N18 - Limerick Tunnel & South Ring Road Phase II

sonyair

just announced on live 95fm news that cowan and dempsey to cut the ribbon at 1pm on tuesday and will open to traffic at 4pm

Bards

sonyair wrote: »

just announced on live 95fm news that cowan and dempsey to cut the ribbon at 1pm on tuesday and will open to traffic at 4pm

they're a bit late announcing that - check out post #779

lukejr

New Limerick Tunnel website is updated: http://www.limericktunnel.com/

Tragedy

Is the Dock Road junction opening before the tunnel?

-Corkie-

sonyair wrote: »

just announced on live 95fm news that cowan and dempsey to cut the ribbon at 1pm on tuesday and will open to traffic at 4pm

Cant believe they must wait for them fools to come down.

marmurr1916

This might sound strange, but given that traffic levels along the Dock Road (N69) will probably fall dramatically once the tunnel is open, will it be worth people's while to avoid using the tunnel altogether at certain times?

Tech3

marmurr1916 wrote: »

This might sound strange, but given that traffic levels along the Dock Road (N69) will probably fall dramatically once the tunnel is open, will it be worth people's while to avoid using the tunnel altogether at certain times?

Yeah but there is still some traffic lights that will hold you up and I think it takes about 5-10 mins traffic free to get from Raheen to Coonagh. At peak times the tunnel will be heavily used.

On the traffic numbers, 20,000 was given as a figure not sure whether they meant passing under the tunnel or just using any part of the scheme. N18 junction 1 to 2 will be extremely busy. There is heavy amounts of traffic coming from 3 main routes: M7, M18 and the M20. It will easily exceed that figure between J1 and J2.

Mikefitzs

Should have opened yesterday, we don't need bunch of politicians to do the job. JP could have opened it:)

swoofer

Maybe they might rename it the JP tunnel. Cowen is desperate to have his name in the frame for something good. Now the BIFFO tunnel sounds good.


gb--

blackwarrior

Tuesday will be a great day for Limerick. The tunnel is a major engineering project, it has the right name, it gives our native city a good boost, and it will be fun to have around the place.

Limerick has gotten a bad press in the last 20-30 years, some of it self-inflicted. But the old lady is well on her way from good to great.

What distinguishes us in Limerick? We've no delusions of grandeur.

Let the tunnel begin.

paddy mc 123

Just for clarity, the correct abbreviation for km per hour is km/h

KPH means 1000 per hour!

knipex wrote: »

There is a huge difference between thousands of pedestrians and articulated lorries potentially full of god knows what crashing at 100kph and the safety implications of both..

The tunnel was to all extents and purposed finished for the open day its the paperwork that is delaying things.....

Its still months ahead of schedule.

mrsoundie

The idea of driving through the BIFFO tunnel does not appeal what so ever. How ever if it were to be named say after Gráinne Seoige, then I would be there everyday.

Realistically should be named after Jim Kemmy, no other man epitomised Limerick or anyone associated with Limerick and still no fitting memorial to the man. Although a money grabbing exercise of a PPP would probably have the man turning in his grave.

veryangryman

mrsoundie wrote: »

The idea of driving through the BIFFO tunnel does not appeal what so ever. How ever if it were to be named say after Gráinne Seoige, then I would be there everyday.

Realistically should be named after Jim Kemmy, no other man epitomised Limerick or anyone associated with Limerick and still no fitting memorial to the man. Although a money grabbing exercise of a PPP would probably have the man turning in his grave.

Jack Lynch was a pretty poor Taoiseach and yet he got his name on a tunnel. Assuming it was more for his sporting exploits

Bock the Robber

Just a couple of small questions about the tunnel design.

Tech3

It'll be nice to drive along the M20 and take the N18 out of Limerick on route to the races next week. I wonder could they possibly impose a special speed limit of 120km/hr eventually on the stretch similar to that of the N25 scheme? I might email Limerick County Council about this.

zilog_jones

On the new N18 signs towards Limerick there's this black diamond in a small yellow rectangle on the signs for the old road to Caherdavin and the city centre. Anyone know what these are about?

mrsoundie wrote: »

Realistically should be named after Jim Kemmy, no other man epitomised Limerick or anyone associated with Limerick and still no fitting memorial to the man.

Is the business college in UL not enough?

zilog_jones

zilog_jones wrote: »

On the new N18 signs towards Limerick there's this black diamond in a small yellow rectangle on the signs for the old road to Caherdavin and the city centre. Anyone know what these are about?

I'll answer my own question: It's for traffic diversions, I guess in case the tunnel is closed for whatever reason. It's the same as in the UK, shown here (page 107, yellow outline diamond): http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/tss/trafficsigns.pdf

I haven't noticed any on the other side of the river yet.

d1980

Theres a good bit of Nationwide on RTE 1 this evening dedicated to the Tunnel. Interesting, focuses on a lot from Nature to walk through the tunnel. Im sure it'll be up on player later.

Tech3

About time the media highlighted the improvement of infrastructure in the west. Also had a few clips of the Gort-Crusheen scheme, and it was mentioned that Gort-Tuam should start early next year.

d1980

http://www.rte.ie/player/#v=1077476

Here's the link to Nationwide. Enjoy!

KevR

They discovered some rare plants in the area, had to move them from the area during construction and relocate it back in the area after construction.


^The people complaining about the bog cotton on the route of the Galway BP should take note.

Geogregor

d1980 wrote: »

http://www.rte.ie/player/#v=1077476

Here's the link to Nationwide. Enjoy!

Thanks, really interesting program.

knipex

Electronic signs displaying that the tunnel will open at 6pm.

Mc Love

Rumour that the tunnel will be toll free for a month

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055981338

D'Peoples Voice

http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0727/limerick.html
New Limerick tunnel to open today Tuesday, 27 July 2010 11:53

The new Limerick Tunnel, under the River Shannon, will be officially opened this lunchtime.

The tolled crossing cost €660m to construct and is designed to take 40,000 vehicles a day from Limerick city centre.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen described it as a key part of our national road infrastructure, which would improve access and support economic growth.
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The new tunnel scheme comprises 10km of duel carriageway, 11 bridges, five underpasses, two toll plazas and its own traffic management system.

a bit derogatory towards Limerick - No?
I'm sure there won't be that many joyriders on the road

limklad

D'Peoples Voice wrote: »

a bit derogatory towards Limerick - No?
I'm sure there won't be that many joyriders on the road

duel carriageway

Most roads are like that with poor drivers overtaking taking putting other road users lives at risk with poor overtaking leaving roads users into a duel or play chicken. Thankfully this is a Dual carriage unless some idiot drives down the wrong way:eek: which is known to happen (with a certain drunk ex minister years ago after the horse racing event up near the pale).
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/man-teetering-on-the-edge-of-a-treacherous-boozy-downfall-467411.html

Joyriders will only use cars in that Tunnel that have electronic toll tags.

E10sr

Electronic board on N18 now showing opening time of 5pm:)

brainyneuron

So did Biffo cut the ribbon yet? :rolleyes:

topper75

limklad wrote: »

Joyriders will only use cars in that Tunnel that have electronic toll tags.

Because follow-up fine notifications in the letterbox of the poor carless person offends the joyrider's sense of fairplay?

niallers1

If for some reason you don't have change on you when going through the toll plaza and don't have a toll pass.

Can you phone a number to pay later that evening or next day?