M17/M18 - Gort to Tuam [open to traffic]

Sam Russell · 27-09-2017 7:28pm

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

Should have built a quadruple stack.

But no, as usual we have to go with the lowest acceptable standard - a roundabout.

It could have been made free-flow with a sight reworking. Unusually for a roundabout, every vehicle will be going 270 degrees around it (unless they are lost) so all that is needed is a third lane around the roundabout, with traffic entering merging to the inner lane a fast as is possible, while traffic leaving at the next exit merges to the outer lane. Proper lines on the road would guide drivers to exit properly with little interference of or from other vehicles.

However, if traffic is light, then the roundabout is probably OK for now.

A bigger question is why was the roundabout at the junction with the Tuam bypass there at all and not a grade separated junction? Why end motorways in roundabouts?

gally74 · 27-09-2017 7:31pm

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JoeA3 · 27-09-2017 7:32pm

I took the new road home this evening (Oranmore -> Lackagh) to try it out. It looks great - but for me, beyond this novelty try out, it's not a realistic alternative for commuting. It's nearly double the length for my route home (15km versus 30km)!

My wife said Claregalway was a breeze this evening. No traffic at all! I wonder how much of that is due to the likes of me trying out the new road for the one day - will Claregalway be back to a mess again from next week when the novelty wears off and many people realise the new road isn't really a viable alternative?

Other than occasional trips to Dublin/Limerick/Shannon, I don't think I'll be using it with any frequency - and I'm only ~5k km from Annagh Hill.

Bicycle · 27-09-2017 7:35pm

Can anyone tell me please, what exit do you use for Galway?

Hubby has to take my Mum up to the Galway Clinic tomorrow am and the Sat Nag won't be updated to take account for the road opening.

Thanks in advance.

AugustusMinimus · 27-09-2017 7:46pm

Sam Russell wrote: »

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

Should have built a quadruple stack.

But no, as usual we have to go with the lowest acceptable standard - a roundabout.

It could have been made free-flow with a sight reworking. Unusually for a roundabout, every vehicle will be going 270 degrees around it (unless they are lost) so all that is needed is a third lane around the roundabout, with traffic entering merging to the inner lane a fast as is possible, while traffic leaving at the next exit merges to the outer lane. Proper lines on the road would guide drivers to exit properly with little interference of or from other vehicles.

However, if traffic is light, then the roundabout is probably OK for now.

A bigger question is why was the roundabout at the junction with the Tuam bypass there at all and not a grade separated junction? Why end motorways in roundabouts?

Why not use a partially unrolled cloverleaf. Same land take and it would only have been 2 levels. What was put there is madness.

SwimFin · 27-09-2017 7:56pm

Exit 19 (M6) Galway. Turn left and take 1st left at Martin Roundabout (Galway Clinic).

westtip · 27-09-2017 7:58pm

simulacra75 wrote: »

Due to M17's diligent work over the last 2.5 years I decided to drive the new road as soon as it opened!

I live in Ennis, near the West County hotel. Headed off at 3.47pm today, got onto new motorway at Gort at 4.03pm. Drove all the way to Tuam, arriving at 4.28pm.

Arrived back in Ennis at 5.09pm. No stops.

One thing I'd say about it, they've made the width of it to bare minimum standards, IMHO. The width of the hard shoulder is "just" wide enough to take a car and no more.

25 mins though Gort to Tuam that is brilliant and that is what this is all about the through traffic that does not have to clog up Claregalway.

TheRiverman · 27-09-2017 8:04pm

Sam Russell wrote: »

It could have been made free-flow with a sight reworking. Unusually for a roundabout, every vehicle will be going 270 degrees around it (unless they are lost) so all that is needed is a third lane around the roundabout, with traffic entering merging to the inner lane a fast as is possible, while traffic leaving at the next exit merges to the outer lane. Proper lines on the road would guide drivers to exit properly with little interference of or from other vehicles.

However, if traffic is light, then the roundabout is probably OK for now.

A bigger question is why was the roundabout at the junction with the Tuam bypass there at all and not a grade separated junction? Why end motorways in roundabouts?

"A third lane around the roundabout".It's bad enough at existing two lane roundabouts where so many drivers haven't a clue how to use them properly.Imagine what it would be like with three lanes regardless of lines.

PLL · 27-09-2017 8:07pm

westtip wrote: »

25 mins though Gort to Tuam that is brilliant and that is what this is all about the through traffic that does not have to clog up Claregalway.

Imagine in years to come the people of Claregalway looking back and remembering how the town used to be gridlocked.

Those of us who commute across Galway city dream of the day we can look back (which will probably never come).

My father travels from Clonmel to visit me in Galway and his family in north Mayo so he is delighted. I remember doing the Clonmel to Ballina trip with him as a child before any motorway existed - without stopping it took 5 hours.

Fowler87 · 27-09-2017 8:11pm

Working nearby on the N63 Abbeyknockmoy scheme at the moment. Nice feeling to head home to Ballyhaunis via our new motorway and excellent bypass in the west:cool: Fair play to all the contributors especially M17. Great effort

simulacra75 · 27-09-2017 8:13pm

westtip wrote: »

simulacra75 wrote: »

Due to M17's diligent work over the last 2.5 years I decided to drive the new road as soon as it opened!

I live in Ennis, near the West County hotel. Headed off at 3.47pm today, got onto new motorway at Gort at 4.03pm. Drove all the way to Tuam, arriving at 4.28pm.

Arrived back in Ennis at 5.09pm. No stops.

One thing I'd say about it, they've made the width of it to bare minimum standards, IMHO. The width of the hard shoulder is "just" wide enough to take a car and no more.

25 mins though Gort to Tuam that is brilliant and that is what this is all about the through traffic that does not have to clog up Claregalway.

Just to give context, I would travel to Sligo from Ennis fairly regularly on a Friday afternoon and it would typically take 75 mins to get to Tuam on a really good day.

It now takes 41 mins, regardless of when I'd leave

BelfastVanMan · 27-09-2017 8:18pm

Middle Man wrote: »

For the Record Books (M17/18 Gort to Tuam):

1. First complete interurban that connects urban centres other than Dublin;

2. First occurrence where two full 120kph motorways cross (at Rathmorrissy);

3. First route in popular culture to cease existence (N17 Tuam to Galway);

4. The first complete free flow circuit involving different routes (anti-clockwise via N/M18, N/M7, M50, N/M4, N/M6);

5. Ireland's largest roundabout circumference (at Rathmorrissy)?

That would be Larne Rd roundabout; Jct 10 on M2 in NI.

Gaffs89 · 27-09-2017 8:44pm

Still a Nice flow of traffic at 7.30 this evening at Ballinphuil Corofin.
https://youtu.be/IPeo2i84SHc

mackerski · 27-09-2017 8:52pm

BelfastVanMan wrote: »

That would be Larne Rd roundabout; Jct 10 on M2 in NI.

No, Rathmorrissy is about 100m longer.

d1980 · 27-09-2017 8:53pm

Middle Man wrote: »

For the Record Books (M17/18 Gort to Tuam):

1. First complete interurban that connects urban centres other than Dublin;

2. First occurrence where two full 120kph motorways cross (at Rathmorrissy);

3. First route in popular culture to cease existence (N17 Tuam to Galway);

4. The first complete free flow circuit involving different routes (anti-clockwise via N/M18, N/M7, M50, N/M4, N/M6);

5. Ireland's largest roundabout circumference (at Rathmorrissy)?

2. What about Kilkenny Waterford?

Middle Man · 27-09-2017 8:57pm

BelfastVanMan wrote: »

That would be Larne Rd roundabout; Jct 10 on M2 in NI.

This one...

https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=16/54.8510/-6.2523

It's extremely long alright - was on it years ago as a teenager (1991).

pjordan · 27-09-2017 8:57pm

Just did some travel time calculations following alternative routes within legal speed limits. Results as follows:

Travel time to end of M4 in Lucan

Castlebar via N5 2hrs 36m, via M17/M6 2hrs 41m

Westport via N5 2hrs 52m, via M17/M6 2hrs 53m

Ballinrobe via M17/M6 2hrs 22m

Claremorris via N5 2hrs 28m, via M17/M6 2hrs 15m

Swinford via N5 2hrs 13m, via M17/M6 2hrs 36m

Tuam via M17/M6 1hr 57 m

Middle Man · 27-09-2017 9:02pm

d1980 wrote: »

2. What about Kilkenny Waterford?

I'm not talking about converging motorways like the M7-M9 Jct. I'm talking about a complete 4 arm intersection of 120kph motorways - only Rathmorrissy has this feature in Ireland.

d1980 · 27-09-2017 9:07pm

Middle Man wrote: »

I'm not talking about converging motorways like the M7-M9 Jct. I'm talking about a complete 4 arm intersection of 120kph motorways - only Rathmorrissy has this feature in Ireland.

Sorry I had meant point 1?

from_atozinc · 27-09-2017 9:11pm

joedomvince wrote: »

Just finished it in my BMW. So smooth and a fantastic stretch of motorway. Thought the Gardai had me for speeding at one stage north of the bat bridge but they never came after me. Phew.

Headed out from Galway merged north onto the M17 up to Tuam around the roundabout and headed southbound to Gort. Got off and headed north again on the M18/M6 and back to the City.

In a BMW...........wow

red bull · 27-09-2017 9:18pm

from_atozinc wrote: »

In a BMW...........wow

His good car was having a day off I guess !!!

Middle Man · 27-09-2017 9:19pm

d1980 wrote: »

Sorry I had meant point 1?

If Kilkenny is regarded as a major urban destination, then perhaps I should have said "connecting major urban centres end to end". Anyone else with thoughts on this?

jasper100 · 27-09-2017 9:31pm

So where does one buy fuel along the route?

Including the Limerick Gort section?

dok_golf · 27-09-2017 9:36pm

red bull wrote: »

His good car was having a day off I guess !!!

I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed the "namedropping". I,myself, took a spin in my Mercedes ............. 2007 can.

Roadfan · 27-09-2017 9:44pm

I see Leo V is making positive noises about Cork Limerick. No great surprise I suppose.

Roadfan · 27-09-2017 9:49pm

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/varadkar-promises-motorway-from-cork-to-limerick-1.3236083?localLinksEnabled=false

Roadfan · 27-09-2017 9:49pm

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/varadkar-promises-motorway-from-cork-to-limerick-1.3236083?localLinksEnabled=false

simulacra75 · 27-09-2017 9:50pm

red bull wrote: »

from_atozinc wrote: »

In a BMW...........wow

His good car was having a day off I guess !!!

Which is parked on Taylors Hill, don't you know!

Sam Russell · 27-09-2017 10:09pm

AugustusMinimus wrote: »

Why not use a partially unrolled cloverleaf. Same land take and it would only have been 2 levels. What was put there is madness.

TheRiverman wrote: »

"A third lane around the roundabout".It's bad enough at existing two lane roundabouts where so many drivers haven't a clue how to use them properly.Imagine what it would be like with three lanes regardless of lines.

It is easier to put a roundabout because most drivers can cope with them.

However, what I was trying to explain (obviously not very well) is that all drivers are doing a 270 degree turn. So entering the roundabout, the motorist has to transition into the inside lane avoiding those exiting at the next turn. Whatever design chosen, this feature exists in some form. So some form of 'merge' lane is required - that is the third lane. Maybe I'll have to get the crayons out.

Carawaystick · 27-09-2017 10:27pm

had a look at the merge galway bound on the weekend. It's the exact same system the nra removed from the M50 over the last year. Traffic coming from Tuam has a very short merge onto the mainline, whereas traffic from Gort has about half a km.

the m50 system now gets merging traffic to merge into one lane and then has a long merge lane, so no short merges. I expect to see the Rathmorrisey system changing in the future.

M17/M18 - Gort to Tuam [open to traffic]

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