the existing bridge by increasing to four lanes. Construction of a mini roundabout at the junction of the Arcadia Road(L4002) and the L8031. Closing of the L80271 road junction with the Two Mile Road and construction of a turning hammer head . (To include lining, signage and associated works).

JUNCTION 11 - COOSAN ROAD

Installation of traffic signals at junction of the L4023 and the N6 Eastbound Off-ramp and the N6 Westbound off-ramp. Construction of a mini roundabout at the junction of L4023 and the Two Mile Road (L4001). Removal of the exclusive left turn lane servicing the Arcadia Retail Park. (To include lining, signage and associated works).

http://www.etenders.gov.ie/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUL251455

antoobrien · 08-08-2011 01:13PM

I've lost track of this over the past few weeks, which eastbound on & off ramps are closed until when?

Oh_Noes · 08-08-2011 04:52PM

whyulittle wrote: »

JUNCTION 11 - COOSAN ROAD
Removal of the exclusive left turn lane servicing the Arcadia Retail Park. (To include lining, signage and associated works).

Delighted about that tbh. Too many people abuse that lane by coming off the bypass, getting into it and then merging with the main road. I see so many people doing this trying to get ahead of people joining the road properly.

Zubeneschamali · 09-08-2011 04:06PM

whyulittle wrote: »

Closing of the L80271 road junction with the Two Mile Road and construction of a turning hammer head

I don't remember spotting that before...

URL="http://www.westmeathcoco.ie/en/media/N6%20ARR%20Part%208%20Drawings%20A.pdf"]pores over maps[/URL

Ok, it's just that little redundant rat-run parallel to the Ballymahon road, no loss.

whyulittle · 09-08-2011 04:29PM

Going by that map of J10, looks like you won't be able to turn right coming off the westbound ramp anymore.

veryangryman · 09-08-2011 04:32PM

whyulittle wrote: »

Going by that map of J10, looks like you won't be able to turn right coming off the westbound ramp anymore.

Course you will. What do you think the Junction Box is for?

whyulittle · 09-08-2011 08:19PM

I think it's for people turning left - coming out of that single lane with a big left arrow on it.

The right turn lane has been removed. The lights are only for pedestrians crossing at the top of the slip, they don't stop traffic crossing the bridge for cars turning left or right.

Zubeneschamali · 10-08-2011 09:00AM

whyulittle wrote: »

I think it's for people turning left

That's how it looks to me. Good idea: send all traffic left to the roundabout.

N6 - Athlone Bypass Upgrade works

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