M18 motorway (Ireland)
|
|
|
|---|---|
| Route information | |
Part of 
|
|
| Length: | 44 km (27 mi) Planned length 70.8 km (44.0 mi) |
| Existed: | 26 January 2007 – present |
| History: | Expected completion in late 2018 |
| Major junctions | |
| From: | Shannon |
        (Upon completion in 2018)  (Upon completion in 2018) |
|
| To: | Junction 16 with N66, north of Gort |
| Location | |
| Primary destinations: |
Ennis, Shannon, Gort |
| Road network | |
The M18 motorway (Irish: Mótarbhealach M18) 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.
The motorway starts at junction 9 on the Shannon bypass and heads in a north direction where it bypasses the town of Newmarket-on-Fergus 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.
...
Wikipedia