N6 - Athlone Bypass Upgrade works

Just a quick question was wills suppouse to have this project finished in sept 2011?

Wonder how long before a wide load from a tractor will knock out the phones.

billbond4 wrote: »

Btw how do you know the phones work? They will be handy for cyclists who get a flat tyre at least

I was responsible for testing the phones and all were tested ok last Friday.

billbond4 wrote: »

Wonder how long before a wide load from a tractor will knock out the phones.
Btw how do you know the phones work? They will be handy for cyclists who get a flat tyre at least

good point!

The AA is there for motorists but who will come to the rescue of a cyclist in distress with a blown tyre?
Or someone out for a jaunt on their horse or pony (with or without trap) should the animal collapse on the side of the road?

I suppose for anyone out for a powerwalk on the dual carraigeway would be put onto the ambulance service should they themselves break down!

We really should have a thread for the most bizarre traffic on an intercity dual caraigeway. Seeing as anything goes on Irish roads you could march a circus or patricks day parade down these roads should the notion take you !!
(and now theres an emergency phone should anything go wrong)

Solberg2005 wrote: »

Will the upgraded bypass be eventually upgraded to full motorway spec?

No, as thousands of tractors per minute would then have to use the bridge in town.

Or something like that.

And the exits are too close together to allow for 120kph traffic, some are too short too like the roscommon on ramp to get to 120.
It was never designed to take 120kph traffic, only way for motorway would be to build a new one to the south, which they are plans for but will prob never happen

Motorway doesn't have to be 120kph (see M50) but the lack of alternative route for non-motorway traffic would seem to rule this out on a permanent basis.

the "alternative route " is the route that was in use before the bypass was built.

Eliminated pedestrians,bicycles and tractors, post a 100kph speed and its a motorway.
What beside a ministerial order is reqiured ?

dolanbaker wrote: »

tharlear wrote: »

the "alternative route " is the route that was in use before the bypass was built.

Eliminated pedestrians,bicycles and tractors, post a 100kph speed and its a motorway.
What beside a ministerial order is reqiured ?

The alternative route is through the town, it's choked most days as it is with local traffic.
With the current downward trend in traffic volumes, it makes little sense to construct an alternative route for non-motorway traffic.

Anyway, the bypass is seldom congested!

True. Officially you could say it can be made motorway. But the Shannon is an anomaly that is mega hard to work around. Naas portlaoise etc are examples where motorways are there now with alternatives thru town. Problem of course is that you could conceivably take a 5 to 10 mile diversion. Not with athlone. That said I would like to see the restrictions in place. Will need to have someone killed on it before it happens though. I feel like saying rip in advance to the poor person it happens to.

flazio wrote: »

This discussion just keeps going round in circles anyway.

Yes, until there's a really big accident killing some large number of people. Someone takes out six power-walkers in the hard shoulder or a dog-walking collection of kids, something that gets the local politicians to see sense and realize they do not want the responsibility.

article about the works in the Athlone Advertiser this week, saying works should be completed by the end of june.
The last line is a good joke

Councillors welcomed the update, with Cllr Frankie Keena saying the works would
"make the road more user-friendly for motorists, the junctions safer for pedestrians, and the town more accessible"

This is a prime example of why County Councils should be disbanded, no cop on , just pissing away money cos they have it to spend.
There should only be a few Corporations and Provence Councils in the Country.

http://www.westmeathcoco.ie/en/news/name,11837,en.html

Due to Junction Upgrade Works on the N6 Athlone Relief Road the East Bound exit and entry ramps at Junction 10 and the West Bound exit ramp at Junctions 10 Ballymahon will be closed from Sunday 27th May2012 for two weeks.

Diversions will be in place and these diversions will be signposted and are shown on the Council website.

Westmeath County Council wishes to thank you for your co-operation and we apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Basically only the exit at the Cova shop is opened

whyulittle wrote: »

The right turn lane at J10 exit westbound has been kerbed out of existance. Already you have idiots holding up all the cars behind them persisting in turning right from the left lane, instead out just using the roundabout.

I dont necessarily regard them as idiots. I think its a small protest at the idiocy of the planners for this. If ever there was a case for cutting Westmeath Cocos budget its this recent project.

Should have spent the money knocking the houses down near the junction and upgrading it to a lilo leading up to the roundabout. Not fukcing traffic lights.