N3 road

The N3 road is a National Primary Route in the Republic of Ireland, running from Dublin to Cavan Town and the border area of Ireland. Roads in Northern Ireland form part of an overall route connecting to Enniskillen, and northwest to the border again where the N3 reappears to serve Ballyshannon in County Donegal.

The route is known as the Navan Road as it leaves Dublin, passing near the Phoenix Park's northeastern exit and bypassing Castleknock. Following a major junction with the M50 motorway, consisting of a busy (and often grid-locked) grade-separated roundabout on the N3, the road bypasses Blanchardstown, Mulhuddart and Clonee with dual carriageway. The dual-carriage-way reduces to a single-carriageway shortly past the Meath border and it passes through Dunshaughlin village, Navan town (which is partially bypassed on an inner-relief road with traffic lights controlling junctions) and Kells in County Meath, before reaching Cavan Town. After passing through Virginia and Butlersbridge (both in County Cavan), the route crosses the border with Northern Ireland, becoming the A509 to Enniskillen. The A49 road connects Enniskillen and the Donegal border, becoming the N3 across the border, and connecting to Ballyshannon and Donegal Town.

Tara/M3 motorway controversy

Part of the overall route is due to be bypassed, becoming the M3 motorway. As of 2005 this plan is contested because the route passes near the Hill of Tara and through the archaeologically rich Tara-Skyne valley or Gabhra. The planned route corridor was approved by An Bord Pleanála (planning appeals board) in August 2003.

Objectors, including more than 350 academics and the head of the National Museum of Ireland, say the motorway will irreparably damage the region's heritage. The planned road is often referred to as a four lane motorway, the term is sometimes misleading to non-Irish people, it can also be referred to as a two lane motorway , i.e. two lanes in each direction.

The National Roads Authority (NRA) and others (such as local business groups) insist that the alternative route is too far from towns in the area, and that the road is needed to address urgent traffic problems. They also point out that the new M3 motorway will be further away from the historic Hill of Tara than the existing N3 road. However, critics point out the fact that it will be marginally further away is irrelevant because it will have a far greater visual and noise impact than the smaller, more easily hidden single carriageway road.

Other objectors point out that the motorway will do little to ease the misery of commuters in County Meath as the motorway/dual carriageway intersects with one of the busiest junctions in Ireland, the M50 Toll Bridge and leads to the already congested Navan Road/Cabra/Phibsboro areas. They also point out that (in the worst case) a commuter travelling to work in South Dublin from Kells would have to pay 2 tolls in each direction (one on the M3 and one on the M50). There are currently only 4 toll roads in Ireland (M50, M1,M4 and the Eastlink bridge) and is generally used on roads where a private building company agree a construction and tolling contract.

On 12 May 2005 excavation licenses were approved by the Environment Minister Dick Roche permitting the archaeological digs required before construction begins by Meath County Council.

On July 4, 2005, leave was granted to Vincent Salafia in the High Court to judicially review the decision of the Minister. The case is currently being heard before the High Court.

Other impacts

Controversially, the M3 is also planned to cut through the grounds of one of Ireland's most historic paladian stately homes, Ardbraccan House, through parkland in the vicinity of the rapidly growing town of Navan at Dalgan Park, and cut off a mediæval graveyard still in use at Ardbraccan from its townland hinterland. All these results have been criticised by environmentalists who stated that alternative routes were available that would have avoided such dramatic impact on heritage or environmentally important sites. The National Roads Authority who are responsible for construction of the motorway point out that it has gone through the full planning system and was subject to a 28 day oral hearing by An Bord Pleanala, the State planning appeals board, who granted permission for its construction in August 2003 subject to certain conditions.

Both RTÉ and the Meath Chronicle both reported in 2005 that controversial property developers whose actions in Dublin and whose links with "corrupt politicians" have been the subject examination in the Mahon Tribunal and the Moriarty Tribunal, have bought much of the land surrounding the proposed road at Tara for development purposes. However Colm Mac Eochaidh suggested that the conduct of property developers, and of some politicians in pushing development in Meath may require examination in a tribunal of inquiry.

This article is licenced under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "N3 road".