N52 - Tullamore Bypass

L1011

Deleted User wrote: »

Another section of the same road had a "ghost carriageway" beside it that was simply surfaced and used.

Been done on this island - Banbridge Bypass had all cuttings, all land take done for a dualler but was built as S2 along one side of it, had the second carriageway dropped in later.

KevR

MYOB wrote: »

Been done on this island - Banbridge Bypass had all cuttings, all land take done for a dualler but was built as S2 along one side of it, had the second carriageway dropped in later.

That's what is supposed to happen to the Seamus Quirke and Bishop O'Donnell road in Galway. The existing carriageway will have to be fully resurfaced though because it's in an aweful state.

Annoyingly the plan now is that there will be bus lanes in each direction so no extra capacity for other vehicles. I personally can't see enough buses using the bus lanes for them to be justified. Obviously if they just dualled it with 2 lanes for all vehicles in each direction (no bus lanes) buses would still have a good improvement in their journey times.

TestTransmission

So,how long does the journey take from where the bypass begins before Mucklagh to where it ends in Gormagh (Durrow)?

Any rough ideas anyone?

mackerski

The Bypass is now mapped on OpenStreetMap.

medoc

Heading south in Birr direction under Screggan road bridge (from where first pic on page 1 was taken)

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Tullamore direction of same. This section bypasses Mucklagh

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Sign on N80 road at bypass

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Canal bridge in distance heading South ( Birr direction)

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WS2 section approaching the N80 Link (not yet open) with Private Hospital in background. This is a larger roundabout than the others with 5 exits (5th one for the hospital)

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Tie in at kilbeggan side, this is WS2 from here to the roundabout above.

medoc

Art works on kilbeggan end, This was where the opening was performed

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N52 and R443 roundabout

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Chris_533976

medoc wrote: »

I wonder if there are long term plans to put 2+2 in some of these areas, but not the whole thing. The cross section here is MASSIVE, it could easily take motorway, possibly D3M of all things. Not that Tullamore needs a motorway bypass.

Funny too that theres no way you can see the distance indicator sign as its too far from the road.

medoc

Chris_533976 wrote: »

I wonder if there are long term plans to put 2+2 in some of these areas, but not the whole thing. The cross section here is MASSIVE, it could easily take motorway, possibly D3M of all things. Not that Tullamore needs a motorway bypass.

Funny too that theres no way you can see the distance indicator sign as its too far from the road.

There is a lot of space along the verges of some areas alright. There are plans for a 2+2 from kilbeggan to tullamore which would finish at the Tullamore north roundabout and the WS2 section is along that section (photo above) (although the camera makes wider than it is). In my opinion 2+2 should have been used from here to the Portlaoise N80 road, even if traffic numbers dont justify it now.

Tech3

medoc wrote: »

In my opinion 2+2 should have been used from here to the Portlaoise N80 road, even if traffic numbers dont justify it now.

It doesnt matter the NRA are building roads as 2+2 for national routes from now on. Now more new WS2's will be flying about. 2+2 is replacing WS2 basically for new builds.

road_high

Drove it yesterday. Was not particularly impressed with it, considering it ia reported to have cost 116 million, I fail to see where that amount of money went; the CPO's must have been very excessive.
I thought it full of roundabouts unfortunately.

EDIT; Though I do think of course it is way better than being stuck in the town. It was extremely busy and full of rubberkneckers crawling along and getting used to the new layouts.

CrowdedHouse

Sorry about this Folks, I'm a bit slow......but looking at the map someone linked to above I'm

If I'm coming from Birr and want to go to Clara do I still have to go through the town ? (Tullamore)

mackerski

CrowdedHouse wrote: »

If I'm coming from Birr and want to go to Clara do I still have to go through the town ? (Tullamore)

I think so - though you can fairly well choose a number of different ways to do it.

You can take the bypass until you hit the N80 eastbound, then turn left.
You can go through the old way. You could even, in theory, go almost to the Kilbeggan end, then approach from the north of the town.

There is a link still under construction which I understand is to be the "official" N80 routing. For now, based on the signs on the ground, OSM actually has a gap in the N80.

medoc

mackerski wrote: »

There is a link still under construction which I understand is to be the "official" N80 routing. For now, based on the signs on the ground, OSM actually has a gap in the N80.

True but the under construction link is signed as the R443 from the bypass. That still leaves the N80 heading into the town centre which dosent make sense.

medoc

medoc wrote: »

True but the under construction link is signed as the R443 from the bypass. That still leaves the N80 heading into the town centre which dosent make sense.

Maybe the N80 to Clara is being downgraded to become the R443.

The preferred route to Athlone etc is now via Kilbeggan (M6)

medoc

Deleted User wrote: »

Maybe the N80 to Clara is being downgraded to become the R443.

The preferred route to Athlone etc is now via Kilbeggan (M6)

The N80 to Moate from Tullamore is to be down graded to the R420. I emailed Offaly County Council about this. It is currently awaiting Ministerial order. The Tullamore Kilbeggan road is been planned as 2+2. I will post a copy of the mail later.

westtip

medoc wrote: »

The N80 to clara from Tullamore is to be down graded to the R420. I emailed Offaly County Council about this. It is currently awaiting Ministerial order. The Tullamore Kilbeggan road is been planned as 2+2. I will post a copy of the mail later.

That all makes sense - no point building these fancy new roads which are safer to drive on more fuel efficient etc and make towns like Clara thankfully another place in Ireland I need never go to again ...Moate...Knock...Claremorris...Bundoran..Ballyshannon..Athlone..etc etc.

The old road might be slightly shorter - but I doubt it is quicker and I know it is not safer.

murphaph

westtip wrote: »

That all makes sense - no point building these fancy new roads which are safer to drive on more fuel efficient etc and make towns like Clara thankfully another place in Ireland I need never go to again ...Moate...Knock...Claremorris...Bundoran..Ballyshannon..Athlone..etc etc.

The old road might be slightly shorter - but I doubt it is quicker and I know it is not safer.

Certainly if the N52 is upgraded to 2+2 it makes sense to encourage traffic onto it via the M6 and get it off the old N80. Makes it even stranger that the Tullamore bypass wasn't 2+2 though.

nordydan

murphaph wrote: »

Makes it even stranger that the Tullamore bypass wasn't 2+2 though.

Maybe they couldn't build an isloated stretch of 2+2 without upgrading the other part of the N52, 2+2 then S2 might have been a bit dodgy. At least they have made provision.

The old road might be slightly shorter - but I doubt it is quicker and I know it is not safer.

Indeed, that's the attitude that should be taken. You often hear of bad smashes in the midlands

I presume they'll have to re-signs these if the reclassification goes ahead.

spacetweek

medoc wrote: »

The N80 to clara from Tullamore is to be down graded to the R420. I emailed Offaly County Council about this. It is currently awaiting Ministerial order. The Tullamore Kilbeggan road is been planned as 2+2. I will post a copy of the mail later.

Didn't know about this - it's good news.

L1011

nordydan wrote: »

Maybe they couldn't build an isloated stretch of 2+2 without upgrading the other part of the N52, 2+2 then S2 might have been a bit dodgy. At least they have made provision.

The other 2+2 schemes (all one built and one under construction) in existance are book-ended by S2 or WS2; I'd say it was more a case of the Tullamore scheme being too far advanced by the time they'd decided that Dromod/Roosky was a success.

medoc

This is a copy of the reply I got from Offaly Co Co. I'm not sure about showing the mans name at the bottom of the Mail so I'll leave it out for now. I can edit it in if that is ok to do, any thoughts???

The one I sent last night

Hello,

I'm not sure if this is a question for the NRA or yourselves, appologies
if I'm wrong. The new bypass still has the link to the N80 Clara road
under construction. When this section opens will it be the signed and
designated the N80 or the R443 as is shown on the signs already in
place. It would make sense to designate it as N80 with the Collins lane
section of the R443 also as N80, unless of course the N80 to Moate is to
be downgraded to an R road. Is there any news on the upgrade to the N52
Kilbeggan road and will this be 2+2 or S2, also why was the bypass not
2+2 to at least the Portlaoise road or why was provision for a future
vupgarde not allowed for. If any of these questions are relevant to
Offaly county council I would be grateful for an answer when possible. I
realise some of them are better sent to the NRA but I decided to ask you
first.

Thank you
**********

This is the reply I got back this morning.

*******;

The Clara Road (from the Clara Road roundabout to Moate) is to be
re-classified as the R420. This has to be done by Ministerial Order and
this process was, as far as I am aware, recently initiated by the NRA.
Until the the Ministerial Order becomes effective, the present status of
the Clara Road remains as the N80 and it will be signed as such.

The Tullamore/Kilbeggan Link Road is been designed as a 2+2.

The traffic (design/projected) volumes on the Tullamore By-Pass did not
warrant a 2+2, and there are no allowances/provisions to convert this
road to a 2+2 in the future. This is detailed in the EIS for the scheme.


Regards
***************
Senior Engineer
Roads

I'm almost certain that the Moate/Clara exit off the M6 was signed as R420 when I passed ages ago, indeed I remember it been commented on here by someone as a possible mistake. Is it still signed that way?

murphaph

MYOB wrote: »

The other 2+2 schemes (all one built and one under construction) in existance are book-ended by S2 or WS2; I'd say it was more a case of the Tullamore scheme being too far advanced by the time they'd decided that Dromod/Roosky was a success.

I'd go with this. The Tullamore scheme dragged on a bit. The contract details were probably decided a good while ago. Bit of a shame. The 2+2 is great and a much better use of the roadway.

nordydan

I would leave your man;s name out btw, incase they pick it up and are reluctant to give info in the future.

medoc wrote: »

I'm almost certain that the Moate/Clara exit off the M6 was signed as R420 when I passed ages ago, indeed I remember it been commented on here by someone as a possible mistake. Is it still signed that way?

It is R420 north of this junction until you get to the old N6(R446).

The other 2+2 schemes (all one built and one under construction) in existance are book-ended by S2 or WS2; I'd say it was more a case of the Tullamore scheme being too far advanced by the time they'd decided that Dromod/Roosky was a success.

That's possibly the reason.

Sponge Bob

medoc wrote: »

The N80 to clara from Tullamore is to be down graded to the R420.

Tullamore to Moate surely ???

medoc

Sponge Bob wrote: »

Tullamore to Moate surely ???

Sorry, just noticed that in my earlier post. I meant to say Moate to Tullamore.

Sponge Bob

You probably did mean Clara to Tullamore as in The only bit of the N80 built to modern standards and now sadly made redundant by a Motorway a few km to the north , what a waste seeing as the rest of the N80 is all substandard

murphaph

I thought at least a few km in wexford/Carlow were rebuilt?

Roryhy

murphaph wrote: »

I thought at least a few km in wexford/Carlow were rebuilt?

Yes from just north of bunclody, 10km im guessing, with WS2 and a climbing lane at one point.

The N80 from Carlow to Enniscorthy is a very good road in general, nearly entirely resurfaced in recent years. Carlow to Portlaoise aint too bad either except for a few dodgy bits.

biffoman

the n80 from tullamore to Clara is in better nik than the n52.this road getting reclassified isnt such good news for people who use it.The speed limit will drop .im guessing.the council spent years improving this route,taking bad bends and hills out.

medoc

biffoman wrote: »

the n80 from tullamore to Clara is in better nik than the n52.this road getting reclassified isnt such good news for people who use it.The speed limit will drop .im guessing.the council spent years improving this route,taking bad bends and hills out.

it is a decent section of road alrite and is definatly a candidate for a special 100km/h after redesignation. What bets on Offaly Council Council doing it though. Alot of the national secondary routes in Offaly are of a good standard with the exception of N62. The council did alot of work years ago eg Tullamore to Clara and especially Kilcormac to birr.