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.

Quick Facts Route information, Length ...

M18 motorway
Mótarbhealach M18
Route information
Part of
Length	70.8 km (44.0 mi)
Existed	26 January 2007–present
History	Completed on 27 September 2017[1]
Major junctions
From	Shannon
Major intersections
To	Junction 18 terminus, east of Galway.
Location
Country	Ireland
Primary destinations	Ennis, Shannon, Gort
Highway system
Roads in Ireland Motorways Primary Secondary Regional

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The motorway starts at junction 9 on the Shannon bypass and heads in a northerly 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.

A 22 km stretch, bypassing Crusheen village and the town of Gort, was opened in November 2010. The motorway ends at junction 18 of the M6, following its completion in September 2017. The road continues northbound as the M17 towards Tuam.

• Ennis Bypass (January 2007, as dual carriageway, redesignated as a Motorway)
• Newmarket-on-Fergus Bypass (December 2002, as dual carriageway)
• Crusheen to Gort (November 2010, Motorway)
• Gort to M6/M17 Junction 18 (September 2017, Motorway)