Ennis may not get a 120KPH increase on its motorway bypass

Run_to_da_hills

Concerns over the length of some slip roads leading off the new bypass may halt the decision to increase the speed limit from 100 to 120 kph, not that this will make any difference to most motorists.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0825/1224253194826.html

giveth

If only they had the same concern for roads around the Burren which have 100kmph speed limit but anything over 50kmph is dangerous.

drunken_munky52

"However, a spokeswoman for the National Roads Authority said the road was fully tested for compliance with motorway design, including the interchanges, prior to a recommendation being made that they be redesignated.

She said the authority was aware of the concern locally, and the authority had arranged to reassess its designation for the Ennis bypass. However, it had been found to be within safety parameters."

The NRA will have the last word on this and it looks like they already have.

If I am using the Tulla or Barefield slip roads, I simply drive along the hard shoulder until I'm up to atleast 100 and then pull out (in heavy traffic only). You can see that the road markings are wearing away already from people doing this. They could simply extend the road markings as a cheap option or extend the slip way which is expensive.

Same story with ridiculous road markings on the N19 at the turn off for Smithstown, there is no way you can get out there without using the hard shoulder in the mornings.

Remember Seymour Skinner driving the school bus? The exactly what people should not do in these situations.

romah

Once the signs were put up ..it HAS become a motorway

Normal speed is now 120 kmph and thats in the inside lane

omahaid

romah wrote: »

Once the signs were put up ..it HAS become a motorway

Normal speed is now 120 kmph and thats in the inside lane

Are the speed limit signs saying 120 now? It's all a bit confusing

Greenacres

romah wrote: »

Once the signs were put up ..it HAS become a motorway

Normal speed is now 120 kmph and thats in the inside lane

Not so. Motorway does not automatically mean 120kmph. Any speed limit can be imposed. Happens all the time for roadworks. Signs say 100kmph, until they are changed, the limit is that. You adhere to displayed speed limit, not just cos signs are blue and the N is now M.

Run_to_da_hills

romah wrote: »

Once the signs were put up ..it HAS become a motorway

Normal speed is now 120 kmph and thats in the inside lane

Most of the M50 is 100 KPH and its a designated motorway.

Akrasia

drunken_munky52 wrote: »

"However, a spokeswoman for the National Roads Authority said the road was fully tested for compliance with motorway design, including the interchanges, prior to a recommendation being made that they be redesignated.

She said the authority was aware of the concern locally, and the authority had arranged to reassess its designation for the Ennis bypass. However, it had been found to be within safety parameters."

The NRA will have the last word on this and it looks like they already have.

If I am using the Tulla or Barefield slip roads, I simply drive along the hard shoulder until I'm up to atleast 100 and then pull out (in heavy traffic only). You can see that the road markings are wearing away already from people doing this. They could simply extend the road markings as a cheap option or extend the slip way which is expensive.

Same story with ridiculous road markings on the N19 at the turn off for Smithstown, there is no way you can get out there without using the hard shoulder in the mornings.

Remember Seymour Skinner driving the school bus? The exactly what people should not do in these situations.

They've widened the road between shannon and ennis by moving the yellow line about a foot to the left, however, the cats eyes are all still in their original position which is really distracting, hopefully they're going to move them to their correct place

re: the slip roads, they're dangerous getting onto the motorway, but the getting off at the tulla exit the turn off towards the roundabout is extremely acute and you need to slow down before you even get on the slip road and nake sure your brakes are up to scratch and your tyres are in good nick. On an icy morning or if there is an oil spill, there will be a horrendous accident there

Tefral

romah wrote: »

Once the signs were put up ..it HAS become a motorway

Normal speed is now 120 kmph and thats in the inside lane

Not true.. in Legislation its not a motorway till tomorrow at 00.01 am...

romah

Legislation not yet passed
Speed Limit signs say 100 kph

but

i travel the road every day and 120 kph is now the average traffic speed

Greenacres

romah wrote: »

Legislation not yet passed
Speed Limit signs say 100 kph

but

i travel the road every day and 120 kph is now the average traffic speed

Ah sure if everyone else is doing it then that makes it ok.:p

I travel that road everyday too and people have been driving over the 100kmph for long before the Motorway change was announced. Doesn't mean I can too, legally.

Jay P

Well it's not a motorway yet is it? Those signs saying it's the M18 are painted over so it's not technically a motorway yet.

romah

I actually think that 120 kph is too fast a speed for the Ennis - Shannon stretch of road . Bear in mind there is solid concrete barrier all the way down the outside of the "fast lane" ..
Also it makes no sense to end the new "Motorway" at Smithstown and still have N18 all the way into Limerick from there until the tunnel open probably.
Talk about inconsistency

omahaid

Jay P wrote: »

Well it's not a motorway yet is it? Those signs saying it's the M18 are painted over so it's not technically a motorway yet.

Nearly every sign post on the way home (from Shannon to Ennis) says "M18".

emanresu

romah wrote: »

... Also it makes no sense to end the new "Motorway" at Smithstown and still have N18 all the way into Limerick from there until the tunnel open probably.
Talk about inconsistency

It will still be the N18 between the Shannon junction and the tunnel even after the tunnel opens. That part can't be changed to a motorway.

omahaid

romah wrote: »

I actually think that 120 kph is too fast a speed for the Ennis - Shannon stretch of road .

In practicality (at least in my experience) the speed limit seems to be 120 kph already . Are there many more accidents on that road than most?

Victor

Potentially extend the diverging lanes, put them on 100km/h, dropping to 80 and then 60 and add rumble strips and an anti-skid surface (usually stone chippings on a "glue").

drunken_munky52

romah wrote: »

Also it makes no sense to end the new "Motorway" at Smithstown and still have N18 all the way into Limerick from there until the tunnel open probably.
Talk about inconsistency

I brought this up in the post "Clares first motorway". Drumline to Coonagh motorway will never happen, unless the spend 100 of millions on just hiring the engineers to come up with designing it. If I were living in one of those adjacent houses, I wouldnt like my drive way out onto a motorway, which is the case along that stretch.

Luckily, dreadful 70s/80s planning is over.

The Newmarket bypass was built with the intention of motorway status in the future. Future proofing all new roads in the future is the way to go.

Jay P

omahaid wrote: »

Nearly every sign post on the way home (from Shannon to Ennis) says "M18".

No but just when you get on the road for the first time, there's a sole sign that says what road it is. At Dromoland anyway this sign is painted grey so I'm fairly sure that means the road isn't an actual motorway yet.

omahaid

Look like we're getting it today

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

Although it does say that temporary speed limits can still be in place.

Gregor Samsa

romah wrote: »

I actually think that 120 kph is too fast a speed for the Ennis - Shannon stretch of road . Bear in mind there is solid concrete barrier all the way down the outside of the "fast lane"

Italian autostrada have the exact same construction (and the same short on-ramps as the Tulla Road and Barefield junctions) and have a limit of 130km/h.

(and it's the overtaking lane...)

Run_to_da_hills

phutyle wrote: »

Italian autostrada have the exact same construction (and the same short on-ramps as the Tulla Road and Barefield junctions) and have a limit of 130km/h.

(and it's the overtaking lane...)

You cannot compare Italian drivers with Irish drivers.:rolleyes:

Jim Martin

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

You cannot compare Italian drivers with Irish drivers.:rolleyes:

The boy racers here are worse!