ROI : N4 Collooney and Castlebaldwin 2+2

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bothar
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ROI : N4 Collooney and Castlebaldwin 2+2

Post by bothar »

A Co Sligo stretch of the main Dublin-Sligo road which is often described as the most dangerous section of roadway in the country on account of 30 deaths on it in recent years is set to be replaced by almost 15kms of dual carriageway.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/ ... -1.1633708

I expect this will resemble the N4 further south.


Project website: https://www.sligococo.ie/n4/

Project Description:
The Proposed Road Development comprises inter-alia:

14.71km of Type 2 Dual Carriageway;
New side roads (including in some cases parallel links) and upgrading of existing roads;
One at-grade roundabout junction on the mainline;
One Compact Grade Separated Junction on the mainline;
Three at-grade roundabout junctions on side-roads;
Four road overbridges;
Six road underbridges;
Two river bridges;
Culverts and associated diversions of existing minor watercourses and drainage ditches;
All the necessary drainage works associated with the proposed road development;
The diversion of services and utilities;
Earthworks operations including the management of spoil generated by the proposed road development;
Environmental mitigation works;

In order to provide access/egress from the local roads/dwellings along the online upgrade section a single carriageway parallel access road is proposed to the east of the existing N4 between Toberbride and Doorly. The access road connects to the eastern arm of the Toberbride Roundabout and the existing N4 at Doorly. The access road connects to the eastern arm of the Toberbride Roundabout and the existing N4 at Doorly. Dwellings on the western side of the N4 can access the parallel road via a proposed overbridge at Toberbride and a proposed underbridge at Doorly (via a further western parallel road).

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bothar
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Re: ROI : N4 Collooney and Castlebaldwin 2+2

Post by bothar »

This work is now, at last, underway but does not seem to be discussed elsewhere.

  • An Bord Pleanála approved the Project in July 2014
    All advance works complete
    Land purchase and accommodation works agreements 95% Complete
    Construction contract awarded to Roadbridge Ltd. in January 2019
    Construction works ongoing
    Expected completion Q4, 2021
Project website https://www.n4realignment.ie/
Local news [url=ttps://www.oceanfm.ie/tag/n4-collooney-to-cast ... in-bypass/]archive[/url]

VIdeo of siteworks
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IRL: N4 Castlebaldwin to Collooney

Post by Enceladus »

This major road project will see the remaining sub-standard 15 km section of the N4 Mullingar to Sligo route replaced by a “Type 2 dual carriageway” which is a narrow 2+2 DC with no hard shoulders and compact GSJs at key locations. This format is very similar to the recently completed N25 New Ross by-pass.

The scheme includes the following elements:

- 14.71km of Type 2 Dual Carriageway;
- New side roads (including in some cases parallel links) and upgrading of existing roads;
- One at-grade roundabout junction on the mainline;
- One Compact Grade Separated Junction on the mainline;
- Three at-grade roundabout junctions on side-roads;
- Four road overbridges;
- Six road underbridges;
- Two river bridges;
- Culverts and associated diversions of existing minor watercourses and drainage ditches;
- All the necessary drainage works associated with the proposed road development;
- The diversion of services and utilities;
- Earthworks operations including the management of spoil generated by the proposed road development;
- Environmental mitigation works;


Construction began in Summer 2019 and progress to date has been very good indicating completion in just over a year. This scheme is one of a number of major road projects under the auspices of TII (Transport Infrastructure Ireland) that have been, or are currently, proceeding to construction, along with the N22 Macroom by-pass in Cork and N5 Castlebar to Westport type 2 DC in County Mayo.


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Re: IRL: N4 Castlebaldwin to Collooney

Post by Bryn666 »

I had wondered what the likelihood of any M4 extension was, mystery solved I guess. Type 2 would probably be more than sufficient for the N4 but it's a pity the growth of the motorway system seems to be slowing right down again.
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Re: IRL: N4 Castlebaldwin to Collooney

Post by c2R »

It looks like that will be open in Spring next year, in time for the Fleadh in Mullingar next summer.

Mullingar to Rooksy looks to be next on the list: https://n4mullingartolongford.ie/
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Re: IRL: N4 Castlebaldwin to Collooney

Post by bothar »

Project website https://www.n4realignment.ie/
Bryn666 wrote: Sat Aug 08, 2020 11:24 I had wondered what the likelihood of any M4 extension was, mystery solved I guess. Type 2 would probably be more than sufficient for the N4 but it's a pity the growth of the motorway system seems to be slowing right down again.
Other than Cork-Limerick M20 full motorway may not be justified on other routes.

WIth the Green Party in government and Covid debts to be paid off, I'm not sure if the scale of work of a dozen years ago will ever recur.
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Re: IRL: N4 Castlebaldwin to Collooney

Post by AndyB »

If it has 120km/h signs, I'll be happy, but I'll settle for 100 :)
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Re: IRL: N4 Castlebaldwin to Collooney

Post by Bryn666 »

In fact I have no idea why the UK hasn't adopted 2+2 as an option for design. It's a good halfway house.
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Re: IRL: N4 Castlebaldwin to Collooney

Post by AndyB »

Pragmatically, the current preferred DC design in NI (Type 6 - 1m marginal strip and 2 standard lanes all in SMA each side, 2m central reservation in HRA with cable barrier, and where possible solid fill under a 2m grass verge each side) is little wider than 2+2 if it isn't exactly the same thing.
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Re: IRL: N4 Castlebaldwin to Collooney

Post by c2R »

Indeed - I can't believe it can save too much money over the design standard opted for the A556(notM), or the A10 High Cross Bypass.
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Re: ROI : N4 Collooney and Castlebaldwin 2+2

Post by Enceladus »

Five minute “fly-through” of the N4 Castlebaldwin to Collooney road project.

Looking like an opening in the Summer of 2021. :)

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Re: ROI : N4 Collooney and Castlebaldwin 2+2

Post by M50Jct15 »

Does the land acquisition corridor leave enough room for some future upgrading?
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Re: ROI : N4 Collooney and Castlebaldwin 2+2

Post by bothar »

February update

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Re: ROI : N4 Collooney and Castlebaldwin 2+2

Post by Enceladus »

Fantastic progress being made on the N4 2+2 scheme - the completion is certainly in clear sight, judging from the drone footage bothar kindly posted up. :D

Now if they could get the Mullingar to Longford stretch sorted out, it would really be great.
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Re: ROI : N4 Collooney and Castlebaldwin 2+2

Post by Enceladus »

Latest news is that the new section of N4 will open to traffic in September. :)

This will be a huge boost to the North-west region and Sligo in particular which had been hindered for a long time by poor connectivity to the rest of the country.

It will also replace a notoriously dangerous section of National Primary road and thus greatly improve safety. The new project is fully grade separated.

The central barrier will be a solid double sided metal crash barrier, the same as the N25 New Ross by-pass as opposed to wire rope which was used on the very first 2+2 schemes. :thumbsup:
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Re: ROI : N4 Collooney and Castlebaldwin 2+2

Post by Cian »

Every so slightly annoying that this fully GS scheme joins the motorway grade road towards Sligo via two roundabouts in short order; but in return for avoiding the lethal narrow SC, its a decent swap.

(those two roundabouts were already there on the N4 mainline anyway of course)
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Re: ROI : N4 Collooney and Castlebaldwin 2+2

Post by Enceladus »

This scheme will now open about two months ahead of schedule, next week (August 12th). This is fantastic news.

As you can see, it is all but complete. :D
The contractors will now move South to Roscommon where whey will commence work shortly on the N5 WS2 Strokestown to Frenchpark scheme.


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Article on the opening of the N4 2+2 Castlebaldwin to Colooney DC scheme below:
https://www.oceanfm.ie/2021/08/05/n4-co ... his-month/
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Re: ROI : N4 Collooney and Castlebaldwin 2+2

Post by bothar »

This route opened to traffic today

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Re: ROI : N4 Collooney and Castlebaldwin 2+2

Post by bothar »

This route opened today
VIdeo does not seem to work embedded https://youtu.be/JQejnqdn3yE
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Re: ROI : N4 Collooney and Castlebaldwin 2+2

Post by Owain »

bothar wrote: Tue Aug 24, 2021 00:09 This route opened today
VIdeo does not seem to work embedded https://youtu.be/JQejnqdn3yE
It looks great... I'm particularly impressed by the new road coming complete with its own free soundtrack! :laugh:
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