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

MattressRick

marno21 wrote: »

No.

If there is 24 hours of coverage missing in a full year (e.g. one day) then the coverage = 364/365 = 99.7%. The weird thing is that data is missing for the first 3 months of 2018 in that N18 counter, so the figures are wrong. There are still ~13k vehicles a day passing between Clarinbridge and Kilcolgan (N67). That to me seems that the M18 has failed to live up to its remit.

Yesterday, Thursday 19th April, 19.6k vehicles passed through Claregalway. 11.2k vehicles used the M17 east of Claregalway. Whilst the M17 figure is up 1000 on the equivalent figure from October 2017, in my opinion we can conclude on this data so far that the M17 has failed to live upto its purpose of relieving the N17 and providing a bypass of Claregalway.

Driving from Galway city to Limerick it takes the same time to use the m18 immediately from Galway city via athenry, as it does to drive out through clarinbridge and kilcolgan and jump on the motorway there. The problem is that in the mornings the roundabout near the Galway clinic in galway city to get onto the motorway is clogged with cars so it's more convenient for a lot to drive out through clarinbridge to get onto the motorway.
For those coming into the city in the morning that roundabout is key again because there's a mile long tailback of cars waiting to get off the motorway so it can be handier to exit at kilcolgan, drive through clarinbridge and come into Galway that way.

flazio

Couldn't you just go out the old dual carriageway, turn left at the Maldron and join the motorway at junction 19?

flazio

m17 wrote: »

You mean junction 17,junction 19 is annagh hill

No, I mean 19 on the M6 . If having difficulties getting to the roundabout between the clinic and the Clayton, head out the old dual carriageway as far as the Maldron hotel, take the first exit towards Carnmore, join the M6 East bound to exit 18 join the M18.

Bodan

marno21 wrote: »

It would have been better if the M17/M18 scheme was designed and built to solve the issues it was supposed to rather than what has happened. The route that was built has significantly less benefits that other potential routings which would have solved the Claregalway issue and saved us spending money on more roads down the line.

They should have built a motorway from Gort that would merge with the M6 near Oranmore and a motorway from the Galway ring road to Tuam, with a 2+2 link road or motorway link road between the two such as below (I have included the Galway ring road too on a rough alignment)



There is an issue somewhere if the M17/M18 scheme as built happened and it should not happen again.

I think the reason they took the route they did was because of local topography, and not as direct a route based on population density.

m17

The bat bridge 31/10/16
22/04/18

m17

Ballygaddy road junction on the tuam bypass 28/04/18

m17

The m18 at gortroa 02/05/18

m17

Annagh hill 26/11/15
24/04/18

mikeingalway

The new Mast a Rinn is a Godsend! I see another new one just after popping up (well the structure) around the Raheen Area near Gort. My Vodafone Coverage is quite good there, no 4G but perfect 3G, it may benefit other network users that are struggling with coverage in the area.

m17

The m17 at bauilpuil 4/5/164/5/18

WallyGUFC

Looked like a powerful day this day two years ago!

m17

mikeingalway wrote: »

The new Mast a Rinn is a Godsend! I see another new one just after popping up (well the structure) around the Raheen Area near Gort. My Vodafone Coverage is quite good there, no 4G but perfect 3G, it may benefit other network users that are struggling with coverage in the area.

The m18 at raheen with the new phone mast on the left hand side 04/05/18

All that's left is the mast at Annagh hill and then there will be 100% coverage on the m17/m18

marno21

m17 wrote: »

The m18 at raheen with the new phone mast on the left hand side 04/05/18

All that's left is the mast at Annagh hill and then there will be 100% coverage on the m17/m18

You are like an encyclopedia on the M17/M18, the knowledge you have of the scheme is something else.

mrsoundie

Went to Renmore through Kilcolgan today from Shannon and came back through M6 onto M18. Really enjoyed the drive on it, but the road after the Bat Bridge frightened me a bit, reminded me of driving through a multi-storey car park with wet tyres.

It's great not to be stuck behind some slow coach and there are a few still on the motorway. All though I did see two tractors on the motorway this evening, one around the Tulla exit heading North and the other around the Shannon Airport exit heading South.

mrsoundie

mrsoundie wrote: »

Went to Renmore through Kilcolgan today from Shannon and came back through M6 onto M18. Really enjoyed the drive on it, but the road after the Bat Bridge frightened me a bit, reminded me of driving through a multi-storey car park with wet tyres.

It's great not to be stuck behind some slow coach and there are a few still on the motorway. All though I did see two tractors on the motorway this evening, one around the Tulla exit heading North and the other around the Shannon Airport exit heading South.

So long as the tractors can do 50kph or greater, they are allowed. If not, the Gardaí should be informed as they represent a danger

marno21

Deleted User wrote: »

So long as the tractors can do 50kph or greater, they are allowed. If not, the Gardaí should be informed as they represent a danger

May as well leave them there it's not like the motorway is busy or anything.

mikeingalway

m17 wrote: »

The m18 at raheen with the new phone mast on the left hand side 04/05/18

All that's left is the mast at Annagh hill and then there will be 100% coverage on the m17/m18

Yes, I wonder when will that one in Annagh go live? I’m aware of the objections. Coverage in the area is dreadful.

m17

The m17 rathmorrissy to tuam 04/05/18

m17

The m18 at ballyquiff 07/05/18

Neworder79

First drive on the M18 heading Galway to Sligo recently. I was really impressed. Quality of the smooth surface, junctions, kerbing, drainage stood out. Very nice stretch of motorway to drive on and felt like calmer, shorter journey using it.

m17

The m18 at raheen/kiltartan

plodder

I only noticed this the other day when passing by on the way home.

https://www.google.ie/maps/place/Tuam,+Co.+Galway,+Ireland/@53.4062506,-8.8254077,409m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x485bf6b50b10ed1b:0xa00c7a997322720!8m2!3d53.5141156!4d-8.8565177

It's a pedestrian-only bridge linking what would have been originally two sides of a proper road. So, there is no through access for vehicles. Vehicular access is provided by the new road associated with the junction. Traffic on the old road should be vastly reduced, though google maps still thinks it's a thru-route.. I think it's a nice idea, and would be happy about it if I lived there. Any photos of it, per chance?

Kevwoody

plodder wrote:

It's a pedestrian-only bridge linking what would have been originally two sides of a proper road. So, there is no through access for vehicles. Vehicular access is provided by the new road associated with the junction. Traffic on the old road should be vastly reduced, though google maps still thinks it's a thru-route.. I think it's a nice idea, and would be happy about it if I lived there. Any photos of it, per chance?

You must be new here.

A lad on a bike will be along momentarily with said photos!!

plodder

Kevwoody wrote: »

A lad on a bike will be along momentarily with said photos!!

That's why I asked. I'll be surprised if m17 doesn't oblige. :pac:

I also reported the error in google maps. I presume there is signage at the place to signal the closure, but you never know.

Slow day here ...

plodder

Found it. It's the bridge at Annagh hill. You posted a photo last year

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=103235988&postcount=5802

It caught my eye because from the motorway, it looks like it is connecting a farm yard to adjoining land, but from the map, you can see it is linking a former road.

m17

plodder wrote: »

Found it. It's the bridge at Annagh hill. You posted a photo last year

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=103235988&postcount=5802

It caught my eye because from the motorway, it looks like it is connecting a farm yard to adjoining land, but from the map, you can see it is linking a former road.

Here's this year's

m17

Pics around annagh hill 08/05/18 looking towards rathmorrissy with the traffic crops with the speed camera on the slip road on the right hand side
looking towards tuamfootbridgerathmorrissy sidetuam side

what_traffic

m17 wrote: »

Pics around annagh hill 08/05/18 looking towards rathmorrissy with the traffic crops with the speed camera on the slip road on the right hand side
looking towards tuamfootbridgerathmorrissy sidetuam side

Whats with the big CONCRETE block in the 3rd pic @M17? Is the BOLLARD just a piece of flimsy plastic?

m17

what_traffic wrote: »

Whats with the big CONCRETE block in the 3rd pic @M17? Is the BOLLARD just a piece of flimsy plastic?

That's a concrete bollard it's to keep the locals out because some of them were driving there tractors over the footbridge as a short cut

m17

RATHMORRISSY 02/05/16
02/05/18