A6(NI) dualling to start
Moderator: Site Management Team
Re: A6(NI) dualling to start
It seems to be an impressive scheme which somehow flew under my radar.
Re: A6(NI) dualling to start
I'm not so sure they wouldn't have opted for the A6 over the A5 anyway.
Even before any of the recent improvements, the A6 was a far better road than the A5; the only settlement it didn't avoid was Dungiven, whereas the A5 seems to pass through endless towns/villages with constantly changing 30/40 limits, and little prospect of any improvement in sight. It's a real grind, and a candidate for the 'Worst Green-Signed A-Road in the UK' award.
I used to hate the A5, whereas I loved the A6!
Re: A6(NI) dualling to start
Ah I see. I know virtually nothing about the A6. I think I was only on a very short part of it, if at all. I certainly never drove its length as living in Dublin or being based out of there on holiday these days, I'd either be heading to Belfast or Derry, but never both on the same trip.Owain wrote: ↑Tue Apr 05, 2022 09:14I'm not so sure they wouldn't have opted for the A6 over the A5 anyway.
Even before any of the recent improvements, the A6 was a far better road than the A5; the only settlement it didn't avoid was Dungiven, whereas the A5 seems to pass through endless towns/villages with constantly changing 30/40 limits, and little prospect of any improvement in sight. It's a real grind, and a candidate for the 'Worst Green-Signed A-Road in the UK' award.
I used to hate the A5, whereas I loved the A6!
If you were coming from Dublin you'd still be advised to take the A5, or would you?
Re: A6(NI) dualling to start
The reason I drove the A5 fairly frequently was because I'd sometimes opt to to take the ferry from Dublin instead of Belfast or Larne. The A5 was pretty much obligatory then - I certainly wouldn't have used the A6 for Dublin - and the only element of real choice came further south, where I'd sometimes favour the N2 over the N33-M1. In fact I liked the N2, and would sometimes choose to drive all of it; overall it's far more enjoyable than the A5.murphaph wrote: ↑Tue Apr 05, 2022 11:02Ah I see. I know virtually nothing about the A6. I think I was only on a very short part of it, if at all. I certainly never drove its length as living in Dublin or being based out of there on holiday these days, I'd either be heading to Belfast or Derry, but never both on the same trip.Owain wrote: ↑Tue Apr 05, 2022 09:14I'm not so sure they wouldn't have opted for the A6 over the A5 anyway.
Even before any of the recent improvements, the A6 was a far better road than the A5; the only settlement it didn't avoid was Dungiven, whereas the A5 seems to pass through endless towns/villages with constantly changing 30/40 limits, and little prospect of any improvement in sight. It's a real grind, and a candidate for the 'Worst Green-Signed A-Road in the UK' award.
I used to hate the A5, whereas I loved the A6!
If you were coming from Dublin you'd still be advised to take the A5, or would you?
If you do get the North and drive any of the A6, the Glenshane is by far the best bit! A real spectacle, which is not unlike some stretches of Scotland's A9. I always loved it... but watch out for the camera vans!
On the return from Dublin to Derry (with no ferry to catch), I'd sometimes even take the N4-N15-N13, but that was just for fun; it certainly wouldn't be the quickest route!
- A42_Sparks
- Member
- Posts: 958
- Joined: Mon Nov 17, 2003 23:20
- Location: Ballymena, N Ireland
Re: A6(NI) dualling to start
Re: A6(NI) dualling to start
My partner went to Derry a couple of weeks ago. She commented on "the road being better" than it used to be. Now I see why!A42_Sparks wrote: ↑Mon Jul 11, 2022 16:46 The entire A6 between Dungiven and Drumahoe is now open although it's just one lane per carriageway with a 40mph limit. All junctions open except B74 Feeny Rd and Ardmore Rd. Great news.
Re: A6(NI) dualling to start
Terminally cynical, unimpressed, and nearly Middle Age already.
She said life was like a motorway; dull, grey, and long.
Blog - https://showmeasign.online/
X - https://twitter.com/ShowMeASignBryn
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BrynBuck
-
- Elected Committee Member
- Posts: 11161
- Joined: Tue Dec 26, 2006 21:58
- Location: Belfast N Ireland
- Contact:
Re: A6(NI) dualling to start
Re: A6(NI) dualling to start
I'll be driving on it myself later this month when I'm up North to visit my uncle, aunt and other extended family in Belfast and Derry.
Now, what's been happening with the eternally postponed/delayed and badly needed A5 scheme?
-
- Member
- Posts: 1332
- Joined: Fri Apr 20, 2018 16:49
- Location: County Down
Re: A6(NI) dualling to start
Mostly complete, works taking place including signage and the central wire barrier. Some nice engineering including the cutting through the hill, and bridges (especially as we turned off Ardmore Road for a child related emergency).
Drumahoe being left as a "temporary" terminus is typical NI road short sightedness, and will end up like this forever like the A55 at Purdysburn Hill/Milltown
Re: A6(NI) dualling to start
But yes, the issue now is that it will probably never be worth doing that section (versus competing projects). There'll be very little major work done between now and late decade anyway - maybe Ballynahinch bypass and a few A1 junctions, but that'll be all.
Ian P. (IJP1)
-
- Member
- Posts: 1332
- Joined: Fri Apr 20, 2018 16:49
- Location: County Down
Re: A6(NI) dualling to start
I'm reminded a bit of Sheriffhall https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/ind ... Roundabout and how the mine workings meant it could never be GSJed.IJP1 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 09, 2022 10:53 In fairness, there is a major issue with the Drumahoe-Maydown section (involving a toxic waste dump, IIRC). So it's not really "short-sightedness", just ill fortune.
But yes, the issue now is that it will probably never be worth doing that section (versus competing projects). There'll be very little major work done between now and late decade anyway - maybe Ballynahinch bypass and a few A1 junctions, but that'll be all.
Fair Ballynahinch needs that bypass, drove though on a Monday lunchtime and it was congested, best avoided on a summer day with Newcastle traffic. And the A1 I've had my fair share of scares especially when lorries and tractors with trailers need to cross over the central reservation. Sad that we don't have a government to assign spending, and that the York Street junction improvements will likely be at least a decade away.
From the SABRE Wiki: Sheriffhall Roundabout :
Sheriffhall Roundabout is a junction on the City of Edinburgh Bypass. It is a notorious bottleneck, being at-grade. Construction of a grade-separated junction was considered too difficult, due to mine workings and a geological fault under the junction. In 2015 it was named the most dangerous junction in Scotland, based on figures for the number of injuries at junctions that manage.
Studies continue into how the junction might be improved, with the
Re: A6(NI) dualling to start
IJP1 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 09, 2022 10:53 In fairness, there is a major issue with the Drumahoe-Maydown section (involving a toxic waste dump, IIRC). So it's not really "short-sightedness", just ill fortune.
But yes, the issue now is that it will probably never be worth doing that section (versus competing projects). There'll be very little major work done between now and late decade anyway - maybe Ballynahinch bypass and a few A1 junctions, but that'll be all.
There's still quite a lot that really needs doing up North - the M2/A12/M3 York Street junction is a real priority, as is a freeflow GSJ between the A1 and the M1 at Sprucefield, A24 Ballynahinch bypass (planned since the 1970s), A29 Cookstown bypass, A4 Enniskillen Southern bypass, dualling the A3 between Portadown and Armagh and of course closing all the remaining at grade junctions on the A1 which are real death traps. Something also needs to be done about the section of A2 between Hollywood and Ballyrobert as well.
Dare I even mention the forever-postponed A5 scheme?
Re: A6(NI) dualling to start
Have you browsed SABRE Maps recently? Get involved! - see our guide to scanning and stitching maps
-
- Member
- Posts: 215
- Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2011 19:45
Re: A6(NI) dualling to start
But the DUP keep telling us that not having a government doesn't affect this and it doesn't affect that and it doesn't affect the other. I'm beginning to wonder whether it's a tacit admission that Stormont never did anything anyway.wallmeerkat wrote: ↑Tue Aug 09, 2022 13:09I'm reminded a bit of Sheriffhall https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/ind ... Roundabout and how the mine workings meant it could never be GSJed.IJP1 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 09, 2022 10:53 In fairness, there is a major issue with the Drumahoe-Maydown section (involving a toxic waste dump, IIRC). So it's not really "short-sightedness", just ill fortune.
But yes, the issue now is that it will probably never be worth doing that section (versus competing projects). There'll be very little major work done between now and late decade anyway - maybe Ballynahinch bypass and a few A1 junctions, but that'll be all.
Fair Ballynahinch needs that bypass, drove though on a Monday lunchtime and it was congested, best avoided on a summer day with Newcastle traffic. And the A1 I've had my fair share of scares especially when lorries and tractors with trailers need to cross over the central reservation. Sad that we don't have a government to assign spending, and that the York Street junction improvements will likely be at least a decade away.
From the SABRE Wiki: Sheriffhall Roundabout :
Sheriffhall Roundabout is a junction on the City of Edinburgh Bypass. It is a notorious bottleneck, being at-grade. Construction of a grade-separated junction was considered too difficult, due to mine workings and a geological fault under the junction. In 2015 it was named the most dangerous junction in Scotland, based on figures for the number of injuries at junctions that manage.
Studies continue into how the junction might be improved, with the
-
- Elected Committee Member
- Posts: 11161
- Joined: Tue Dec 26, 2006 21:58
- Location: Belfast N Ireland
- Contact:
Re: A6(NI) dualling to start
The one way system helps, but only so much.
Re: A6(NI) dualling to start
The incomplete junction at the western end is interesting - I take it that the eventual plan is for a continuation to the Foyle Bridge?A42_Sparks wrote: ↑Mon Jul 11, 2022 16:46 The entire A6 between Dungiven and Drumahoe is now open although it's just one lane per carriageway with a 40mph limit. All junctions open except B74 Feeny Rd and Ardmore Rd. Great news.
Have you browsed SABRE Maps recently? Get involved! - see our guide to scanning and stitching maps
Re: A6(NI) dualling to start
It very much needs that bypass... although existing poor junction designs don't help such as the B2, A24, B175 junctions at the south of the town.
However, as traffic goes, Downpatrick is far worse.... the hilly geography of the town and multiple different important routes for traffic with lack of clear strategic flow and no outer relief roads has meant that all traffic is essentially stuck at the Market Street/Church Street/Irish Street junctions in the centre....
Have you browsed SABRE Maps recently? Get involved! - see our guide to scanning and stitching maps
-
- Member
- Posts: 1332
- Joined: Fri Apr 20, 2018 16:49
- Location: County Down
Re: A6(NI) dualling to start
Supposedly eventually, but it'll be in its current state for a good while. http://www.wesleyjohnston.com/roads/a6d ... derry.html nirs seems to think it won't happen.c2R wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 22:18The incomplete junction at the western end is interesting - I take it that the eventual plan is for a continuation to the Foyle Bridge?A42_Sparks wrote: ↑Mon Jul 11, 2022 16:46 The entire A6 between Dungiven and Drumahoe is now open although it's just one lane per carriageway with a 40mph limit. All junctions open except B74 Feeny Rd and Ardmore Rd. Great news.
Strange to be on a HQDC then be thrown onto a single carriageway road through a residential area, to then go back onto a dual carriageway to the Foyle bridge.
My "local" (Ballygowan is closer but different council area and during the pandemic they took to checking addresses) council recycling centre is Ballynahinch and I've taken to using some of the backroads such as Glassdrumman Road. If I'm headed for Newcastle I'll head Crossgar to Loughinisland and join the A24 there.c2R wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 22:32It very much needs that bypass... although existing poor junction designs don't help such as the B2, A24, B175 junctions at the south of the town.
However, as traffic goes, Downpatrick is far worse.... the hilly geography of the town and multiple different important routes for traffic with lack of clear strategic flow and no outer relief roads has meant that all traffic is essentially stuck at the Market Street/Church Street/Irish Street junctions in the centre....
In Downpatrick there was talk of a Ballynahinch style one way system a while back http://www.wesleyjohnston.com/roads/iri ... trick.html , though as that shows it just improves flow but doesn't alleviate congestion. For the south east eg. the hospital Saul Way / Scotch Street is a defacto bypass.
Re: A6(NI) dualling to start
I think I recall reading something in the Mourne Observer last week about compulsory purchases of properties in Irish Street where the police station was - which would be a shame as they've actually got a bit of character about them, and presumably also flattening Gibney's on St Patricks Avenue. The plans Wesley links to also indicates that a second one way system would be created around Edward Street/John Street/Dillons Avenue, which makes sense to try and eliminate rat running through the estate to avoid the town centre (which I admit I always do).wallmeerkat wrote: ↑Tue Aug 16, 2022 09:59 In Downpatrick there was talk of a Ballynahinch style one way system a while back http://www.wesleyjohnston.com/roads/iri ... trick.html , though as that shows it just improves flow but doesn't alleviate congestion. For the south east eg. the hospital Saul Way / Scotch Street is a defacto bypass.
http://www.wesleyjohnston.com/roads/201 ... atrick.pdf
However, I can just hear in the back of my head Bryn telling me that this is all the sort of stuff that England did in the 70s and 80s, and that creating gyratories and flattening parts of the town to add new roads in isn't the solution....
Have you browsed SABRE Maps recently? Get involved! - see our guide to scanning and stitching maps