M3 Clonee-Kells Motorway construction updates

GeneHunt · 05-06-2010 10:06am

oddiot wrote: »

The final junction with the N51 seems to have been planned with a view to continuing the route between the dumbell roundabouts at some date in the long term.

I think you mean the N52;)

The route seemed noticably 'curvier' than most other motorways, in that for a lot of the time you can't see more than 500-1000 meters in front of you. This wasn't an issue for sightlines, and in a way it made the route more interesting to drive.

I agree with the "curvier" parts of the motorway, but it's mainly from J6 to J8 which is the curvier section, hope this is not a problem in foggy weather, because around J6 is prone to fog. I'm not sure about any other areas, but I think before J8 could be bad too, because of the Boyne river:eek:

wellbutty · 05-06-2010 11:20am

Is it single or dual carriageway from Kells to the border?

Stark · 05-06-2010 11:30am

wellbutty wrote: »

Is it single or dual carriageway from Kells to the border?

Dual

Amtmann · 05-06-2010 11:32am

larryone wrote: »

While I am a roads enthusiast, I am 100% behind the protesters on this one. Another route could have been chosen that would have saved time, money, and the damage done. It really takes away from the feeling of seeing another fantastic piece of infrastructure being added.

I think the protesters were a diverse lot; but none of the clips I saw on Youtube of eminent archaeologists likening construction to "Auschwitz" (seriously) or other such eccentricism made me feel any support for them at all. If a better route existed, then it should have been chosen. You won't get any argument from me on that score.

One thing you'd also have to consider is that the M3 became the focus of anti-roads demonstrations to such an extent that the entire of the M8, M7, M9 and basically the M6 could be built unhindered. I think we can expect the M20, the Slane and Galway Bypasses and the LOOR to have a far rougher ride when construction eventually starts on these.

Amtmann · 05-06-2010 11:48am

I found this clip:

THE BIGGEST and most contentious single stretch of roadway in Irish history was opened without a hitch yesterday morning.
Though frequently on the defensive since the M3 motorway was first proposed 13 years ago, the developers of the €1 billion M3 project had their day in the sun.
Security was unprecedented for an event like this.
The opening was by invitation only and there were Garda checkpoints at the Athboy interchange where the protesters gloomily gathered at least 2km (1.25 miles) away.
It was “Spanish weather” according to Iñigo Meirás, the managing director of Ferrovial, the Spanish construction giant which built the project in a joint venture with Irish company SIAC.
An outsized Spanish flag and the tricolour flew side-by-side at the opening ceremony as a strong sun beat down on the guests who gathered on a stretch between the Athboy interchange and Navan for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Those in attendance were local mainstream politicians, representatives from various local chambers of commerce, a number of clergymen and some of the 1,000 construction workers who worked on the project including a substantial delegation from Spain.
“This day is for the people of Meath and not for those under the ground,” said former chairman of Meath County Council, Cllr Nick Killian who has been a trenchant supporter of the project from the beginning.
The protesters who considered the M3 routing through the Tara-Skyrne valley as a desecration of Ireland’s cultural heritage were conspicuous by their absence.
Onlookers gathered on an overpass, but they were so far away it was hard to see if they were protesters or curious bystanders.
A Garda helicopter was in operation in the skies overhead monitoring protesters, though none got near disrupting the opening ceremony.
It was a happy day for Minister for Transport and local TD Noel Dempsey who said his only regret was not building the motorway years earlier.
The M3 was a “much needed and strategically significant” motorway and he was proud to be the minister responsible for opening it.
It was a “historic day in a county steeped in history” he said, adding that the best route was chosen. Protesters would beg to differ.
He said the people of Dunshaughlin, Navan and Kells would now get their towns back from the “choking traffic” which had blighted their quality of life for years.
“All of us who commute or have a business along this route have been looking forward to this day for quite some time and it is great that it has finally arrived,” he said.
The chairman of Meath County Council, Cllr William Carey acknowledged that there were people upset by the routing of the M3 motorway, but he believed it would be “impossible” to build any road through the Tara area without disturbing remains.
The whole project constitutes nearly 100km of new road, the largest single road project ever built in the State.
Along with 60km of motorway, there will be 35km of side roads, 15km of link roads and a 4km N52 bypass of Kells.
There are tolls at Dunshaughlin and Clonee and one at Grange between Navan and Kells.
The cost will be €1.30 for each toll.
The road was supposed to open at 4pm yesterday, but by early afternoon 200 cars had queued up to try and be the first to use it.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0605/1224271906960.html

Amtmann · 05-06-2010 12:04pm

THE Minister for Transport was positively elevating with excitement as he looked out from the podium and surveyed the smooth ribbon of tarmac snaking off towards the Meath skyline.
"Today is one of the most historic days in the history of this county," he declared, which is a big claim considering that the Royal County has a particularly action-packed past.
But Noel Dempsey -- or "Minister Noel" as one local councillor addressed him, for, like Madonna, he doesn't need a surname on his home turf -- was fair bursting with pride.
For the construction of the 60km M3 motorway (or "mohorway" in Meathspeak) was a project most dear to this Trim man's heart. And given the bitter controversy which raged around it for years, Noel must have wondered if this day would ever come.
There had been howls of outrage from many quarters -- including high-profile citizens such as Seamus Heaney, Paul Muldoon, Louis le Brocquy and the Chieftains -- when the road was routed right through the hills of Tara and Skryne, an area regarded as the spiritual capital of Ireland. Since construction began in 2007, it was dogged by protests, campaigns and court challenges to have the road rerouted.
And although the campaigners lost the battle and yesterday the ribbon was rolled out for the minister to cut, officially opening the €1bn highway from Clonee to north of Kells, it was clear at the opening ceremony that the gardai feared the protesters might have one last scrap for the road.
There was a heavy garda presence on the tucked-away stretch of motorway a few kilometres outside Navan; a garda helicopter hovered overhead and there were uniformed bizzies on all nearby roundabouts, ramps and even on the overpass bridges, for fear that some crazed conservationists would suddenly absail into Noel's party like Israeli commandos.
The small handful of protesters didn't even get within sight of the Minister for Transport and were stranded on a roundabout near Navan town.
But a large assembly of invited locals and guests did turn up, including almost the full set of Meath TDs -- Fianna Fail's Tommy Byrne, Johnny Brady, Mary Wallace and Fine Gael's Damien English. But Damien's party colleague, Meath East deputy Shane McEntee boycotted the event in protest over the presence of the mineral pyrite in the construction of the road.
But Noel saw no pyrite before him, only a glorious river of tarmac. And it was all his own work.
"It's not too often in politics that you get to see a project from its conception, almost, right through to its design and building. But this is one project that I can certainly say I've seen through all of the stages," he informed the crowd, reminding them that his M3 baby had been conceived while he was Environment Minister.
And such was his interest in the motorway, which now bypasses the traffic-choked towns of Dunshaughlin, Navan and Kells, that the road was completed two months ahead of schedule, just in the nick of time for the June bank-holiday weekend.
After the ceremony, Noel was delighted to talk about the Mohorway.
"I'm absolutely thrilled, it's a big occasion opening a motorway of any sort. It's particularly a proud moment for me -- I'm here in my own county. It's just fantastic," he beamed proudly.
The Transport Minister preferred not to dwell on the decade-long battle.
"There was a lot of controversy generated, but I think this was the best possible route to choose," he insisted.
"We're in such an historic county, no matter where you went, you were going to have some difficulties, but the €30m that was spent on archaeological digs, the discoveries that have been found, would never have been found without this route. So I think that on balance this is a positive news story," reckoned Noel.
But not everyone agreed. Yesterday, author Colm Toibin attacked the construction of the road.
"The desecration of the landscape around Tara was shameful, short-sighted and beyond belief," he blasted.
And not everyone has given up, now that the road is up and running, with an estimated 37,000 vehicles every day. At the Hill of Tara yesterday afternoon, the Tara Skyrne Preservation Group was assembling for a protest.
"We don't see today as being a joyous occasion," said one member. But nor do they see their fight as over either.
"We have applied for the Hill of Tara to be designated a UNESCO World Heritage site and we want the ancestral bones which were disinterred from ancient burial grounds in Ardsallagh and Collierstown to be reburied," said spokesperson Carmel Diviney.
They are also worried that the road -- as roads have a tendency to do -- will bring with it new development in the valley, with further destruction of ancient sites.
"We're still watching -- we're guardians of the valley," said Kyrie Murray whose families have lived in the area for 800 years.
It was a beautiful day on the Hill of Tara yesterday. The road can't be seen from the hilltop, just a rolling landscape to the distant Dublin mountains. Nor was there any noise, save for that of a waming wind rustling the trees, loud birdsong and the contented bleating of sheep grazing on the lush grass.
Noel may be King of the Road, but despite his claim, it's not as historic as the precious royal seat of Tara. In fact, it's not even close.

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/lise-hand-now-its-only-a-hop-skip-and-a-jump-to-northwest-2208996.html

It does NOT go "right through the Hill of Tara", and it apparently is visible from the hilltop. Can someone confirm? Any photos of the M3 from Tara?

locha · 05-06-2010 12:29pm

Did M50 Roundabout to Kells in 35 mins this morning a great job... More importantly there ARE issues with two of hte bridges/overpasses, not sure which ones... NRA are not happy but are apparently hoping that the contractor can remedy... essentially they are now fooked as they have opened the road....

Chris_5339762 · 05-06-2010 3:45pm

Furet wrote: »

I think the protesters were a diverse lot; but none of the clips I saw on Youtube of eminent archaeologists likening construction to "Auschwitz" (seriously) or other such eccentricism made me feel any support for them at all. If a better route existed, then it should have been chosen. You won't get any argument from me on that score.

One thing you'd also have to consider is that the M3 became the focus of anti-roads demonstrations to such an extent that the entire of the M8, M7, M9 and basically the M6 could be built unhindered. I think we can expect the M20, the Slane and Galway Bypasses and the LOOR to have a far rougher ride when construction eventually starts on these.

M20 I reckon will go through pretty much unhindered apart from the landowners naturally. There is nothing of interest along the route at all TBH

Slane will probably be the next fight (as I reckon they picked the route solely to cause delays and thus not have to build it). Galway has its own group of whiners and nothing to do with historical stuff like the M3 crowd mostly were. Shouldnt make it any worse than it is though.

Zoney · 05-06-2010 5:12pm

Chris_5339762 wrote: »

Slane will probably be the next fight (as I reckon they picked the route solely to cause delays and thus not have to build it). Galway has its own group of whiners and nothing to do with historical stuff like the M3 crowd mostly were. Shouldnt make it any worse than it is though.

Two more reasons why the M20 should not have too many problems. Just as the M3 and N11 attracted most of the attention (and unsuccessfully so), while the interurbans mostly had little attention, the M20 is likely to be down the list of priorities for activists.

Wish there would be more fuss about planning nonsense mind you, like the county councillors rezoning land along the original path of the N21 Adare bypass, and iirc Carrickmines was linked with planning too, yet the national monument issue got all the attention. And as regards the M3 it does to some extent exist just to re-enforce unsustainable commuting habits (people working in Dublin should be able to comfortably and affordably live there).

jack presley · 05-06-2010 5:23pm

Chris_5339762 wrote: »

M20 I reckon will go through pretty much unhindered apart from the landowners naturally. There is nothing of interest along the route at all TBH

Slane will probably be the next fight (as I reckon they picked the route solely to cause delays and thus not have to build it). Galway has its own group of whiners and nothing to do with historical stuff like the M3 crowd mostly were. Shouldnt make it any worse than it is though.

It'll be interesting to see the protesters tactics for the Slane By-pass. 22 people have died on that hill in recent years and bad crashes still happen regularly and if there is another one while they are causing delays (especially if someone dies) I think their PR battle will be lost.

murphaph · 05-06-2010 5:38pm

Is this really how the M3 flows into the new 2+2 N3 near Kells? I always assumed the two would flow into each other seamlessly, please tell me you don't have to negotiate 2 roundabouts here!

irishdub14 · 05-06-2010 7:45pm

murphaph wrote: »

Is this really how the M3 flows into the new 2+2 N3 near Kells? I always assumed the two would flow into each other seamlessly, please tell me you don't have to negotiate 2 roundabouts here!

I dont know, but if it is its probably a future-proofed junction for if or when they extend the M3...

I'm guessing though!

bauderline · 05-06-2010 9:07pm

murphaph wrote: »

Is this really how the M3 flows into the new 2+2 N3 near Kells? I always assumed the two would flow into each other seamlessly, please tell me you don't have to negotiate 2 roundabouts here!

Yeah, the mototway ends with two roundabouts a two stretches of 2+2, no big deal really... doesn't delay much.

murphaph · 05-06-2010 9:59pm

bauderline wrote: »

Yeah, the mototway ends with two roundabouts a two stretches of 2+2, no big deal really... doesn't delay much.

Are the two roundabouts either side of a bridge (ie, do they form part of a dumbell interchange)? Or is the M3, the roundabouts and the continuation N3 all on the same level?

This is such a shoddy way to connect 2 dual carriageways together, one being a motorway! This doesn't happen anywhere else a motorway joins a dual carriageway as part of the same continuous route AFAIK (N6-M6, N7-M7, N11-M11 (twice), N8-M8).

It may not delay much but for the want of a single flyover it shouldn't delay at all tbh.

Edit: if this is indeed a flyover with 2 roundabouts either side of it, it is almost a carbon copy of the southern termination of the Ballymena Bypass which was designed for future connection to the never built "middle bit" of the M2. In the end they dualled the A26 (what has already been done with the N3) and 30 years later ran the M2 through the junction to flow directly into the A26. At least they had a reason: the A26 was S2 when the M2 was built and wasn't dualled until years later. The M3/N3 setup however seems quite bizarre to me, would love if someone could get some pics of the lay of the land there if possible please!

Bog Butter · 05-06-2010 10:13pm

Would someone have a link to a map of the M3; one which i could look at the different exits? Thanks

Fiskar · 05-06-2010 11:04pm

malman wrote: »

Would someone have a link to a map of the M3; one which i could look at the different exits? Thanks

http://www.eurolink-m3.ie/index.aspx?menu=5&context=1

Basically Junction 5 is Pace, 6 is dunshaughlin, 7 is Skryne, Johnstown, Junction 8 is Navan,

DWCommuter · 05-06-2010 11:27pm

From the M3 website;

The largest motorway project in the history of the state

I know its an infrastructure forum, but that statement mocks and be-littles the inter urban motorway programme, which was far more important. Many busier routes could have benefitted from such an onslaught of motorway construction in one tranch.

The M3 stinks of something dodgey and for the record Im not one of the eco warrior types concerned with Tara.

Fiskar · 05-06-2010 11:54pm

DWCommuter wrote: »

From the M3 website;

I know its an infrastructure forum, but that statement mocks and be-littles the inter urban motorway programme, which was far more important. Many busier routes could have benefitted from such an onslaught of motorway construction in one tranch.

The M3 stinks of something dodgey and for the record Im not one of the eco warrior types concerned with Tara.

Have to agree and disagree with you on this, very good post though, you ask a good question. One could expand that and ask why there are two Tolls in Meath rather than one and why the bloody M3 didn't stop at Kells althogether.

If the M3 stopped at Kells with one Toll it would have meant a toll of 1.80 / 1.90€. that would suit a lot of people. Where to put the toll to capture the masses would be the problem to generate revenue for MCC.

Two Tolls and a longer road will upset those in the Cavan border who are penalised to pay 2 or possibly 3 tolls just to get where they need to.

Disagree that other roads or areas were more important, please list them. The Navan to Dublin route was the worst in the country and I speak as a motorbike rider, the queues I passed and on days were part of in my car were ridiculous.

mackerski · 06-06-2010 12:23am

malman wrote: »

Would someone have a link to a map of the M3; one which i could look at the different exits? Thanks

It's all mapped on OpenStreetMap. Zoom at will, you should find everything you're looking for.

DWCommuter · 06-06-2010 12:27am

Fiskar wrote: »

Disagree that other roads or areas were more important, please list them. The Navan to Dublin route was the worst in the country and I speak as a motorbike rider, the queues I passed and on days were part of in my car were ridiculous.

For a start Im aware of the traffic situation on the Navan - Dublin route. It was caused by dodgey planning in terms of the amount of house building in Navan and its environs, (and indeed beyond towards Cavan) that was sold to desperate people migrating from Dublin to "afford" a home. The M3 was a capitalisation on this "need".

The fact that the M3 was a PPP underlines the plan to essentially suck a dependent audience dry on this route. The amount of state expenditure outside of the consortium spend on the road and indeed the consortiums own spend, would have been better spent in fastracking the other interurbans. Huge sums of money were spent on legal and archealogical costs. Furthermore, critical areas such as Newlands cross still remain unsolved. When one looks at the current Government plans on the Navan route, a spend of 1.9 billion (including rail and road projects) looks like absolute lunacy. It has to be the most costliest corridor ever.

here.from.day.1 · 06-06-2010 3:22am

I have been anticipating this since 2006 and got to use it on Friday, roof down, sun shining and a smile on my face. Best thing to come out of Meath in as long as I can remember.

murphaph · 06-06-2010 9:58am

Fiskar wrote: »

Have to agree and disagree with you on this, very good post though, you ask a good question. One could expand that and ask why there are two Tolls in Meath rather than one and why the bloody M3 didn't stop at Kells althogether.

If the M3 stopped at Kells with one Toll it would have meant a toll of 1.80 / 1.90€. that would suit a lot of people. Where to put the toll to capture the masses would be the problem to generate revenue for MCC.

Two Tolls and a longer road will upset those in the Cavan border who are penalised to pay 2 or possibly 3 tolls just to get where they need to.

Disagree that other roads or areas were more important, please list them. The Navan to Dublin route was the worst in the country and I speak as a motorbike rider, the queues I passed and on days were part of in my car were ridiculous.

Nothing a couple of bypasses around Dunshaughlin and Navan couldn't have sorted, plus a bit of 2+2 online upgrading of the old N3 (there was plenty of room along most of it) would have produced a similar end result to road users and would have saved them €5.20 a day in tolls. The M3 looks nice, but it was a scam that will make Eurolink lots of money, even if nobody uses it, that's how dodgy it is.

Btw, your point about the road stopping at Kells is moot, you can always use the new bit of 2+2, come off at Kells, trundle along the old N3 until past the first tolls, then join the motorway and just pay €1.30.

Pete_Cavan · 06-06-2010 1:03pm

DWCommuter wrote: »

From the M3 website;

I know its an infrastructure forum, but that statement mocks and be-littles the inter urban motorway programme, which was far more important. Many busier routes could have benefitted from such an onslaught of motorway construction in one tranch.

The M3 stinks of something dodgey and for the record Im not one of the eco warrior types concerned with Tara.

The M3 stinks of something dodgy because it is now the fourth motorway passing through count Meath, the home of the minister for transport.

Not surprisingly, being from Cavan I am going to defend the M3. I think the need for the M3 is justified as it serves a large population. The M2 on the other hand is a complete waste of money and M3 should have been given priority over this from when the inter-urban motorway programme was first developed.

I use the M2 regularly when travelling from Cavan to Dublin and there is very little other traffic on it. Currently the NRA encourages hauliers heading north to Derry to use the M1 as far as the N33 road to Ardee, avoiding the dangerous sections of the parallel N2 in the environs of Slane, Collon and Ardee. Monaghan traffic uses the M1. When the M3 is opened the M2 will only serve Ashbourne and Slane. These could have been accommodated off the M3, Ashbourne traffic via Ratoath turnoff and Slane traffic as far as Navan and then take an improved N51 (or M1). Accessing Slane from Navan side would also avoid the need for the controversial Slane bypass as most traffic would no longer have to cross the bridge.

The M2 is too short as well, with only 13km of motorway and 4km of duel carriageway. There are only two junctions southbound, St. Margarets/Blanchardstown and Ashbourne (south)/Ratoath/Swords, and one northbound, Ashbourne (south)/Ratoath/Swords. Given the lack of junctions and limited destinations I think a national primary road standard or possibly 2 plus 1 would have sufficed. If the option of using the M2, which is free, was removed it would increase numbers on the M3.

Fiskar wrote: »

Have to agree and disagree with you on this, very good post though, you ask a good question. One could expand that and ask why there are two Tolls in Meath rather than one and why the bloody M3 didn't stop at Kells althogether.

If the M3 stopped at Kells with one Toll it would have meant a toll of 1.80 / 1.90€. that would suit a lot of people. Where to put the toll to capture the masses would be the problem to generate revenue for MCC.

Two Tolls and a longer road will upset those in the Cavan border who are penalised to pay 2 or possibly 3 tolls just to get where they need to.

The M3 motorway does stop at Kells but 10km of duel carriageway continues from Kells to Carnaross, which I think is to be designated N3 now. I disagree with the one toll suggestion. The motorway should have been extended to bypass Virginia from the projects inception but there was not enough political will in Cavan therefore the new roads stop at the Cavan border. Tolls are set at €1.30 so I would be quite happy to pay an extra 50-60c if it meant I could travel from New Inn (Cavan side of Virginia) to Mulhuddart on uninterrupted motorway.

murphaph wrote: »

Nothing a couple of bypasses around Dunshaughlin and Navan couldn't have sorted, plus a bit of 2+2 online upgrading of the old N3 (there was plenty of room along most of it) would have produced a similar end result to road users and would have saved them €5.20 a day in tolls. The M3 looks nice, but it was a scam that will make Eurolink lots of money, even if nobody uses it, that's how dodgy it is.

Btw, your point about the road stopping at Kells is moot, you can always use the new bit of 2+2, come off at Kells, trundle along the old N3 until past the first tolls, then join the motorway and just pay €1.30.

Bypassing towns and upgrading the N3 was never an option, makes a lot more sense to just build a new road. If motorway was extended past Virginia people would be less likely to turn off the motorway to avoid a second toll.

CUCINA · 06-06-2010 1:23pm

The M3 open at last! I enjoyed following its progress over the last few years...

In general, I would concede that there is an element of using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, in terms of the main purpose of the M3 being to by-pass the towns of Dunshaughlin, Navan, and Kells. Perhaps the same result could have been achieved by less ambitious means.
If they were given a choice, I would suggest that the people of Meath and beyond would have preferred an efficient and affordable rail line rather than a motorway. But to use that terrible phrase favoured by politicians, we are where we are!

Speaking as a resident of Dunshaughlin, the opening of the M3 is good news, even if I never use it myself. Up to now, I relied a lot on back-roads to get from Liffey Valley to home. But on Friday evening, after the M3 opened, I drove virtually unhindered from Clonee Village, over the new Bracetown bridge,along the N3 (now the R157?) and straight into Dunshaughlin. This was a real joy, especially compared to the bad ol' Celtic Tiger traffic.

My wife and I went for a spin on the whole of the M3 and we were suitably impressed. It was amusing to see the tree-huggers using the infrastructure to stage their protest at the building of the road!
We carried on up to the outskirts of Cavan town, and coming back from there later, it took just over an hour to get back home.

Anyway, I'll now have to find a new hobby other than taking photos of the M3!

Jayuu · 06-06-2010 1:27pm

As far as I can see the best long term planning here would be to build the M3 onwards bypassing both Virginia and Cavan on their eastern side. Then have the road turn back eastwards to pass Clones on the east and Monaghan on the west and reach the border where the exiting N2 does. Exits could be provided for all of these towns and link roads in.

The M2 then from its current end then should turn westward to join the M3 at a new interchange north of Dunshaughlin (Junction 6a). This would have to be tolled along the same lines as the toll between Junctions 5 and 6 on the M3.

Doing this would give us a motorway to the border serving the main towns of Meath, Cavan and Monaghan along the way and eliminating the need for any major work along the N2 corridor.

murphaph · 06-06-2010 1:51pm

Is the link road from the trumpet to south of Navan built to full motorway specs? If so it's pretty interesting as an S2 would have sufficed (as was used at Kells onto the trumpet there) and I suspect this could be a short length of any future DOOR.

Plowman · 06-06-2010 1:54pm

This post has been deleted.

SeanW · 06-06-2010 2:43pm

Pete_Cavan wrote: »

The M3 stinks of something dodgy because it is now the fourth motorway passing through count Meath, the home of the minister for transport.

Ok, if you think "4" motorways in County Meath is a waste of money, consider that:

The M1 and M4 are both long distance motorways forming part of the Major InterUrban routes (MIUs) to Galway & Belfast respectively.
The M2 is relatively short.
The M1 and M4 both spend very little time in Co. Meath, the M1 along Meaths' very short coastline and the M4 dips in and out of Co. Kildare.

By your rationale, you should count the M6 is being Meaths fifth motorway (pork bonanza) since it technically starts on the Meath side of Kinnegad.http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=53.4493&lon=-7.1042&zoom=14&layers=B000FTF
Makes about as much sense as calling the M1 a Meath motorway but it seems fashionable among M3 bashers to do just that.

Also, take a map of Ireland. Take out a protractor. Put the base of it on Dublin City Centre, and check out how much of the boundary of Dublin County, both by degrees and by length, is a boundary with Co. Meath.

Just a quick glance on OSM suggests that more than half of Co. Dublin's landed county boundary (by length) is with Co. Meath, with Wicklow and Kildare respectively making smaller lengths.

Finally, Meath's aparent good fortune has nothing to do with having a Meath minister for transport as these projects were planned at the time when Seamus Brennan (RIP) and Martin "e-voting" Cullen were at the helm in that department.

Anyways enough of that.

I have two questions about the M3 design.
Firstly, at the end here:
http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=53.71743&lon=-6.89491&zoom=16&layers=B000FTF

it shows what looks like room for a future extension of the M3 between those 'sliproads,' is that the plan? Is that short stretch of N3 DC between the two roundabouts on a bridge? What's the deal there? Is it "on the ground" built in such a way as to allow an easy extension? At first glance, the layout looks ridiculously overcomplicated, particuarly for N3>N52 or N3 Cavan>Dublin traffic.
Secondly, about the trumpet junction at Kells, what the @#$% is that all about?

I mean, they go to all this trouble to build a grade separated junction much like the trumpet at Navan, then they put this silly roundabout in the middle of it all that, from what I can see, serves absolutely no purpose whatsoever?

Pete_Cavan · 06-06-2010 3:23pm

SeanW wrote: »

Ok, if you think "4" motorways in County Meath is a waste of money, consider that:

My point was that the M2 was a waste of money, not every motorway that passes through Meath.

Jayuu wrote: »

As far as I can see the best long term planning here would be to build the M3 onwards bypassing both Virginia and Cavan on their eastern side. Then have the road turn back eastwards to pass Clones on the east and Monaghan on the west and reach the border where the exiting N2 does. Exits could be provided for all of these towns and link roads in.

Doing this would give us a motorway to the border serving the main towns of Meath, Cavan and Monaghan along the way and eliminating the need for any major work along the N2 corridor.

Jayuu's suggestion for the M3 to be extended to serve Cavan and Monaghan is interesting. I dont think it is very realistic though because Monaghan town is currently only an hour and a half from Dublin via the M1. I dont think an extended M3 would be any faster when travelling from Monaghan and although I would love to see the motorway as far as Cavan (being a Cavan man myself) the population doesnt justify this. Like I said in my earlier post Virginia should be bypassed and the N3 from there to Cavan is good enough considering traffic volumes are quite low and then Cavan town is already bypassed.

Jayuu wrote: »

The M2 then from its current end then should turn westward to join the M3 at a new interchange north of Dunshaughlin (Junction 6a). This would have to be tolled along the same lines as the toll between Junctions 5 and 6 on the M3.

Totally agree that the M2 should be linked to the M3 as you suggest here. This would provide an excuse for tolling the M2 which will otherwise be used by people avoiding the M3 toll. The toll should be the Dublin side of Ashbourne and match that on the M3. How difficult would it be to put in barrier free tolling like on the M50 instead of building a toll plazza? This would allow some money to be recouped from the construction of the utterly pointless M2 and Im sure would increase numbers on the M3 north of Dunshaughlin by offering a different route into Dublin.

Chris_5339762 · 06-06-2010 3:34pm

The M2 exists because of reclassification, no other reason. Slane should be given an S2 bypass and and new routes sent off the M1.

M3 Clonee-Kells Motorway construction updates

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