New M3 motorway gets green light

An Bord Pleanala has given the green light for a new 47 kilometre motorway linking Clonee to north west of Kells in Co. Meath, but controversially the new route will have two tolls.

The new M3, which will bypass Dunshaughlin, Navan and Kells, will greatly reduce the through traffic in these towns.

The project, which was given the go ahead, despite concerns over its impact on the historic Hill of Tara will have two tolls. One toll plaza will be located between Clonee and Navan. The second toll booth will be located between Navan and Kells.

The National Roads Authority has estimated that only 20 per cent of traffic using the motorway would travel its entire length. The tolls will be set at E1.20 each.

An Bord Pleanala ruled the E680 million motorway was necessary "to provide adequately for the existing and projected traffic growth in the region.

But the Meath Roads Action Group has branded An Bord Pleanala's decision to allow the new M3 motorway to pass close to the historic Hill of Tara as "absolutely astonishing".

A spokesman for the group said it wasn't against the new road - just the proposed route. "A road was needed but we don't want it going through Tara, especially when there was another option, which would have allowed the road to be built while at the same time avoiding Tara," the spokesman stated.

The proposed route for the M3 will also pass within one kilometre of the Hill of Skryne, which is another important archaeological site.