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N6 road
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The N6 road is a national primary road in Ireland, connecting Dublin to Galway (by connecting from the M4 motorway at Kinnegad) across the midlands of Ireland.
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Encyclopedia
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| On route / bypassed / bypassed by M6 | |
| County Galway |
- * Bypass under construction.
- Bypass planned.
- To be completely bypassed by new N6 route.
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The N6 road is a national primary road in Ireland, connecting Dublin to Galway (by connecting from the M4 motorway at Kinnegad) across the midlands of Ireland. The route starts at Junction 11 on the M4 at Kinnegad. From there the road bypasses Rochfortbridge, Tyrrellspass, Kilbeggan and Moate. The route follows a bypass around the central Irish town of Athlone, crossing the River Shannon, before passing through Ballinasloe and Loughrea. A section of dual carriageway brings the route into Galway, providing a link also for the N18 from Limerick, which joins it near Oranmore.
The section of the road between Kinnegad and Athlone is a motorway, designated the M6 motorway.
Route
The N6 route commences directly south of Kinnegad in County Meath. The road runs west into County Westmeath and bypasses Rochfordbridge, with the N52 joining the N6 east of Tyrrellspass. The N6 continues west, with the N52 leaving the route south of Kilbeggan. The route leaves Westmeath after bypassing Horseleap, continues west into County Offaly, and re-enters Westmeath bypassing Moate where the N80 commences, leaving the N6 to the south.
The N6 bypasses Fardrum (where the N62 begins, leaving the N6 to the south) heading west towards Athlone. The route follows a dual carriageway bypass of Athlone around the northern side of the town, crossing the River Shannon into County Roscommon. Along the dual-carriageway there are local access junctions, as well as junctions for the N55 and N61.
At Ballinasloe the route crosses the River Suck into County Galway. The N6 passes west through Aughrim and Kilreekil. Further west at Kilmeen, the N65 commences, leaving the N6 to the south. Loughrea is bypassed to the north by a route opened in November 2005. The River Dunkellin is crossed by the N6 at Craughwell as it continues west towards Galway. Outside the city itself, Oranmore is bypassed to the west and north, where the N18 crosses the N6. This dual carriageway bypass brings the route into Galway itself, where it meets the N17 along Bσthar na dTreabh. The Headford Road, Quincentenary Bridge across the River Corrib and Quincentenary Bridge Approach Road bring the N6 through Galway itself to meet the N59 on the western side of the city.
M6 motorway and upgrades
Under the original National Development Plan, the N6 was designated one of the major inter-urban routes to be upgraded to motorway or high quality dual carraigeway. Sections of dual carriageway had already been built (the Athlone bypass and Oranmore - Galway schemes) and the remainder of the route was to be upgraded.
The M6 motorway reaches from the junction with the M4 to the start of the Athlone bypass, and opened in stages.
- The first short section (less than long), from the M4 to junction 1, opened on 13 December 2005. This built as part of a motorway order for the M4. However it was originally signed as the M6 only eastbound, which was required to prevent non-motorway traffic from being trapped on a road leading to a motorway, the M4. The westbound carriageway was originally signed N6, and was only changed following the redesingation of the high quality dual carriageway to motorway.
- The second section, from Kinnegad to Tyrrellspass opened on 5 December 2006.
- The third section, a stretch from Tyrellspass to Kilbeggan opened on 16 May 2007.
- The section connecting Kilbeggan to the eastern end of the Athlone by-pass opened on July 16, 2008.
The Athlone Bypass itself dates from the mid 1980s, construction having started in 1984.
Junctions
At present there are two junction numbering schemes on the N6 route. The M6 junction numbers below are used on the Kinnegad-Athlone section. The Athlone bypass currently has a separate numbering scheme (J1-J6) but is likely to be in the future renumbered.
See also
External links
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