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{{Short description|Road in Ireland}}
:''In ], the ''']''' is the road from ] to ], passing ], ], ] and ].''
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}

{{Use Hiberno-English|date=November 2019}}
{| class="toccolours" align="right" style="float:right; clear:right; text-align: left; margin: 0 0 0.5em 1em;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3" width="250px"
{{Infobox road
|-
|country=IRL
! align="center" style="font-size: 115%" colspan="2" |]
|type = N
|-
|route = 3
! align="center" style="font-size: 115%" colspan="2" |Destinations (SE to NW)
|length_km = 127.39
|-
|destinations = (bypassed routes in ''italics'')
| align="center" style="font-size: 95%" colspan="2" |On route / ''bypassed''
* ''']'''
|-
| style="font-size: 95%" valign="top" |
* ''']'''
** ]
** '']''
** '']'' ** '']''
** '']''
* ''']''' * ''']'''
** '']'' ** '']''
** ] * ** '']''
** ] * ** ''Ross Cross''
** ] * ** '']''
** ] * ** '']''
** ] ** ]
| style="font-size: 95%" valign="top" |
* ''']''' * ''']'''
** ] ** ]
** ] ** ]
** ] ** ]
** '']'' ** ''] town''
** '']'' ** '']''
** ] ** '']''
* ''']'''<br />] ] in ] <br />] ] at ]
* ''']''' * ''']'''
** ]
** ] ** ]
}}
|-
| style="font-size: 90%" colspan="2" |
<nowiki>*</nowiki> To be bypassed 2009 by M3 Clonee&ndash;Kells.
|}


The '''N3 road''' is a ] in the ], running between ], ] and the border with ]. Roads in ] form part of an overall route connecting to ], and northwest to the border again where the N3 reappears to serve ] in ]. The Navan - Kells corridor currently suffers from very poor road infrastructure (the current N3 is narrow two lane country road) and has .<ref>The line from Navan to Drogheda, an indirect route to Dublin, remains in use for freight, and has been used by passengers as late as the late 1980s, when it was specially used to bring Meath people to Dublin to attend the All-Ireland Football Final in ].</ref> Rush hour congestion between Navan and Dublin city is very heavy (up to 22,000 vehicles per day on parts of the N3 in 2002). A motorway bypass upgrade (M3 motorway) is planned for part of the N3 route. The '''N3 road''' is a ] in the ], running between ], ] and ] with ]. The ] and ] roads in ] form part of an overall route connecting to ], and northwest to the border again where the N3 reappears to serve ] in ].


Rush hour congestion between ] and Dublin city was very heavy (up to 22,000 vehicles per day on single carriageway portions of the N3 in 2002), and problems occurred at most built-up areas between these points. A tolled motorway bypass replacement, the M3 motorway, was opened to traffic on 4 June 2010.
==Route==


The former section from its junction with the M50 to Dublin city centre, as well as the bypassed section from ] to the border with ], have been reclassified as the ].
The route is known as the Navan Road as it leaves Dublin, passing near the ]'s northeastern exit and bypassing ].


==Route==
It passes through a major junction with the ], consisting of a busy (and often ]) ] ] on the N3. It is planned to convert it into a 'free-flow' grade separated interchange, as part of a major project to widen the M50.
]]]
The route, known as the Navan Road as it leaves Dublin, starts at its junction with the ] (junction 6), bypassing ], ] and Clonee with a ] opened in November 1992. The dual carriageway changes into the M3 motorway near the ] border bypassing ] and ]. Near ] the route continues as the N3 dual carriageway to the border with County Cavan. It then passes through ], past Cavan and continues past Butlersbridge and ].


Having crossed the M50 the road bypasses ], ] and ] with ]. The dual carriageway reduces to a single carriageway shortly past the Meath border and it passes through the often heavily congested ] village, ] town (which is partially bypassed on an inner-relief road with traffic lights controlling junctions) and ] in ], before passing through ] and reaching ]. After Cavan town, the road continues past Butlersbridge and through ] (both in ]), the route then crosses the border with Northern Ireland, becoming the ] to ]. The ] road connects Enniskillen and the ] border, becoming the N3 across the border at ], and connecting to ]. From there, the ] goes North to ] and ], and south to ]. The route then crosses the border into Northern Ireland at the ] (also known as Aghalane Bridge), which spans the Woodford River (]: ''Sruth Gráinne''), crossing into ] where it becomes the ], continuing on to Enniskillen. The ] (known as the Lough Shore Road) connects Enniskillen and the County Donegal border, becoming the N3 across the border at ], and connecting to Ballyshannon. In Ballyshannon certain road signs have destinations A46 Enniskillen with N3 Dublin with the requisite single arrow pointing in the same direction.


==History==
==Planned M3 Motorway Upgrade==
During ] in Northern Ireland, ] crossing at Aghalane Bridge, which spanned the Woodford River just north of Belturbet, was closed. Aghalane Bridge crossed from County Cavan into County Fermanagh. The bridge was targeted by Loyalist paramilitaries and finally left impassable in 1973. The shortest route was along the N87 and A32 via ]. The crossing was reopened in 1999 when a ], named after US Senator ], was built beside the old Aghalane Bridge.<ref>{{cite web|title=A bridge to close the gap and open up a town|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/a-bridge-to-close-the-gap-and-open-up-a-town-1.151821|publisher=]|access-date=2 August 2019|archive-date=20 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920150231/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/a-bridge-to-close-the-gap-and-open-up-a-town-1.151821|url-status=live}}</ref>


==N3 upgrade==
Part of the present N3 route is due to be bypassed, by the construction of the separate '''M3 motorway''' (the bypassed section of the existing N3 will be reclassified as an "R" road, and the N3 national primary route will thereafter include the M3 - according to Ireland's ]).
The National Roads Authority in conjunction with Cavan and Donegal County Councils plan major improvements to the N3 route in ].
The proposed M3 will connect the end of the dual carriageway near Clonee with the N3 north of Kells. Thus it will bypass Dunboyne, Dunshaughlin, Navan, and Kells.


A 6.7 kilometre bypass of the town of Belturbet in County Cavan was partially opened to traffic on 2 August 2013, and the entire section including a bridge over the ] was opened in December 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=Part of N3 Belturbet bypass opens|url=http://www.northernsound.ie/news/part-of-n3-belturbet-bypass-opens/|publisher=Northern Sound.|access-date=9 August 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402104826/http://www.northernsound.ie/news/part-of-n3-belturbet-bypass-opens/|archive-date=2 April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=N3 Belturbet Bypass|url=http://www.nra.ie/RoadSchemeActivity/CavanCountyCouncil/N3BelturbetBypass/SchemeName,16540,en.html|publisher=National Roads Authority.|access-date=9 August 2013|archive-date=7 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130507172033/http://www.nra.ie/RoadSchemeActivity/CavanCountyCouncil/N3BelturbetBypass/SchemeName,16540,en.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=N3 Belturbet Bypass Complete with Opening of Bridge |url=http://www.nra.ie/press-releases/belturbet/ |publisher=] |access-date=5 March 2015 |archive-date=2 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402145918/http://www.nra.ie/press-releases/belturbet/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Controversy==={{UK motorway routebox|
| motorway= M3
| length-mi= 29
| length-km= 47
| direction= South East - North West
| start= ],]
| destinations= ] <br> ] <br> ] <br> ]
| end= ],]
| opening-date= ]
| completion-date= ] (Under Construction)
| junctions= None, ''M3 will be connected to the ] via 8 Km of N3 dual carriageway''}}


==M3 motorway==
]] the motorway plan is contested because the route passes near the ] and through the archaeologically rich ] or ]. The planned route corridor was approved by ] (planning appeals board) in August ]. Objectors, including more than 350 academics and the head of the ], say the motorway will irreparably damage the region's heritage. Those opposing the plans wish for an alternative route to be chosen instead. The (NRA) and others (such as some local residents and 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. Supporters of the present M3 plans point out that 71% of the vote in the 2005 Meath bye election went to parties supporting the construction of the M3, these parties included Fianna Fáil, the Progressive Democrats and Fine Gael. They also state that the new M3 motorway will be farther away from the historic ] than the existing N3 road. However, critics state 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.


{{Infobox road
The visual impact of the motorway on the Tara-Skryne valley is one of the main objections against the present route. The NRA insist that the route will be heavily planted and integrated into the existing landscape. Those in favour of the route also point out that the Minister for the Environment is on record as saying that he has agreed remedial measures with the NRA to modify the proposed lighting at the controversial Blundelstown interchange to lessen its visual impact on the environment.
|country=IRL
|type= M
|route=3
|length_km= 51
|terminus_a= ], ]
|destinations = ], ], ], ]
|terminus_b= ], ]
|map={{IRL motorway map|M3}}
|map_custom= yes
|map_notes={{clickable}}
|established= 2007
|history =Completed in 2010
|allocation=]
|junction= ] ]<br />] ]
}}
Part of the old N3 route has been bypassed by the construction of 51 kilometres of new motorway. This stretch of motorway, designated M3, was opened on 4 June 2010. The M3 begins near the end of the dual carriageway outside Clonee and terminates south west of Kells just before the N52. The works were carried out by a joint venture of ] and SIAC (a local contractor).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/state-paid-2m-in-2015-to-privately-run-tolled-motorway-1.2846095|title=State paid €2m in 2015 to privately run tolled motorway|date=28 October 2016|publisher=Irish Times|access-date=1 November 2018|archive-date=26 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170426233722/http://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/state-paid-2m-in-2015-to-privately-run-tolled-motorway-1.2846095|url-status=live}}</ref>


The construction scheme did not terminate at this point as a new realigned N3 ] continued from the end of the Motorway past Kells before terminating near the County Cavan border. The overall scheme also included the ] Kells northern bypass. Since completion, the M3 now bypasses Dunshaughlin, Navan, and Kells along with Cavan which was bypassed much earlier.
The objectors claim that the motorway will do little to ease the misery of commuters in County ] as the motorway will feed into the existing N3 dual carriageway which includes an at grade roundabout in ] near its junction the ], the busiest road in Ireland. This junction is only 3 kilometres north of the congested ] toll plaza and is west of the congested Navan Road/Cabra/Phibsboro areas. However, both the M50 and the junction with the N3 are going to be reconstructed; the M50 capacity is being increased by 50% and the junction is to be developed as partially 'freeflow'. The NRA stated in response to a query at the statutory oral hearing into the M3 toll scheme, held in Navan on ], ] that the N3/M50 junction would now not be fully freeflow as widely believed. Motorists travelling north on the M50 wishing to leave the motorway at the N3 interchange to travel west on the N3 (Cavan and Ballyshannon) or east on the N3 (Dublin) will have to pass through traffic light controlled junctions.


===Controversy===
The opponents of the M3 also point out that (in the worst case) a commuter travelling to work in Suburban ] from ] would have to pay 3 tolls in each direction (two on the M3 and one on the M50). There are currently 5 toll roads in Ireland. These toll roads are the M50 (which is tolled twice, at its port entrance and exit and at the Westlink toll plaza), M1, M4, M8 and the Eastlink bridge. Tolls are generally used on roads where a private consortium agree to construct and maintain a road in return for toll revenue from those using the road. Controversially when the M3 is built there will be 4 toll plazas in County Meath on the M3 (tolled twice), M1 and M4.
]
The motorway was contested because the route passes near the ] and through the archaeologically rich Tara-Skryne valley or ].<ref>Conor Newman (2015) ‘In the way of development: Tara, the M3 and the Celtic Tiger’, in Meade, R. and Dukelow, F. (eds.) ''Defining Events: Power, resistance and identity in twenty-first century Ireland'', Manchester: Manchester University Press, 32-50.</ref> The planned route corridor was approved by ] (Ireland's planning appeals board) in August 2003.<ref name="IrishTimes-2007-05-26">
{{cite news
| author = Eileen Battersby
| title = Is nothing sacred?
| work = ]
| date = 26 May 2007
}}
</ref><ref name="WashingtonPost-2005-01-22">{{cite news
| author = Glenn Frankel
| title = In Ireland, Commuters vs. Kings
| url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A27671-2005Jan21.html
| newspaper = ]
| page = A01
| date = 22 January 2005
| access-date = 2007-06-14
| archive-date = 13 December 2016
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161213113600/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A27671-2005Jan21.html
| url-status = live
}}</ref>


===Motorway reclassification===
The M3, as planned, will cut through the grounds of one of Ireland's most historic palladian stately homes, ], through parkland in the vicinity of the rapidly growing town of ] at ], and cut off a medieval graveyard which is still in use at ] from its hinterland. This has been criticised by environmentalists who claim that alternative routes were available that would have avoided these impacts on heritage or environmentally important sites. The National Roads Authority deny this and state that only one other route would have had less archaeological impact than the chosen route but it would have had far greater impact under other impact assessment headings. They also point out the motorway has gone through the full planning system and was subject to an 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.
On 30 September 2008, the Department of Transport announced the second round of proposed motorway reclassifications under the Roads Act 2007. A short section of the existing dual-carriageway N3 bypassing Clonee, from northwest of Mulhuddart to the start of the M3 toll motorway scheme, is affected by this. Following a public consultation process, on 10 July 2009 the ], ], made a ] reclassifying this section of the N3 as motorway effective from 28 August 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.transport.ie/upload/general/10978-SI_255_OF_2009-0.PDF |title=ROADS ACT 2007 (DECLARATION OF MOTORWAYS) ORDER 2009 |first=Noel |last=Dempsey |author-link=Noel Dempsey |date=2 July 2009 |access-date=2009-07-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615094938/http://www.transport.ie/upload/general/10978-SI_255_OF_2009-0.pdf |archive-date=2011-06-15 }}</ref> It was the first section of M3 to come into being.


===M3 Latest Developments=== ===Motorway project details===
* The most expensive single contract road project ever undertaken in Ireland coming in at approximately €650 million according to SIAC.
* It is tolled at two locations, one point north of Navan and another point between Dunshaughlin and Clonee for 45 years running from 2007. The Government have the option to buy out this contract at any time. The price level of tolls are controlled by the Board of the NRA and they can reduce, increase or remove the tolls as they see appropriate. Should they lower the tolls on the M3 the government would have to make up the difference of what is owed yearly to Eurolink M3 Ltd through tax revenue.
* An expected minimum traffic level, growing year-on-year, was agreed as part of the contract, with "Variable Operational Payments" made in lieu of toll revenue to Eurolink M3 if this figure was not reached. These payments were made every year from opening until 2019, with traffic below predicted levels; but it is now expected that no further payments will be required due to traffic growth <ref>{{cite web |url=https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/committee/dail/32/committee_of_public_accounts/submissions/2018/2018-03-22_opening-statement-michael-nolan-transport-infrastructure-ireland-tii_en.pdf |title=Statement to the Public Accounts Committee: Michael Nolan, Chief Executive, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) |date=22 March 2018 |publisher=] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504022236/https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/committee/dail/32/committee_of_public_accounts/submissions/2018/2018-03-22_opening-statement-michael-nolan-transport-infrastructure-ireland-tii_en.pdf |archive-date=4 May 2018}}</ref>
* It is the longest single road project ever to be constructed in Ireland including nearly 100 kilometres of new or upgraded road including 49&nbsp;km of new M3, 10&nbsp;km of new N3, 20&nbsp;km of new link roads and interchanges, and approximately 15 kilometres of local road improvements, footpaths, cycle lanes and new bridges.
* It was originally planned to open in 2006.
* An Bord Pleanála initially approved the project on 22 August 2003. Exactly 4 years later, on 22 August 2007, they directed that the excavation of the Lismullin monument did not require fresh planning approval.


== Junctions ==
On ] ] excavation licenses were approved by the ] ] permitting the archaeological digs required before Eurolink begin construction of the motorway, supervised by Meath ].
{{Kmposts}}
The route begins as a dual carriageway at junction 6 of the M50, becoming a motorway after junction 4. It then becomes a dual carriageway after the motorway which terminates at Kells.


{| class="plainrowheaders wikitable"
On ], ], leave was granted to ] in the ] to judicially review the decision of the Minister.
|-

!scope=col|County
On the ], ], the challenge by Mr. Salafia to the proposed route of the M3 motorway near the Hill of Tara monument was dismissed on all grounds by the High Court. (The Irish Times ] ].)
!scope=col|km
!scope=col|mi
!scope=col|Junction
!scope=col|Destinations
!scope=col|Notes
|-
|rowspan="7"|]
|-
|
|
|1
|{{jct|country=IRL|M|50}}&nbsp;– ], ], ], ]
|Continues as ] towards ].
|-
|
|
|bgcolor="ffdddd"|
|bgcolor="ffdddd"|], ]
|bgcolor="ffdddd"|]
Northbound entrance and southbound exit only.
|-
|
|
|bgcolor="ffdddd"|2
|bgcolor="ffdddd"|{{jct|country=IRL|R|843}}&nbsp;– Blanchardstown Village, Ballycoolin
|bgcolor="ffdddd"|Northbound exit and southbound entrance only.
|-
|
|
|3
|{{jct|country=IRL|R|121}}&nbsp;– ], ]
|Blanchardstown Village (southbound).
|-
|
|
|bgcolor="ffdddd"|
|bgcolor="ffdddd"|Ballycoolin, ], Mulhuddart
|bgcolor="ffdddd"|]
] junction. Southbound entrance and exit only.
|-
|
|
|bgcolor="dff9f9" rowspan="2"|4
|bgcolor="dff9f9" rowspan="2"|{{jct|country=IRL|R|156}}&nbsp;– ], ], ]
|bgcolor="dff9f9" rowspan="2"|Junction is split across county boundary.
Continues as M3 motorway.
|-
|rowspan="10"|]
|
|
|-
|
|
|5
|{{jct|country=IRL|R|157}}&nbsp;– Dunboyne, ] (])
|] (]), ]
|-
|
|
|bgcolor="dcdcfe" colspan="3" align="center"|] M3 Southern Toll
|-
|
|
|6
|{{jct|country=IRL|R|125}}&nbsp;‒ ], Trim
|] (R154)
|-
|
|
|7
|{{jct|country=IRL|R|147}}&nbsp;‒ ], ] (northbound)
Skryne, ] (southbound)
|
|-
|
|
|8
|{{jct|country=IRL|R|147}}&nbsp;‒ ] (South)
|
|-
|
|
|9
|{{jct|country=IRL|N|51}}&nbsp;‒ ], Navan (North)
|], ]
|-
|
|
|bgcolor="dcdcfe" colspan="3" align="center"|] M3 Northern Toll
|-
|
|
|10
|{{jct|country=IRL|R|147}}&nbsp;‒ ] (South)
|
|-
|
|
|
|{{jct|country=IRL|N|52}}&nbsp;‒ ], Delvin, ]
{{jct|country=IRL|R|147}}&nbsp;‒ Kells
|Motorway terminates at roundabout. Junction number not signposted.
Continues as N3 dual carriageway.
{{jctbtm|exit|keys=incomplete,toll,trans}}


==See also==
] announced on ], ] he is to appeal against that ruling to the Supreme Court and subsequently to the ] if necessary. In October 2006, after long negotiations with the authorities, Mr. Salafia announced that he was withdrawing his appeal to the Supreme Court.
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]


== References ==
It appears that construction of the M3 may now start in late spring 2007 with a forecast completion date of 2010, four years behind the original scheduled 2006 opening.
{{Reflist}}

On March 7 2007, the contracts for the construction of the M3 were signed.

On April 4 2007, An Taisce applied for an injunction in the High Court to halt the construction of the motorway on the basis that the National Roads Authority had failed to draw up a 5 year national roads plan as required by section 18 of the Roads Act 1993. The application was refused, one of the reasons given being undue delay in bringing proceedings.

As of April 2007, plant has been positioned on site and initial preliminary works have begun.

As of 2007 the NRA website http://www.nra.ie/News/DownloadableDocumentation/file,4664,en.pdf states that 11 km of road in the environs of Kells at the end of the motorway section is planned to be 2+1 roadway. This is not included in the schemes plans and therefore it remains to be seen if this correct. However the same webpage also states the motorway will be 49 km long, this varies with the An Bord Pleanala inspector's report which states the motorway will be 47 km in lenght.

==Footnotes==

<!--<nowiki>
See http://en.wikipedia.org/Wikipedia:Footnotes for an explanation of how
to generate footnotes using the<ref> and </ref> tags, and the template below
</nowiki>-->
{{FootnotesSmall|resize=92%}}

==References==
* (PDF 3.38 MB), published February 2002, , accessed ] ].


==External links== ==External links==
*
*
*
* *
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*
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* *
* *
* – ]

{{NPR IRL}}


] {{Roads in Ireland}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:N3 Road (Ireland)}}
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Latest revision as of 11:22, 16 October 2023

Road in Ireland

N3 road shield}} N3 road
Bóthar N3
Route information
Length127.39 km (79.16 mi)
Location
CountryIreland
Primary
destinations		(bypassed routes in italics)
Highway system

The N3 road is a national primary road in the Republic of Ireland, running between Dublin, Cavan and the border with County Fermanagh. The A509 and A46 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.

Rush hour congestion between Navan and Dublin city was very heavy (up to 22,000 vehicles per day on single carriageway portions of the N3 in 2002), and problems occurred at most built-up areas between these points. A tolled motorway bypass replacement, the M3 motorway, was opened to traffic on 4 June 2010.

The former section from its junction with the M50 to Dublin city centre, as well as the bypassed section from Clonee to the border with County Cavan, have been reclassified as the R147 road.

Route

The old N3, between Clonee and Dunshaughlin

The route, known as the Navan Road as it leaves Dublin, starts at its junction with the M50 motorway (junction 6), bypassing Blanchardstown, Mulhuddart and Clonee with a dual carriageway opened in November 1992. The dual carriageway changes into the M3 motorway near the Meath border bypassing Dunshaughlin and Navan. Near Kells the route continues as the N3 dual carriageway to the border with County Cavan. It then passes through Virginia, past Cavan and continues past Butlersbridge and Belturbet.

The route then crosses the border into Northern Ireland at the Senator George Mitchell Peace Bridge (also known as Aghalane Bridge), which spans the Woodford River (Irish: Sruth Gráinne), crossing into County Fermanagh where it becomes the A509, continuing on to Enniskillen. The A46 (known as the Lough Shore Road) connects Enniskillen and the County Donegal border, becoming the N3 across the border at Belleek, and connecting to Ballyshannon. In Ballyshannon certain road signs have destinations A46 Enniskillen with N3 Dublin with the requisite single arrow pointing in the same direction.

History

During The Troubles in Northern Ireland, the border crossing at Aghalane Bridge, which spanned the Woodford River just north of Belturbet, was closed. Aghalane Bridge crossed from County Cavan into County Fermanagh. The bridge was targeted by Loyalist paramilitaries and finally left impassable in 1973. The shortest route was along the N87 and A32 via Swanlinbar. The crossing was reopened in 1999 when a new bridge, named after US Senator George Mitchell, was built beside the old Aghalane Bridge.

N3 upgrade

The National Roads Authority in conjunction with Cavan and Donegal County Councils plan major improvements to the N3 route in Ulster.

A 6.7 kilometre bypass of the town of Belturbet in County Cavan was partially opened to traffic on 2 August 2013, and the entire section including a bridge over the River Erne was opened in December 2013.

M3 motorway

M3 motorway shield}} M3 motorway
Mótarbhealach M3
N15 roadN16 roadSligoN17 roadN26 roadN5 roadN4 roadN5 roadLongfordWestportN17 roadGalwayM6 motorwayN18 roadM18 motorwayLimerickM7 motorwayM20 motorwayN24 roadN21 roadTraleeN20 roadM8 motorwayN22 roadCorkLondonderry/DerryLondonderry/DerryN13 roadN14 roadN13 roadN15 roadArmaghBelfastBelfastN2 roadN3 roadN4 roadM1 motorwayM3 motorwayM4 motorwayDublinN7 roadM7 motorwayN11 roadM9 motorwayKilkennyM11 motorwayN10 roadN11 roadN24 roadM9 motorwayN30 roadN25 roadN25 roadWaterfordN25 road
Clickable image
Route information
Length51 km (32 mi)
Existed2007–present
HistoryCompleted in 2010
Component
highways
Major junctions
FromMulhuddart, County Dublin
Major intersections
ToKells, County Meath
Location
CountryIreland
Primary
destinations		Dunboyne, Dunshaughlin, Navan, Kells
Highway system

Part of the old N3 route has been bypassed by the construction of 51 kilometres of new motorway. This stretch of motorway, designated M3, was opened on 4 June 2010. The M3 begins near the end of the dual carriageway outside Clonee and terminates south west of Kells just before the N52. The works were carried out by a joint venture of Ferrovial and SIAC (a local contractor).

The construction scheme did not terminate at this point as a new realigned N3 2+2 non-motorway section continued from the end of the Motorway past Kells before terminating near the County Cavan border. The overall scheme also included the N52 Kells northern bypass. Since completion, the M3 now bypasses Dunshaughlin, Navan, and Kells along with Cavan which was bypassed much earlier.

Controversy

Protestors gathered at the Hill of Tara to protest against the construction of the new motorway.

The motorway was contested because the route passes near the Hill of Tara and through the archaeologically rich Tara-Skryne valley or Gabhra. The planned route corridor was approved by An Bord Pleanála (Ireland's planning appeals board) in August 2003.

Motorway reclassification

On 30 September 2008, the Department of Transport announced the second round of proposed motorway reclassifications under the Roads Act 2007. A short section of the existing dual-carriageway N3 bypassing Clonee, from northwest of Mulhuddart to the start of the M3 toll motorway scheme, is affected by this. Following a public consultation process, on 10 July 2009 the Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey, made a Statutory Instrument reclassifying this section of the N3 as motorway effective from 28 August 2009. It was the first section of M3 to come into being.

Motorway project details

  • The most expensive single contract road project ever undertaken in Ireland coming in at approximately €650 million according to SIAC.
  • It is tolled at two locations, one point north of Navan and another point between Dunshaughlin and Clonee for 45 years running from 2007. The Government have the option to buy out this contract at any time. The price level of tolls are controlled by the Board of the NRA and they can reduce, increase or remove the tolls as they see appropriate. Should they lower the tolls on the M3 the government would have to make up the difference of what is owed yearly to Eurolink M3 Ltd through tax revenue.
  • An expected minimum traffic level, growing year-on-year, was agreed as part of the contract, with "Variable Operational Payments" made in lieu of toll revenue to Eurolink M3 if this figure was not reached. These payments were made every year from opening until 2019, with traffic below predicted levels; but it is now expected that no further payments will be required due to traffic growth
  • It is the longest single road project ever to be constructed in Ireland including nearly 100 kilometres of new or upgraded road including 49 km of new M3, 10 km of new N3, 20 km of new link roads and interchanges, and approximately 15 kilometres of local road improvements, footpaths, cycle lanes and new bridges.
  • It was originally planned to open in 2006.
  • An Bord Pleanála initially approved the project on 22 August 2003. Exactly 4 years later, on 22 August 2007, they directed that the excavation of the Lismullin monument did not require fresh planning approval.

Junctions

This section is missing kilometre posts for junctions. Please help by adding them.

The route begins as a dual carriageway at junction 6 of the M50, becoming a motorway after junction 4. It then becomes a dual carriageway after the motorway which terminates at Kells.

County km mi Junction Destinations Notes
County Dublin
1 M50 – Dublin Airport, Dublin Port, Dún Laoghaire, Wexford Continues as R147 towards Dublin city centre.
Castleknock, Blanchardstown Village Connolly Hospital

Northbound entrance and southbound exit only.

2 R843 – Blanchardstown Village, Ballycoolin Northbound exit and southbound entrance only.
3 R121 – Blanchardstown Centre, Mulhuddart Blanchardstown Village (southbound).
Ballycoolin, Tyrellstown, Mulhuddart Hollystown

Left-in/left-out junction. Southbound entrance and exit only.

4 R156 – Clonee, Damastown, Dunboyne Junction is split across county boundary.

Continues as M3 motorway.

County Meath
5 R157 – Dunboyne, Ratoath (R155) Trim (R154), Park and Ride
M3 Southern Toll
6 R125 ‒ Dunshaughlin, Trim Kilcock (R154)
7 R147 ‒ Skryne, Johnstown, Navan (northbound)

Skryne, Kilmessan (southbound)

8 R147 ‒ Navan (South)
9 N51 ‒ Delvin, Navan (North) Athboy, Navan Hospital
M3 Northern Toll
10 R147 ‒ Kells (South)
N52 ‒ Mullingar, Delvin, Dundalk

R147 ‒ Kells

Motorway terminates at roundabout. Junction number not signposted.

Continues as N3 dual carriageway.

1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

References

  1. "A bridge to close the gap and open up a town". Irish Times. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  2. "Part of N3 Belturbet bypass opens". Northern Sound. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  3. "N3 Belturbet Bypass". National Roads Authority. Archived from the original on 7 May 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  4. "N3 Belturbet Bypass Complete with Opening of Bridge" (Press release). National Roads Authority. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  5. "State paid €2m in 2015 to privately run tolled motorway". Irish Times. 28 October 2016. Archived from the original on 26 April 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  6. Conor Newman (2015) ‘In the way of development: Tara, the M3 and the Celtic Tiger’, in Meade, R. and Dukelow, F. (eds.) Defining Events: Power, resistance and identity in twenty-first century Ireland, Manchester: Manchester University Press, 32-50.
  7. Eileen Battersby (26 May 2007). "Is nothing sacred?". The Irish Times.
  8. Glenn Frankel (22 January 2005). "In Ireland, Commuters vs. Kings". The Washington Post. p. A01. Archived from the original on 13 December 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2007.
  9. Dempsey, Noel (2 July 2009). "ROADS ACT 2007 (DECLARATION OF MOTORWAYS) ORDER 2009" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
  10. "Statement to the Public Accounts Committee: Michael Nolan, Chief Executive, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII)" (PDF). Public Accounts Committee. 22 March 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 May 2018.

External links

Roads in Ireland
Motorways
Primary roads
Secondary roads
Regional roads
See also
National Development Plan
Local roads
Toll roads
Transport Infrastructure Ireland
Trunk roads
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