N6 - Athlone Bypass Upgrade works

whyulittle · 28-02-2012 4:24pm

I don't get the hostility towards the gantry signs? It's an NRA programme putting them up, not WCC. It's not as if they exist on their own on any other road - they go hand-in-hand with the ADS and finger posts.

I drove the bypass for the first time today since they went up and think they fit in well. At least these won't get buried in the trees and bushes. A couple of new brown signs gone up as well.

28-02-2012 4:26pm

whyulittle wrote: »

I don't get the hostility towards the gantry signs? It's an NRA programme putting them up, not WCC. It's not as if they exist on their own on any other road - they go hand-in-hand with the ADS and finger posts.

I drove the bypass for the first time today since they went up and think they fit in well. At least these won't get buried in the trees and bushes. A couple of new brown signs gone up as well.

Nothing wrong with the signs as such, it's just the fact that the existing ones are less than two years old!

whyulittle · 28-02-2012 4:37pm

Yeah but it's not like those signs are now being ripped out of the ground. The gantries could just as easily have gone in at the same time as the others were replaced.

billbond4 · 29-02-2012 10:33am

The signs are barely 5 months old :eek:
No planning involved at all with WCC, i.e.
First concrete barriers were put down.
Then sections of road between Coosan and town Centre upgraded.
During upgrade parts of road were closed and then reclosed.
Signs put up for exits last year removed and replaced with gantrys.

Im just waiting till they decided they want to put lights on the bypass and close it again for another year

billbond4 · 29-02-2012 3:51pm

Traffic management plans are up on WCC
http://www.westmeathcoco.ie/en/news/name,11302,en.html
No mention of google as the copyright owner of the maps though

flazio · 29-02-2012 9:22pm

Noticed that the signs for J13 East Bound finally acknowledge that the Motorway ends at that junction (Blue sign with Green route ahead and White Route Slip) and the route distance sign after the junction has been changed from blue to green.

29-02-2012 9:33pm

flazio wrote: »

Noticed that the signs for J13 East Bound finally acknowledge that the Motorway ends at that junction (Blue sign with Green route ahead and White Route Slip) and the route distance sign after the junction has been changed from blue to green.

Good! I was wondering whether they would sort out that anomaly only the other day.

Wild Bill · 29-02-2012 11:01pm

billbond4 wrote: »

No mention of google as the copyright owner of the maps though

ffs.

Have you got a kitchen sink handy? Throw it in will ya?

The words of Brendan Behan spring to mind......:cool:

veryangryman · 01-03-2012 9:50am

flazio wrote: »

Noticed that the signs for J13 East Bound finally acknowledge that the Motorway ends at that junction (Blue sign with Green route ahead and White Route Slip) and the route distance sign after the junction has been changed from blue to green.

And the opposite the other side - blue signage is now replaced with green.

Im a broken record but WHAT a waste of money. Get it right the first time and even if its wrong, use any few beans you have on something useful (like lighting on the bypass or a burly (and h0rny) man to hop on any idiot that decides that walking or cycling the hard shoulder is a good idea. Oh dont get me started on the joggers going contra flow near Monsksland :mad::mad::mad:

Zubeneschamali · 01-03-2012 10:02am

veryangryman wrote: »

a burly (and h0rny) man to hop on any idiot that decides that walking or cycling the hard shoulder is a good idea. Oh dont get me started on the joggers going contra flow near Monsksland

It's not a motorway: they are allowed.

I think it should be a motorway, with upgrades to J10 and J13, closure for J9, J11 and J12 and new/improved link roads off-line for local traffic.

But we missed our chance in the boom years, and it's Never Going To Happen.

veryangryman · 01-03-2012 10:25am

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

It's not a motorway: they are allowed.

I think it should be a motorway, with upgrades to J10 and J13, closure for J9, J11 and J12 and new/improved link roads off-line for local traffic.

I dont doubt the legality of it - its the stupidity and dangerous-ness of it im concerned about.

whyulittle · 05-03-2012 5:12pm

Nice new painted on roundabout at J11 at the T-junction to go into Coosan.

It looks like the turning lane for the traffic going from B&Q onto the bypass eastbound, has been reversed - now it's for traffic going from Coosan to the bypass westbound.

05-03-2012 8:56pm

whyulittle wrote: »

Nice new painted on roundabout at J11 at the T-junction to go into Coosan.

It looks like the turning lane for the traffic going from B&Q onto the bypass eastbound, has been reversed - now it's for traffic going from Coosan to the bypass westbound.

That description has totally confused me!

I'll be down that way in the next few days, so will see it anyway.

whyulittle · 05-03-2012 9:08pm

whyulittle wrote: »

Nice new painted on roundabout at near J11 at the T-junction to go into Coosan.

It looks like the turning / filter lane (under the flyover) for the traffic going from B&Q direction onto the bypass eastbound, has been reversed - now it's for traffic going from Coosan to the bypass westbound.

Deleted User wrote: »

That description has totally confused me!
I'll be down that way in the next few days, so will see it anyway.

Best I can do!

No big deal either way. Just personally I would join the bypass from the B&Q direction more than from the Coosan direction.

Zubeneschamali · 06-03-2012 10:21am

whyulittle wrote: »

No big deal either way. Just personally I would join the bypass from the B&Q direction more than from the Coosan direction.

The arrows on the plan seem to suggest that there'll be no right turn up that eastbound ramp, you'll have to do a 180 at the mini roundabout and turn left (and probably get caught twice at the lights).

flazio · 13-03-2012 12:13am

What exactly are they building under the flyover at Exit 9?

13-03-2012 12:15am

flazio wrote: »

What exactly are they building under the flyover at Exit 9?

A pedestrian bridge.

billbond4 · 13-03-2012 2:53pm

Junction 9 - Garrycastle Interchange:

Ø Two-way traffic flow has returned to the Junction 9 Bridge and will remain in place until the week of resurfacing commencing Monday March 26th.

Ø During the resurfacing the two-way traffic flow will not be interrupted before 09:30 each day.

Ø A new pedestrian/cyclist bridge will be installed over Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th March. The dual carriageway will be closed under the Garrycastle bridge to mainline traffic during this period and the On and Off ramps will be temporarily re-opened during this period. Diversions will be in place to manage dual carriageway traffic.

Ø The project is on track for completion in the 1st week of April 2012.

Junction 10 - Ballymahon Road Interchange:

Ø Works are planned to start in 3 weeks time, approximately Week starting 2nd April.

Ø Closure of the On/Off ramps is envisaged at a later date for 10 days.

Ø This closure will not occur until after Junction 9 ramps re-open

Wild Bill · 13-03-2012 9:28pm

flazio wrote: »

What exactly are they building under the flyover at Exit 9?

A troll bridge

Zubeneschamali · 16-03-2012 9:41am

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

The arrows on the plan seem to suggest that there'll be no right turn up that eastbound ramp

Now the world's smallest right turn lane has appeared on the actual road.

billbond4 · 22-03-2012 12:56pm

Nice to see arrows on the road on the roscommon side of the bypass, if they werent there i wouldnt know which direction I should I be driving :eek:

veryangryman · 22-03-2012 2:15pm

billbond4 wrote: »

Nice to see arrows on the road on the roscommon side of the bypass, if they werent there i wouldnt know which direction I should I be driving :eek:

Indeed. Waste of money on the bypass # 45637

22-03-2012 3:44pm

billbond4 wrote: »

Nice to see arrows on the road on the roscommon side of the bypass, if they werent there i wouldnt know which direction I should I be driving :eek:

Shure, we'd drive in the shade otherwise! :rolleyes:

whyulittle · 23-03-2012 4:58pm

billbond4 wrote: »

Nice to see arrows on the road on the roscommon side of the bypass, if they werent there i wouldnt know which direction I should I be driving :eek:

You say that as if there aren't people who don't go the wrong way down DC/Motorways!

The new bridge is being assembled at Garrycastle today. From tomorrow afternoon until Sunday, the mainline under J9 will be closed with traffic diverting up and down the ramps.

billbond4 · 23-03-2012 5:00pm

Dont think people driving the wrong way on a motorway would notice arrows.

Glad I wont be on the bypass at the weekend, with all the messing going on

Wild Bill · 24-03-2012 12:39am

billbond4 wrote: »

Dont think people driving the wrong way on a motorway would notice arrows.

They might. It's worth a bit of paint in a county full of elderly drivers

billbond4 · 24-03-2012 9:06am

Wild Bill wrote: »

billbond4 wrote: »

Dont think people driving the wrong way on a motorway would notice arrows.

They might. It's worth a bit of paint in a county full of elderly drivers

I'm not that old :-D

Ascii · 24-03-2012 7:32pm

The new pedestrian footbridge at Garrycastle is being lifted in today. Circa 45 metres long being placed in one lift, should be a good site if anyone is round with a camera

24-03-2012 7:36pm

Do you know at what time the lift is scheduled?

Ascii · 24-03-2012 7:41pm

closure was from 11am this morning till 2 tomorrow afternoon. From my experience, three to four hours would see it out. Crane was to be gettin positioned at 12 and woould take an hour to rig it out. Excusing some hiccup, it will prob be in the closing stages now if not complete. could still be some activity down there now though. If they ahve the closure till 2 tomorrow, they will make the most of it me thinks

Wild Bill · 24-03-2012 10:29pm

billbond4 wrote: »

I'm not that old :-D

Fkcu you!

I am :cool:

billbond4 · 30-03-2012 9:43am

I see they are putting up those SOS telephones on the bypass now, well two on the Roscommon side.
They are put there for old people who dont have mobiles

Sully · 30-03-2012 11:07am

billbond4 wrote: »

I see they are putting up those SOS telephones on the bypass now, well two on the Roscommon side.
They are put there for old people who dont have mobiles

Really trying to make the ByPass as much of a motorway as possible, without the title / speeds.

billbond4 · 30-03-2012 1:44pm

Update on the works programme for the resurfacing works at Garrycastle.

While the removal of existing road surfacing is taking place and will be completed this week, it is expected that laying of the new road surface will start on Monday 2nd April and will be complete on Thursday 5th April. Minimum disruption is anticipated as schools are off. It is hoped that the On / Off ramps at Junction 9 will be re-opened on Thursday evening, however, these dates are provisional and largely dependant on weather conditions next week.

flazio · 30-03-2012 3:03pm

Who would answer these SOS points? Come to think of it who answers the ones between Athlone and Ballinasloe? I know the N6 company answer the ones between J14 and Galway from their building beside the Cappataggle toll booth but what about the rest of the M/N6?

billbond4 · 30-03-2012 3:22pm

Dunno,When they are up and running, give them a buzz and ask, but its probably the same crew

Sully · 30-03-2012 3:47pm

flazio wrote: »

Who would answer these SOS points? Come to think of it who answers the ones between Athlone and Ballinasloe? I know the N6 company answer the ones between J14 and Galway from their building beside the Cappataggle toll booth but what about the rest of the M/N6?

RSA Call Center afaik. They just have a list of towing companies in the area you break down in when you call.

cherrytaz · 31-03-2012 12:06pm

flazio wrote: »

Who would answer these SOS points? Come to think of it who answers the ones between Athlone and Ballinasloe? I know the N6 company answer the ones between J14 and Galway from their building beside the Cappataggle toll booth but what about the rest of the M/N6?

All SOS phones in the country (approximately 1300) are dialing into the National Traffic Control Centre (NTCC) at the Dublin Port Tunnel. This is part of centralising all services to the one location. Each SOS has its own Emergency Contact (usually the Gardai) and a contact for a local recovery company which are stored in a database in the NTCC

billbond4 · 10-04-2012 9:13am

Well surprise surprise, the on/off Ramps werent opened on Thursday, probably be another week of mickeying around by Wallis Bros

billbond4 · 11-04-2012 10:24am

J9/Garrycastle eventually opened this morning, only 5 days late

veryangryman · 11-04-2012 9:54pm

billbond4 wrote: »

J9/Garrycastle eventually opened this morning, only 5 days late

Still closed to get onto the bypass. Useless Willy bstards!

billbond4 · 12-04-2012 9:18am

on the dublin side of the J9 ramps, is it still closed?
The galway side both are open

billbond4 · 27-04-2012 10:18am

The slip road at J10 westbound at the Cova shop is closed until this evening, diversions are in place....

KevR · 27-04-2012 4:26pm

Are they not putting in traffic lights at J9?

billbond4 · 27-04-2012 4:29pm

yeah they will be

whyulittle · 02-05-2012 11:06pm

Lads working at installing traffic lights at J11 today, poles are all up.

Hope to God they rip up that stupid raised ramp at the Cova while they're putting in the RAB there.

billbond4 · 03-05-2012 9:39am

It will be an awful shame when a truck takes out one of the traffic lights, fingers crossed

06-05-2012 8:02am

whyulittle wrote: »

Lads working at installing traffic lights at J11 today, poles are all up.

I hope that they install intelligent lights, ones that anticipate traffic approaching the lights, rather than ones that make you stop even when there is no other traffic around, or even worse dumb timers!

billbond4 · 06-05-2012 8:47am

Probably radar controlled ones, as they are probably the most expensive ones as they seem to be pissing away the money on the project

06-05-2012 9:40am

billbond4 wrote: »

Probably radar controlled ones, as they are probably the most expensive ones as they seem to be pissing away the money on the project

A remote loop 100metres or so ahead of the lights would be sufficient, unnessary stopping is such a fuel waster!

N6 - Athlone Bypass Upgrade works

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