M6 motorway ( Ireland ) - wikipedia M6 motorway ( Ireland ) This motorway forms part of the N6 road. M6 motorway Clickable image Route information Part of Length : 148 km ( 92 mi ) Existed : 2006 -- present History : Completed in 2009 Major junctions From : Kinnegad ( upon completion ) ( upon completion ) To : Galway Location Primary destinations : Kilbeggan, Moate, Athlone, Ballinasloe, Loughrea Road network Roads in Ireland Motorways Primary Secondary Regional The M6 motorway ( Irish : Mótarbhealach M6 ) is a motorway in Ireland, which runs ( together with the M4 ) 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 designated motorway and are still signed as N6. The motorway was officially completed and opened to traffic on 18 December 2009, and was the first city - to - city direct major inter-urban route to be completed in Ireland. The M6 and M4, which form the Galway - Dublin route, consist of a grade - separated 2 + 2 dual carriageway road with a top speed limit of 120 km / h. At approximately 144 km ( 90 mi ), the M6 is the third longest motorway in the state. Contents 1 Route 2 History 2.1 Kinnegad - Athlone 2.2 Athlone - Ballinasloe 2.3 Ballinasloe - Galway 3 Junctions 4 Tolls 5 Future 5.1 Motorway redesignations affecting the M6 5.2 Proposed Motorway Service Area 6 See also 7 References 8 External links Route Near Kinnegad, the M6 motorway diverges from the M4 at a restricted access junction. From here it proceeds westward, passing through counties Westmeath, Offaly, Roscommon and Galway before terminating just east of Galway City near Doughiska. History The present - day M6 was constructed in five stages between 2005 and late 2009. Some of the sections which now form part of the M6 were initially opened as dual - carriageway and previously formed part of the N6, while other sections were opened as motorway. In chronological order, the various sections opened as follows ( status on opening in brackets ) : Kinnegad - Tyrrellspass ( 5 December 2006, as dual carriageway ) ; Tyrrellspass - Kilbeggan ( 16 May 2007, as dual carriageway ) ; Kilbeggan - Athlone ( 16 July 2008, as dual carriageway ) ; Athlone - Ballinasloe ( 23 July 2009, as motorway ) ; Ballinasloe - Galway ( 18 December 2009, as motorway ). Kinnegad - Athlone From 24 September 2008, motorway regulations were applied from Kinnegad to the eastern end of the Athlone bypass. The Kinnegad - Athlone scheme was signed as a motorway ( and numbered `` M6 '' ). Its road markings were already appropriate to a motorway prior to the change in designation coming into effect ; however, motorway regulations were not in force and the speed limit was 100 km / h until 24 September of that year. Athlone - Ballinasloe Construction of this 19 - km section of road commenced on 3 September 2007 and opened to traffic on 23 July 2009. It was built as a grade separated HQDC to motorway standard and was redesignated a motorway on 28 August 2009. Prior to this date, the scheme was subject to a reduced speed limit of 100 km / h. The central barrier on this road is a traditional metal barrier rather than the Concrete step barriers, which have become standard on all new dual - carriageways in Ireland and UK in recent years. The Athlone to Ballinasloe scheme was built by SIAC - Willis JV. Ballinasloe - Galway Construction of this 56 - km section of M6 began in 2007. This section lies between the town of Ballinasloe and Galway City, running between junctions 14 and 20 on the M6 corridor. The road is a tolled Public - private partnership scheme, and opened under motorway restrictions. The PPP contract was awarded to N6 Concession Limited in April 2007 which comprised FCC Construction S.A. and Itinere Infraestructuras ( both major companies from Spain ) and P.J. Hegarty & Sons who are a leading Irish Contractor. The contract was signed on the 4th April 2007 for 30 years from that date. The construction took approximately 3 years to be completed and the N6 Concessions Limited will be responsible for collection of tolls for a period of approximately 27 years. This scheme was a matter of some controversy at its planning stage. The environmental agency An Taisce claimed that the National Roads Authority 's planned route would be `` particularly destructive '' in passing the site of the 17th - century Battle of Aughrim The decision to toll the route is also controversial, as the M4 motorway to / from Dublin, which connects with the N6 / M6 route, is also tolled. This is effect meant that motorists would have to pay two tolls when driving between Dublin and Galway. It was pointed out, however, that this corresponds with the Authority 's plan to have two tolls on each of the main interurban routes. The new section of N6 / M6 between Ballinasloe and Galway was also quite unusual in another way : Unlike most national road upgrade projects in Ireland, the new route differed significantly from that of the original N6. The new route runs roughly east - west between the two destinations, rather than dipping south to Loughrea, as the former alignment N6 did. The N65 was extended from Loughrea to the new M6 was constructed to cater for this change. As an emergency measure to restore access from Dublin to Galway after severe flooding at Craughwell on Friday 20 November 2009, an incomplete section of this scheme between Loughrea and Galway Clinic ( Doughiska ) was opened temporarily. Junctions Junction 7 on the M6. Until 2011 there were two junction numbering schemes on the N6 route. The M6 junction numbers below are used on the entire length of the road. The Athlone bypass had a separate numbering scheme ( J1 -- J6 ) but was renumbered to its current form ( J8 -- J13 ) following the upgrade of the bypass in 2011. Westbound exit Junction Eastbound exit Start of motorway ( M4 ) The EAST ( M4 ) - Dublin, Kinnegad, Leixlip, Lucan Kinnegad ( R446 ) Kinnegad ( R446 ) Sligo, Westport ( N4 ) Enfield ( R148 ) Rochfordbridge, Milltownpass ( R446 ) Rochfordbridge, Milltownpass ( R446 ) Tyrrellspass, Mullingar ( N52 ) Tyrrellspass, Mullingar ( N52 ) Tullamore, Kilbeggan ( N52 ) Tullamore, Kilbeggan ( N52 ) Moate ( R420 ) Moate ( R420 ) Moate ( R446 ) Moate ( R446 ) Athlone ( R446 ) End of motorway Start of motorway Westbound exits Junction Eastbound exits Athlone ( R446 ) Athlone Athlone Athlone ( N55 ) Athlone ( N55 ) Athlone Athlone Athlone ( N61 ) Athlone ( N61 ) Athlone ( R446 ) Athlone ( R446 ) Westbound exit Junction Eastbound exit Ballinasloe ( R357 ) Ballinasloe ( R357 ) Ballinasloe ( R446 ) Ballinasloe ( R446 ) Kiltullagh, Loughrea Kiltullagh, Loughrea Athenry ( R348 ) Athenry ( R348 ) Rathmorrissy ( M17 / M18 ) Rathmorrissy ( M17 / M18 ) Oranmore ( N18 ) Oranmore ( N18 ) Galway ( R446 ) Galway ( R446 ) ( in planning ) Westbound exit Junction Eastbound exit Completion Galway ( N84 ) Galway ( N84 ) Preliminary design ( 1 ) Galway ( N59 ) Galway ( N59 ) End of N6 with R336 Tolls Although the M6 is a tolled motorway, there is only a single toll plaza, located at Cappataggle, between junctions 15 Ballinasloe West & 16 Loughrea. Hence there is no toll payable to travel between the eastern end of the motorway and Ballinasloe and also between Loughrea and the western end at Galway city. Tolls may be paid by cash, credit card or through the use of an electronic tag. Future Motorway redesignations affecting the M6 At present, the M6 motorway leads into the non-motorway Athlone bypass and continues again west of the bypass to Galway. Subject to improvements, the Athlone Bypass may yet come under motorway regulations and be incorporated into the rest of the M6 route. Proposed motorway Service area Transport Infrastructure Ireland ( TII ) has planned the construction Motorway Service Areas at approximately 60 kilometre intervals along each of Ireland 's interurban routes. Under this plan, the M6 will have one such area. It will be located just east of Athlone ( see here, p. 25 ). The EIS for the M6 Athlone Motorway Service Area is now available at TII 's website ( scroll down to the bottom here ). See also Roads in Ireland Motorways in Ireland National primary road National secondary road Regional road References Jump up ^ http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/0718/1216330999777.html Jump up ^ http://www.nra.ie/RoadSchemeActivity/GalwayCountyCouncil/N6AthlonetoBallinasloe/SchemeName,15418,en.html Jump up ^ http://www.nra.ie/RoadSchemeActivity/GalwayCountyCouncil/N6GalwaytoBallinasloe/SchemeName,15488,en.html Jump up ^ Dispute over M6 route through Aughrim - RTÉ News Jump up ^ National Roads Authority Website Jump up ^ Operating Company Website FAQs Archived 2012 - 03 - 23 at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ http://www.independent.ie/national-news/breakfast-roll-man-gets-grub-guarantee-1429938.html Jump up ^ http://www.nra.ie/Publications/ServicesAreasEIS/M1SouthMotorwayServiceArea/file,14391,en.pdf Jump up ^ http://www.nra.ie/Publications/EISPublications/ External links Roads Act 1993 ( Classification of National Roads ) Order 2006 -- Department of Transport Scheme Activity 2006 -- National Roads Authority ( road projects under construction ) N6 Galway to Ballinasloe -- Galway County Council N6 Ballinasloe to Athlone Dual Carriageway -- Roscommon County Council NRA map of the Athlone -- Kilbeggan section N6 Galway City Outer Bypass M6 Toll operator website Roads in Ireland Motorways M1 M2 M3 M4 M6 M7 M8 M9 M11 M18 M20 M50 Primary roads N1 N2 N3 N4 N5 N6 N7 N8 N9 N10 N11 N12 N13 N14 N15 N16 N17 N18 N19 N20 N21 N22 N23 N24 N25 N26 N27 N28 N29 N30 N31 N32 N33 N40 N50 Secondary roads N51 N52 N53 N54 N55 N56 N58 N59 N60 N61 N62 N63 N65 N66 N67 N68 N69 N70 N71 N72 N73 N74 N75 N76 N77 N78 N80 N81 N82 N83 N84 N85 N86 N87 Regional roads R101 R102 R103 R104 R105 R106 R107 R108 R109 R110 R111 R112 R113 R114 R115 R116 R117 R118 R119 R120 R121 R122 R123 R124 R125 R126 R127 R128 R129 R130 R131 R132 R133 R134 R135 R136 R137 R138 R139 R147 R148 R149 R150 R151 R152 R153 R154 R155 R156 R157 R158 R159 R160 R161 R162 R163 R164 R165 R166 R167 R168 R169 R170 R171 R172 R173 R174 R175 R176 R177 R178 R179 R180 R181 R182 R183 R184 R185 R186 R187 R188 R189 R190 R191 R192 R193 R194 R195 R196 R197 R198 R199 R200 R201 R202 R203 R204 R205 R206 R207 R208 R209 R210 R211 R212 R213 R214 R215 R229 R230 R231 R232 R233 R234 R235 R236 R237 R238 R239 R240 R241 R242 R243 R244 R245 R246 R247 R248 R249 R250 R251 R252 R253 R254 R255 R256 R257 R258 R259 R260 R261 R262 R263 R264 R265 R266 R267 R268 R277 R278 R279 R280 R281 R282 R283 R284 R285 R286 R287 R288 R289 R290 R291 R292 R293 R294 R295 R296 R297 R298 R299 R300 R310 R311 R312 R313 R314 R315 R316 R317 R318 R319 R320 R321 R322 R323 R324 R325 R326 R327 R328 R329 R330 R331 R332 R333 R334 R335 R336 R337 R338 R339 R340 R341 R342 R343 R344 R345 R346 R347 R348 R349 R350 R351 R352 R353 R355 R356 R357 R358 R359 R360 R361 R362 R363 R364 R365 R366 R367 R368 R369 R370 R371 R372 R373 R374 R375 R376 R377 R378 R379 R389 R390 R391 R392 R393 R394 R395 R396 R397 R398 R399 R400 R401 R402 R403 R404 R405 R406 R407 R408 R409 R410 R411 R412 R413 R414 R415 R416 R417 R418 R419 R420 R421 R422 R423 R424 R425 R426 R427 R428 R429 R430 R431 R432 R433 R434 R435 R436 R437 R438 R439 R440 R441 R442 R443 R444 R445 R446 R448 R449 R458 R459 R460 R461 R462 R463 R464 R465 R466 R467 R468 R469 R470 R471 R472 R473 R474 R475 R476 R477 R478 R479 R480 R481 R482 R483 R484 R485 R486 R487 R488 R489 R490 R491 R492 R493 R494 R495 R496 R497 R498 R499 R500 R501 R502 R503 R504 R505 R506 R507 R509 R510 R511 R512 R513 R514 R515 R516 R517 R518 R519 R520 R521 R522 R523 R524 R525 R526 R527 R548 R549 R550 R551 R552 R553 R554 R555 R556 R557 R558 R559 R560 R561 R563 R564 R565 R566 R567 R568 R569 R570 R571 R572 R573 R574 R575 R576 R577 R578 R579 R580 R581 R582 R583 R584 R585 R586 R587 R588 R589 R590 R591 R592 R593 R594 R595 R596 R597 R598 R599 R600 R601 R602 R603 R604 R605 R606 R607 R608 R610 R611 R612 R613 R614 R615 R616 R617 R618 R619 R620 R621 R622 R623 R624 R626 R627 R628 R629 R630 R631 R632 R633 R634 R635 R637 R638 R639 R640 R641 R659 R660 R661 R662 R663 R664 R665 R666 R667 R668 R669 R670 R671 R672 R673 R674 R675 R676 R677 R678 R679 R680 R681 R682 R683 R684 R685 R686 R687 R688 R689 R690 R691 R692 R693 R694 R695 R696 R697 R698 R699 R700 R701 R702 R703 R704 R705 R706 R707 R708 R709 R710 R711 R712 R713 R724 R725 R726 R727 R729 R730 R731 R732 R733 R734 R735 R736 R737 R738 R739 R740 R741 R742 R743 R744 R745 R746 R747 R748 R749 R750 R751 R752 R753 R754 R755 R756 R757 R758 R759 R760 R761 R762 R763 R764 R765 R766 R767 R768 R769 R770 R772 R773 R774 R801 R802 R803 R804 R805 R806 R807 R808 R809 R810 R811 R812 R813 R814 R815 R816 R817 R818 R819 R820 R821 R822 R824 R825 R826 R827 R828 R829 R830 R831 R833 R834 R835 R837 R838 R839 R840 R842 R843 R846 R847 R848 R849 R851 R852 R853 R854 R855 R857 R858 R859 R860 R861 R863 R864 R865 R866 R867 R868 R870 R871 R873 R874 R875 R876 R877 R880 R883 R884 R885 R886 R887 R888 R889 R890 R895 R899 R900 R901 R903 R904 R906 R907 R908 R909 R910 R911 R912 R913 R914 R915 R916 R917 R918 R919 R920 R921 R923 R924 R925 R926 R927 R928 R929 R930 R931 R932 R933 R934 R935 R936 R937 R938 R940 R941 See also National Development Plan National Roads Authority Local roads Toll roads Trunk roads Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=M6_motorway_(Ireland)&oldid=792954476 '' Categories : Motorways in the Republic of Ireland Roads in County Meath Roads in County Westmeath Roads in County Offaly Roads in County Roscommon Roads in County Galway Hidden categories : Webarchive template wayback links Infobox road temporary tracking category 1 Infobox road maps for Wikidata migration Articles containing Irish - 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Question: where is the toll on the m6 ireland
Answer: Cappataggle, between junctions 15 Ballinasloe West & 16 Loughrea