M18 motorway (Ireland)
Encyclopedia
The M18 motorway is an inter-urban motorway in Ireland, forming part of the Limerick, Ennis
to Galway national primary road
, which, in turn, forms part of the Atlantic Corridor
called for as part of the Transport 21
project.
via the townlands of Killulla, Knocksaggart and Ballyconneely. After Newmarket-on-Fergus the motorway runs alongside Dromoland, where significant historical features can be seen from the mainline.
As the route gets further north it develops into a more modern style of road: the Ennis
Bypass. The median was constructed with a H2 concrete barrier rather than the wide grassy median seen in the earlier stretch to the south and features a lower noise wearing course. Bypassing the notorious bottlenecks of Ennis
town and Clarecastle
village, this section was completed in 2007 and significantly reduces travel times between Galway, Ennis, and Limerick. After passing to the east of Ennis the motorway enters the townlands of Killow and Knockanean.
The latest 22km stretch, bypassing Crusheen
village and the town of Gort
, was opened in November 2010. The motorway currently ends at junction 16, on the northern side of Gort.
Bypass opened to traffic as a standard dual carriageway section of the N18 on 26 January 2007, after a construction period of almost three years. In July 2009 it was redesignated as a motorway section of the M18 as from 28 August 2009. In addition to Ennis, the road also bypasses the village of Clarecastle
. The scheme was built by Gama Strabeg JV.
Bypass opened as a 5.7 km (3.5 mi) dual carriageway on the 30th September 2002, routing around the town of the town Newmarket-on-Fergus. The scheme alleviated one of the worst congestion black spots in the country. It includes two grade separated junctions at Carrigoran and Dromoland, and was redesignated as motorway on the 28th August, 2009.
commenced in October, 2008 and was opened to traffic on 12 November 2010. This scheme, known as 'Gort to Crusheen', connects to the northern end of the Ennis bypass and provides continuous motorway to just north of Gort in County Galway. The scheme was built by SIAC Willis JV. http://www.willsbros.com/Road_and_Bridge_Construction/86/project-page.html
programme was to operate under motorway restrictions. However, the Irish National Roads Authority
(NRA) decided late in 2008 to include all sections of grade separated N18 – whether built, under construction, or still at the planning stage – in its second tranche of motorway redesignation proposals. These were approved by the Irish minister for transport in July 2009, and the changes came into effect on 28 August 2009.
, which opened in December 2009. This has also been included in the second tranche of motorway redesignations and will open as motorway.
Ennis
Ennis is the county town of Clare in Ireland. Situated on the River Fergus, it lies north of Limerick and south of Galway. Its name is a shortening of the original ....
to Galway national primary road
National primary road
A national primary road is a road classification in the Republic of Ireland. National primary roads form the major routes between the major urban centres. There are over 2,700km of national primary roads. This category of road has the prefix "N" followed by one or two digits...
, which, in turn, forms part of the Atlantic Corridor
Atlantic Corridor
The Atlantic Corridor is a road project in Ireland that eventually will link Waterford in the South-East to Letterkenny in the North-West by high-quality dual carriageway or motorway. A major infrastructure project, the scheme was announced as part of the Transport 21 project launch in 2005, and is...
called for as part of the Transport 21
Transport 21
Transport 21 is an Irish infrastructure plan, announced in November 2005. It aims to greatly expand Ireland's transport network. A cost estimate of €34 billion was attached to the plan at the time....
project.
Route
The motorway starts at junction 9 on the Shannon bypass and heads in a north direction where it bypasses the town of Newmarket-on-FergusNewmarket-on-Fergus
Newmarket-on-Fergus, historically known as Corracatlin , is a town in County Clare in the Republic of Ireland. It is 13 kilometers from Ennis, 8 kilometers from Shannon Airport, and 24 kilometers from Limerick.-History:...
via the townlands of Killulla, Knocksaggart and Ballyconneely. After Newmarket-on-Fergus the motorway runs alongside Dromoland, where significant historical features can be seen from the mainline.
As the route gets further north it develops into a more modern style of road: the Ennis
Ennis
Ennis is the county town of Clare in Ireland. Situated on the River Fergus, it lies north of Limerick and south of Galway. Its name is a shortening of the original ....
Bypass. The median was constructed with a H2 concrete barrier rather than the wide grassy median seen in the earlier stretch to the south and features a lower noise wearing course. Bypassing the notorious bottlenecks of Ennis
Ennis
Ennis is the county town of Clare in Ireland. Situated on the River Fergus, it lies north of Limerick and south of Galway. Its name is a shortening of the original ....
town and Clarecastle
Clarecastle
Clarecastle is a village located just south of Ennis, in County Clare, Ireland. Over the past ten years the village has a rapidly increasing population due to its close proximity to Ennis, Shannon and Limerick, and also less than an hour away from Galway city....
village, this section was completed in 2007 and significantly reduces travel times between Galway, Ennis, and Limerick. After passing to the east of Ennis the motorway enters the townlands of Killow and Knockanean.
The latest 22km stretch, bypassing Crusheen
Crusheen, County Clare
Crusheen is a small village located 10 kilometers northeast of Ennis in County Clare, Ireland.The village consists of a church, Garda station, three public houses, post office, a shop-cum-petrol station, funeral home, and a pharmacy. There is also a primary school and a community centre. The local...
village and the town of Gort
Gort
Gort is a town in south County Galway in the west of Ireland. An Gort is the official Irish name for the town, as defined by the Placenames Commission. In spoken Irish, however, the town is known by its traditional name Gort Inse Guaire. It lies just north of the border with County Clare on the...
, was opened in November 2010. The motorway currently ends at junction 16, on the northern side of Gort.
History
- Ennis Bypass (January 2007, as dual carriageway, now redesignated as a Motorway)
- Newmarket-on-Fergus Bypass (December 2002, as dual carriageway)
- Crusheen to Gort (November 2010, Motorway)
Ennis Bypass
The 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) EnnisEnnis
Ennis is the county town of Clare in Ireland. Situated on the River Fergus, it lies north of Limerick and south of Galway. Its name is a shortening of the original ....
Bypass opened to traffic as a standard dual carriageway section of the N18 on 26 January 2007, after a construction period of almost three years. In July 2009 it was redesignated as a motorway section of the M18 as from 28 August 2009. In addition to Ennis, the road also bypasses the village of Clarecastle
Clarecastle
Clarecastle is a village located just south of Ennis, in County Clare, Ireland. Over the past ten years the village has a rapidly increasing population due to its close proximity to Ennis, Shannon and Limerick, and also less than an hour away from Galway city....
. The scheme was built by Gama Strabeg JV.
Newmarket-on-Fergus Bypass
The Newmarket-on-FergusNewmarket-on-Fergus
Newmarket-on-Fergus, historically known as Corracatlin , is a town in County Clare in the Republic of Ireland. It is 13 kilometers from Ennis, 8 kilometers from Shannon Airport, and 24 kilometers from Limerick.-History:...
Bypass opened as a 5.7 km (3.5 mi) dual carriageway on the 30th September 2002, routing around the town of the town Newmarket-on-Fergus. The scheme alleviated one of the worst congestion black spots in the country. It includes two grade separated junctions at Carrigoran and Dromoland, and was redesignated as motorway on the 28th August, 2009.
Ennis (Crusheen) to Gort
Construction of a 22 km (13.7 mi) section of the M18 between Crusheen and GortGort
Gort is a town in south County Galway in the west of Ireland. An Gort is the official Irish name for the town, as defined by the Placenames Commission. In spoken Irish, however, the town is known by its traditional name Gort Inse Guaire. It lies just north of the border with County Clare on the...
commenced in October, 2008 and was opened to traffic on 12 November 2010. This scheme, known as 'Gort to Crusheen', connects to the northern end of the Ennis bypass and provides continuous motorway to just north of Gort in County Galway. The scheme was built by SIAC Willis JV. http://www.willsbros.com/Road_and_Bridge_Construction/86/project-page.html
Junctions
| N18 National Route | |||
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| (M7 ) Rossbrien, Cork Cork (city) Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban... (M20  ) |
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Rossbrien, Limerick (city centre) Limerick Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the... (R509 R509 road The R509 road, following part of the Childers Road , is a regional road in Ireland, running through the southeastern side of Limerick City... ), Cork Cork (city) Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban... (M20 ) |
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| Dock Road (N69 N69 road (Ireland) The N69 road is a national secondary road in Ireland. It runs from Limerick to Tralee and passes though Mungret, Clarina, Kildimo, Askeaton , Foynes, Loughill, Glin, Tarbert and Listowel.-References:* – Department of Transport... ) |
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Dock Road (N69 N69 road (Ireland) The N69 road is a national secondary road in Ireland. It runs from Limerick to Tralee and passes though Mungret, Clarina, Kildimo, Askeaton , Foynes, Loughill, Glin, Tarbert and Listowel.-References:* – Department of Transport... ) |
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| Coonagh West Coonagh Cross Coonagh is an area to the west of Limerick city in Ireland.The Coonagh Aerodrome is home to the Limerick Flying Club.... |
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Coonagh West Coonagh Cross Coonagh is an area to the west of Limerick city in Ireland.The Coonagh Aerodrome is home to the Limerick Flying Club.... |
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| Ennis Road (former N18) |  |
Ennis Road (former N18) | |
| Cratloe Cratloe Cratloe is a village in County Clare, Ireland, situated between Limerick City and Shannon in the midwest of Ireland. It is possible that the name derives from Croit-shliabh meaning "hump-backed hill", referring to Woodcock Hill.-Places of interest:... , Sixmilebridge Sixmilebridge Sixmilebridge is a small town in County Clare, Ireland. Located midway between Ennis and Limerick city, the town is a short distance away from the main N18 road, being on the old "back road" between the two... (R462) |
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Cratloe Cratloe Cratloe is a village in County Clare, Ireland, situated between Limerick City and Shannon in the midwest of Ireland. It is possible that the name derives from Croit-shliabh meaning "hump-backed hill", referring to Woodcock Hill.-Places of interest:... , (Sixmilebridge Sixmilebridge Sixmilebridge is a small town in County Clare, Ireland. Located midway between Ennis and Limerick city, the town is a short distance away from the main N18 road, being on the old "back road" between the two... ) (R462) |
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| Bunratty Bunratty Bunratty is a village in County Clare in the parish of Newmarket on Fergus, Ireland.-History:The first settlement in Bunratty was by Vikings in 970 AD. Bunratty had reached it peak in 1804 AD, with a thriving economy, expanding community, and the construction of much of the buildings and... |
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Bunratty Bunratty Bunratty is a village in County Clare in the parish of Newmarket on Fergus, Ireland.-History:The first settlement in Bunratty was by Vikings in 970 AD. Bunratty had reached it peak in 1804 AD, with a thriving economy, expanding community, and the construction of much of the buildings and... |
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| Hurler's Cross, Shannon Town, (Sixmilebridge Sixmilebridge Sixmilebridge is a small town in County Clare, Ireland. Located midway between Ennis and Limerick city, the town is a short distance away from the main N18 road, being on the old "back road" between the two... ) (R471) |
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Hurler's Cross, Sixmilebridge Sixmilebridge Sixmilebridge is a small town in County Clare, Ireland. Located midway between Ennis and Limerick city, the town is a short distance away from the main N18 road, being on the old "back road" between the two... , Shannon Town Shannon, County Clare Shannon or Shannon Town , named after the river near which it stands, is a town located in County Clare. It was given town status on 1 January 1982. The town is located just off the N19 road, a spur of the N18/M18 road between Limerick city and Ennis.... (R471) |
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| Shannon Town Centre Shannon, County Clare Shannon or Shannon Town , named after the river near which it stands, is a town located in County Clare. It was given town status on 1 January 1982. The town is located just off the N19 road, a spur of the N18/M18 road between Limerick city and Ennis.... (R471) |
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no access | |
| M18 motorway | |||
| Northbound exit | Junction | Southbound exit | |
| Shannon Shannon, County Clare Shannon or Shannon Town , named after the river near which it stands, is a town located in County Clare. It was given town status on 1 January 1982. The town is located just off the N19 road, a spur of the N18/M18 road between Limerick city and Ennis.... (N19 N19 road The N19 road is a national primary road in Ireland, connecting from the N18 Limerick–Ennis–Galway road to Shannon Airport. It forms part of European route E20.... ) |
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Shannon Shannon, County Clare Shannon or Shannon Town , named after the river near which it stands, is a town located in County Clare. It was given town status on 1 January 1982. The town is located just off the N19 road, a spur of the N18/M18 road between Limerick city and Ennis.... (N19 N19 road The N19 road is a national primary road in Ireland, connecting from the N18 Limerick–Ennis–Galway road to Shannon Airport. It forms part of European route E20.... ) |
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| Newmarket on Fergus (R472) |  |
Newmarket on Fergus (R472) | |
| Clarecastle Clarecastle Clarecastle is a village located just south of Ennis, in County Clare, Ireland. Over the past ten years the village has a rapidly increasing population due to its close proximity to Ennis, Shannon and Limerick, and also less than an hour away from Galway city.... (R458) |
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Clarecastle Clarecastle Clarecastle is a village located just south of Ennis, in County Clare, Ireland. Over the past ten years the village has a rapidly increasing population due to its close proximity to Ennis, Shannon and Limerick, and also less than an hour away from Galway city.... (R458) |
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| Ennis Ennis Ennis is the county town of Clare in Ireland. Situated on the River Fergus, it lies north of Limerick and south of Galway. Its name is a shortening of the original .... (N85 N85 road (Ireland) The N85 road is a national secondary road in Ireland connecting Ennis and Ennistymon. The route connects to the M18 Ennis bypass and forms part of the Ennis outer ring road as the "N85 Western Relief Road". From Ennis the route continues in a north - west direction and terminates at the junction... ) |
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Ennis Ennis Ennis is the county town of Clare in Ireland. Situated on the River Fergus, it lies north of Limerick and south of Galway. Its name is a shortening of the original .... (N85 N85 road (Ireland) The N85 road is a national secondary road in Ireland connecting Ennis and Ennistymon. The route connects to the M18 Ennis bypass and forms part of the Ennis outer ring road as the "N85 Western Relief Road". From Ennis the route continues in a north - west direction and terminates at the junction... ) |
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| Ennis Ennis Ennis is the county town of Clare in Ireland. Situated on the River Fergus, it lies north of Limerick and south of Galway. Its name is a shortening of the original .... , Scarriff Scarriff Scarriff or Scariff ) is a large village in east County Clare, Ireland, situated in the midwest of Ireland. The town is on the West end of Lough Derg and is best known for its harbour. The Scarriff Market House is easily recognisable, and it is therefore often used to represent the... , Tulla Tulla Tulla is a town in County Clare, Ireland. The town is the commercial centre for Tulla parish and the surrounding area. Tulla church was founded about 620 by Mochuille and the town received its town charter in the 13th century... (R352) |
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Ennis Ennis Ennis is the county town of Clare in Ireland. Situated on the River Fergus, it lies north of Limerick and south of Galway. Its name is a shortening of the original .... , Scarriff Scarriff Scarriff or Scariff ) is a large village in east County Clare, Ireland, situated in the midwest of Ireland. The town is on the West end of Lough Derg and is best known for its harbour. The Scarriff Market House is easily recognisable, and it is therefore often used to represent the... , Tulla Tulla Tulla is a town in County Clare, Ireland. The town is the commercial centre for Tulla parish and the surrounding area. Tulla church was founded about 620 by Mochuille and the town received its town charter in the 13th century... (R352) |
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| Ennis Ennis Ennis is the county town of Clare in Ireland. Situated on the River Fergus, it lies north of Limerick and south of Galway. Its name is a shortening of the original .... (R458) |
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Ennis Ennis Ennis is the county town of Clare in Ireland. Situated on the River Fergus, it lies north of Limerick and south of Galway. Its name is a shortening of the original .... (R458) |
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| Crusheen (R458) |  |
Crusheen (R458) | |
| Gort Gort Gort is a town in south County Galway in the west of Ireland. An Gort is the official Irish name for the town, as defined by the Placenames Commission. In spoken Irish, however, the town is known by its traditional name Gort Inse Guaire. It lies just north of the border with County Clare on the... (R458) |
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Gort Gort Gort is a town in south County Galway in the west of Ireland. An Gort is the official Irish name for the town, as defined by the Placenames Commission. In spoken Irish, however, the town is known by its traditional name Gort Inse Guaire. It lies just north of the border with County Clare on the... (R458) |
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| M18 motorway (construction imminent) | |||
| Northbound exit | Junction | Southbound exit | Completion |
| Kiltiernan | |
Kiltiernan | official date |
| Galway, Athlone, Dublin (M6 M6 motorway (Ireland) The M6 motorway is a motorway in Ireland, which runs from Dublin to Galway. The M6 extends from its junction with the M4 at Kinnegad all the way west to the outskirts of Galway City, but the Athlone bypass and the approach to Galway city - while of dual carriageway standard - have not been...  ) |
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Galway, Athlone, Dublin (M6 M6 motorway (Ireland) The M6 motorway is a motorway in Ireland, which runs from Dublin to Galway. The M6 extends from its junction with the M4 at Kinnegad all the way west to the outskirts of Galway City, but the Athlone bypass and the approach to Galway city - while of dual carriageway standard - have not been... ) |
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Future
Motorway redesignations affecting the M18
Initially, none of the proposed dual carriageway between Limerick and Galway outlined in the Transport 21Transport 21
Transport 21 is an Irish infrastructure plan, announced in November 2005. It aims to greatly expand Ireland's transport network. A cost estimate of €34 billion was attached to the plan at the time....
programme was to operate under motorway restrictions. However, the Irish National Roads Authority
National Roads Authority
The National Roads Authority is a state body in the Republic of Ireland, responsible for the national road network. The NRA was established as part of the Roads Act 1993 and commenced operations on 23 December 1993 in accordance with S.I. 407 of 1993.County councils remain responsible for local...
(NRA) decided late in 2008 to include all sections of grade separated N18 – whether built, under construction, or still at the planning stage – in its second tranche of motorway redesignation proposals. These were approved by the Irish minister for transport in July 2009, and the changes came into effect on 28 August 2009.
Planned
The Gort to Tuam (M18/M17) route is 58km (36 mi.) long and the BAM Balfour Beatty Consortium was scheduled to begin construction in January 2011. It is expected that work on the project will be completed by 2014. The project will involve the construction of motorway from Gort to Athenry, extending in the process the total length of the M18 by 27 km (16.8 mi). It will connect to the M17 Motorway where they cross the Dublin to Galway M6 motorwayM6 motorway (Ireland)
The M6 motorway is a motorway in Ireland, which runs from Dublin to Galway. The M6 extends from its junction with the M4 at Kinnegad all the way west to the outskirts of Galway City, but the Athlone bypass and the approach to Galway city - while of dual carriageway standard - have not been...
, which opened in December 2009. This has also been included in the second tranche of motorway redesignations and will open as motorway.