New M3/N3 - tolls...?!

KAZ0077

Hi,
I travel a fair bit for work from Navan and most days will end up going through the westlink tollbridge...so am just wondering if I can still use the current route to Dublin when the new M3 and its toll bridge opens up and running....avoiding this M3 toll? It will mean new job time if I have to pay for 4 tolls per day to get to work....no way I could afford that.

Any info would be great, cheers,

bjc_dublin

N3 will still be free....

KAZ0077

Grand, will be sticking to the "old" or current route so. Good news for a change!!

ibarelycare

I think a lot of commuters are going to stick to the "old" N3 because of the extortionate tolls. I'll be using it anyway because only coming from Dunshaughlin, but I really don't think my commute will be shortened by a significant amount when the motorway opens!

Mr.Applepie

How much is the toll going to be?

chewed

Mr.Applepie wrote: »

How much is the toll going to be?

I've heard it's around 2.75 for each toll. So if you lived in Kells, commuting to Dublin it would be €11 per day or approx €2800 per year.

What a bargain!

Archeron

I've heard that Meath will then be the most heavily tolled county in Ireland.

Thank you oh government overlords for taking our money in such creative and sneaky ways.
I see they are building a toll booth at the Trim Junction. I wonder if they will put booths on the on and off ramps the way they did on the M4?

blueovalmk2

Archeron wrote: »

I've heard that Meath will then be the most heavily tolled county in Ireland.

Thank you oh government overlords for taking our money in such creative and sneaky ways.
I see they are building a toll booth at the Trim Junction. I wonder if they will put booths on the on and off ramps the way they did on the M4?

yes they are putting tolls on the on off ramps,cant see tis road been used it will be like the M4 with 90% of the people taking the kilcock slip road an taking the old road home!!

bitemybanger

I for one will completely boycot the new road as i refuse to pay a road toll, us irish are too soft, why do we pay car tax?? and travell to work to pay tax on almost half of our earnings and taxed on petrol? where does it end?

Archeron

As above, I will not use this new road. I use the M50 frequently as well, and the tolls as is are killing me.

Bah humbug.

Bog Butter

chewed wrote: »

I've heard it's around 2.75 for each toll. So if you lived in Kells, commuting to Dublin it would be €11 per day or approx €2800 per year.

What a bargain!

Maybe i'm mistaken but I heard it's going to be €1.30.

PauloMN

There's total confusion around the toll charges. I read this recently:
http://www.meathchronicle.ie/news/navan/articles/2009/08/12/390295-furure-over-motorway-tolls-bailout-for-eurolink-/

I don't think we'll know until the road is open tbh.

Stealdo

PauloMN wrote: »

There's total confusion around the toll charges. I read this recently:
http://www.meathchronicle.ie/news/navan/articles/2009/08/12/390295-furure-over-motorway-tolls-bailout-for-eurolink-/

I don't think we'll know until the road is open tbh.

The exact same stories as this did the rounds in Drogheda years ago when the M1 was opening about 2 tolls, north and south of the town. It turned out not to be the case, just that if you get on at Drogheda town you have to pay whether you go north or south, otherwise passing by you only pay once.

On the minimum payments, it's pretty standard for any company entering into a outsourced service agreement like that to have a 'minimum service level' agreement so that they can cover their own minimum running costs and make a profit.

manutd

Have a look here http://www.independent.ie/national-news/return-trip-from-kells-to-dublin-will-cost-83641120-1855555.html. I will be also using the N3, i've from Cavan but traval to Dublin about 6 or 7 times a month to Dublin as part off my work.

AnCatDubh

blueovalmk2 wrote: »

cant see tis road been used it will be like the M4 with 90% of the people taking the kilcock slip road an taking the old road home!!

I'm not particularly doubting your figure but I travel the N4/M4 each day and i'd put it maybe 50/50 or some days 60/40 or 40/60 depending on the day. There may be statistics that contradict what I say but that's a guesstimate from experience of commuter times.

I'd guess when the new M3 opens - tolls and all, that old N3 will be a dream to drive by comparison to where it's at presently. That's why the N4 remains popular - while it is a little slower, you can now move along on it which you couldn't do as it previously was. So those that are up to paying the toll (M3 drivers) will be happy bunnies as will those N3 drivers who have ethical, moral, financial, or cranky objection in not paying the toll. Sounds like winners all around.

LarWright

bjc_dublin wrote: »

N3 will still be free....

Yeah, but I bet the lovely people that plan the road network and speed limits in this country, will lower the limit on the N3 to 60kmh as they did on the old N2 Ashbourne Road, when the new bypass opens!

bitemybanger wrote: »

...us irish are too soft, why do we pay car tax?? and travell to work to pay tax on almost half of our earnings and taxed on petrol? where does it end?

I think the current government have proved it will never end.

When they can't slap a tax on it, sure feck it, they'll slap a "levy" on instead.

Outrageous. You wouldn't mind if we had decent alternatives to the roads, but public transport here is crap too, and especially for those of us living in this neck of the woods.

endasmail

i avoid the n3 at all costs unless i have to
driving from dunshaughlin ,i cut over to ratoath and up the n2 in to dublin
to hell with them tolls

Dubh Geannain

Stealdo wrote: »

On the minimum payments, it's pretty standard for any company entering into a outsourced service agreement like that to have a 'minimum service level' agreement so that they can cover their own minimum running costs and make a profit.

The Government say they do this to increase competition at the tendering stage. The fact of the matter is:

If (and this is a small if) people decide not to be ripped off and boycott the new motorway, the Government is in an agreement with the operators to cover any shortfall in traffic numbers.

For example, say the target if 10,000 vehicles per day. If only 8,000 use it the Government have to cough up whatever the cost is for the missing 2,000 users. I read this in the Meath Echo a couple of months ago and am open to correction on this.

CUCINA

Yes, there is an agreement that the Govt (i.e., you and me!) will pay the toll operators for any shortfall of agreed minimum income from the tolls.
From what I can see, I would say that people using the toll, coming from Kells or Navan, will go through the first toll but will then go out of their way to avoid paying the second toll at Fairyhouse. This will put a lot of extra pressure on the Fairyhouse roundabout so that those coming from the N3 will have to yield to a lot of extra traffic coming from Trim, resulting in long delays for those coming from Dunshaughlin. Time will tell...

netwhizkid

AnCatDubh wrote: »

I'm not particularly doubting your figure but I travel the N4/M4 each day and i'd put it maybe 50/50 or some days 60/40 or 40/60 depending on the day. There may be statistics that contradict what I say but that's a guesstimate from experience of commuter times.

I'd guess when the new M3 opens - tolls and all, that old N3 will be a dream to drive by comparison to where it's at presently. That's why the N4 remains popular - while it is a little slower, you can now move along on it which you couldn't do as it previously was. So those that are up to paying the toll (M3 drivers) will be happy bunnies as will those N3 drivers who have ethical, moral, financial, or cranky objection in not paying the toll. Sounds like winners all around.

Except the Old "N" routes will be reclassified as "R" roads with a 80km/h speed limit applied and with an almost permanent Garda presence shooting fish in a barrel for doing the breakneck speed of 80km/h+. My advice get a European driving licence to dodge the penalty points and a NI registered car to dodge the toll at the M50, no penalty points, no ripoff Irish car tax and no need to pay the tolls on the M50.:D

CUCINA

netwhizkid wrote: »

Except the Old "N" routes will be reclassified as "R" roads with a 80km/h speed limit applied and with an almost permanent Garda presence shooting fish in a barrel for doing the breakneck speed of 80km/h+. My advice get a European driving licence to dodge the penalty points and a NI registered car to dodge the toll at the M50, no penalty points, no ripoff Irish car tax and no need to pay the tolls on the M50.:D

The roadsigns for Dunshaughlin located at the Fairyhouse roundabout already indicate the road as being an "R" road (R157, I think) and the "N3" signs that were previously dotted along the route have long sinse been removed. This ia all part of the preparations for the down-grading of the old N3.

cournioni

Thankfully I'll be joining the M3 in Navan so I will only have to worry about one toll. If I don't want to use it, I can just use the N2. Having two tolls on the same strech of road is an absolute disgrace.

Bog Butter

netwhizkid wrote: »

Except the Old "N" routes will be reclassified as "R" roads with a 80km/h speed limit applied and with an almost permanent Garda presence shooting fish in a barrel for doing the breakneck speed of 80km/h+. My advice get a European driving licence to dodge the penalty points and a NI registered car to dodge the toll at the M50, no penalty points, no ripoff Irish car tax and no need to pay the tolls on the M50.:D

is it definite that the N3 will be downgraded to a Regional route?

Stroke Politics

malman wrote: »

is it definite that the N3 will be downgraded to a Regional route?

All of the new inter-urban routes built beside existing roads are national routes, with the subsequent downgrading of the old road to "R" status. Nearly all of these R routes have a maximum speed limit of 80kmph.

Micksheenb

malman wrote: »

is it definite that the N3 will be downgraded to a Regional route?

They already have the signs up as you leave dunsaughlin for navan, R1337 i think..

bitemybanger

Stroke Politics wrote: »

All of the new inter-urban routes built beside existing roads are national routes, with the subsequent downgrading of the old road to "R" status. Nearly all of these R routes have a maximum speed limit of 80kmph.

Its to encourage and also rape people into using the new M3 and paying the stupid tolls, its win win for the govt cause who will want to sit at 80kph on the old N3 so they will heavily police it with thier banana guns.

Access

Any idea when in 2010 this is to open anyone? and will they open it all at once or in stages?

PauloMN

Access wrote: »

Any idea when in 2010 this is to open anyone? and will they open it all at once or in stages?

Impossible to find up-to-date information online at least. Last I heard it was "ahead of schedule" but I've no idea how far ahead they are.

The last "newsletter" on the official M3 website was July '09:
http://www.eurolink-m3.ie/

July 2010 is the proposed opening date - I would imagine that is for the complete road. Whether they'll open it in stages or not is a good question.

_Kaiser_

Report on the news last night said parts of it may open early depending on the weather. July 2010 was also mentioned. Apparently it's now about 90% done.

Tolls quoted at €1.40 each - one at Pace and one somewhere around Kells?

Of course these are just the opening prices - no doubt they'll shoot up soon enough! The bigger question is why this road isn't using electronic tolling like the M50 from the start? Oh silly me.. I forgot for a minute that doing it this way will allow them to "ease congestion" a few years down the line by removing the toll booths - at great cost to us and brownie points for the government of course!

I personally couldn't see myself using it much at those prices and considering that most drivers on the current N3 can't manage to keep a decent speed, I'd imagine it'll be chaos when they're given a motorway to play on!

diamondtooth

I'm not going to use the new M3 either. Paying for tolls is such a waste of money. And it won't even be barrier free like the M50 :rolleyes:
I'd prefer to leave for my journey 10-15 minutes earlier and not have to pay the tolls. As a previous poster said we are taxed enough already.
And it is scandalous if they downgrade the N3!

sofireland

€1.40 isn't that bad was expecting it to be higher

Dubh Geannain

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

Tolls quoted at €1.40 each - one at Pace and one somewhere around Kells?

(

Where did you read that?

Barname

bitemybanger wrote: »

I for one will completely boycot the new road as i refuse to pay a road toll, us irish are too soft, why do we pay car tax?? and travell to work to pay tax on almost half of our earnings and taxed on petrol? where does it end?

regardless you may well be paying for the M3, allow me to explain...

the 'genius' civil servants that put the PPP contracts together for the M3 agreed that the Builder/Operator would be entitled to tax payers cash if certain user numbers are not achieved.

This contract was signed at the height of the credit bubble, one has to wonder why an all gain and no pain contract was so readily agreed to...

so, basically if enough people dont use the new M3 then your tax euros will be handed over to the operator to compensate them for low user numbers....

Revolution now?

Stroke Politics

Barname wrote: »

Revolution now?

We'll wait until Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey has returned from his holidays in the sun, first....

Macca3000

http://jobbank.fas.ie/servlet/Watis?SESS=12550_14&SERVICE=CRITERIUMBROWSE&TEMPLATE=WWW_JS_VAC_CRITERIUM_BROWSE.HTM&ROW=111&BACK=TEMPLATE%3DWWW_JS_VAC_CRITERIUM_OVERVIEW.HTM

Advertising for tolll booth operators now. Not bad pay for sitting in a box all day. I imagine the boredom would get to you eventually. And the abuse probably.

CUCINA

According to the Meath Chronicle, the motorway is set to open 4th June.

Looking forward to the M3 charity cycle event beforehand, on 16th May.
I've cycled many times on various parts of the M3 during its construction over the last couple of years, so this will probably be the last opportunity to do so.

mmprine

Just getting started on the boards. Traveling from US to County
Louth/Meath area in August. What are the tolls for the M1?

Dubh Geannain

mmprine wrote: »

Just getting started on the boards. Traveling from US to County
Louth/Meath area in August. What are the tolls for the M1?

€1.90 I think... for a car

mmprine

Thank you for the toll information.

adelcrowsmel

The M3 toll is going to be €1.90 - the price is now up on the Southern Toll Plaza - you can see it driving by, so more than was expected. I presume then that the toll between Kells and Navan will be the same - so for anyone driving from Kells to Dublin it would cost €7.60 daily - thats just crazy!!!:eek: I also see on the Odrnance Survey new Road Atlas that the N3 has been downgraded to a regional road from Pace as far as Kells anyway - its down as the R147 on the maps so thats going to be a 80kmph speed limit on the old road if you refuse to use/pay the tolls:mad::mad:

Dubh Geannain

adelcrowsmel wrote: »

The M3 toll is going to be €1.90 - the price is now up on the Southern Toll Plaza - you can see it driving by, so more than was expected. I presume then that the toll between Kells and Navan will be the same - so for anyone driving from Kells to Dublin it would cost €7.60 daily - thats just crazy!!!:eek: I also see on the Odrnance Survey new Road Atlas that the N3 has been downgraded to a regional road from Pace as far as Kells anyway - its down as the R147 on the maps so thats going to be a 80kmph speed limit on the old road if you refuse to use/pay the tolls:mad::mad:

:mad: I WILL NOT be using it so. End of. I hope the Gubberment enjoy making up the shortfall to the Toll operators cos i haven't talked to a single person yet that doesn't think it's an absolute scandal.

You can drive Dublin to Limerick, 123 miles, toll free.
Dublin to Virginia, 50 miles, 2 tolls.

The signs on the new roundabouts on the old N3 where they weren't painted out already showed the new regional road designation.

PauloMN

Dubh Geannain wrote: »

:mad: I WILL NOT be using it so. End of. I hope the Gubberment enjoy making up the shortfall to the Toll operators cos i haven't talked to a single person yet that doesn't think it's an absolute scandal.

You can drive Dublin to Limerick, 123 miles, toll free.
Dublin to Virginia, 50 miles, 2 tolls.

I agree - two tolls on a relatively short stretch is bad form. For that stretch, there should only be one toll somewhere around Navan.

Imagine living just north of Kells and working in Park West for example. 6 tolls to pay every single day.

I think the new M3 might end up being a big white elephant tbh.

Macca3000

adelcrowsmel wrote: »

The M3 toll is going to be €1.90 - the price is now up on the Southern Toll Plaza - you can see it driving by, so more than was expected. I presume then that the toll between Kells and Navan will be the same - so for anyone driving from Kells to Dublin it would cost €7.60 daily - thats just crazy!!!:eek: I also see on the Odrnance Survey new Road Atlas that the N3 has been downgraded to a regional road from Pace as far as Kells anyway - its down as the R147 on the maps so thats going to be a 80kmph speed limit on the old road if you refuse to use/pay the tolls:mad::mad:

I noticed this this morning. Nearly drove across the old N3 staring at it. Where did the €1.40 come from? I thought that was officially quoted in newspaers. That's just added €2 a day to someone living north of Kells. Like myself. I'm hoping to be in Blanch IT next September and a big reason for choosing it as a first preference was the M3 getting me there in about 30minutes. I doubt I'll be using it both ways now, if at all. Very bad form I think.

Considering all the bad press around this road and given the current situation with less people working, commuting and of course lees money in peoples pockets, you would imagine they would do everything possible to encourage drivers to use the motorway.:mad:

AnCatDubh

Meh..., it will probably turn out like the M4/N4 - lots will use and pay the toll, and those that won't will use the old road. Apart from the arguments of paying a toll or not paying a toll, it is what it is.

How and ever, if you view the net effect of the M4/N4 experience, then with the M3/N3 everyone should be loosely happy (I did say loosely ) - those that pay the toll get what they pay for - a premier roadway moving faster getting you to the blanchardstown tailback in next to gig time where you will sit twiddling your toodles at least until they finish the Blanchardstown/M50 works.

For those that use the old N3 and pay no toll, they will get the benefit of a much faster commute albeit that it will remain a busy road - the reason for this being the significant portion of the traffic will have moved into the premier paid option.

The above would be the experience on the M4/N4.

Dubh Geannain

AnCatDubh wrote: »

Meh..., it will probably turn out like the M4/N4

I doubt/hope it doesn't. Like I said above I haven't talked to anyone who said they'd use it. A few say they'll use it if they can avoid one of the tolls. Otherwise, no.

The M4 west of the toll services Westmeath, Longford, Roscommon, Leitrim,Mayo, Sligo.
358,000 people - using the 2006 census

The M3 west of the 2nd toll services Cavan and Donegal. 211,000 people.
(Excluding Fermanagh as I'd assume Belfast as the main destination from there)

shannon82

adelcrowsmel wrote: »

The M3 toll is going to be €1.90 - the price is now up on the Southern Toll Plaza - you can see it driving by, so more than was expected. I presume then that the toll between Kells and Navan will be the same - so for anyone driving from Kells to Dublin it would cost €7.60 daily - thats just crazy!!!:eek: I also see on the Odrnance Survey new Road Atlas that the N3 has been downgraded to a regional road from Pace as far as Kells anyway - its down as the R147 on the maps so thats going to be a 80kmph speed limit on the old road if you refuse to use/pay the tolls:mad::mad:

Dont think your correct about the R147-thats the Headford/Oristown road. Seen the road number flashing on the diversion sign this morning when I was waiting for the bus to leave kells

brandodub

It says here that it'll be max €1.30 until end of 2010

http://nra.ie/Publications/DownloadableDocumentation/PublicPrivatePartnership/file,17145,en.pdf

Dubh Geannain

The NRA yesterday announced that the M3 motorway between Clonee and Kells would open on June 4, a week after the new Dublin to Cork scheme is officially unveiled.

But there will be two tolls of €1.30 each, one at Dunshauglin and the second near Kells at Grange. The NRA expects 64,000 vehicles a day to use the 60km road, of which 13,000 will pay both tolls. Total revenue is expected to be €13.2m.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/nra-to-reap-8364184m-each-year-from-toll-roads-2184757.html

adelcrowsmel

Well I'm glad to hear that my initial shock at seeing the €1.90 price up isn't going to happen! A few days latter they had the prices blotted/painted out on the signs - only for macca3000 here said they saw it aswell, I'd think I'd imagined it! Anyone know what happened there - just an error in the price put up?? It was announced on the local radio that the price is going to be €1.30 aswell and that its opening the first week in June.

shannon82 wrote: »

Dont think your correct about the R147-thats the Headford/Oristown road. Seen the road number flashing on the diversion sign this morning when I was waiting for the bus to leave kells

I double checked this again on the OSi mapping shannon82 and it is down as the R147 from Pace (the southern toll) through Dunshaughlin, Navan and Kells and almost as far as Lisduff (it ends where the road joins the N3 at the county border) - unless the mapping is wrong

charlieryan

Meath in the past has always been a loyal Fianna Fail county and subsequently very submissive to all new taxes and charges and this I am afraid is the results, other counties were given 'sweeteners' to gain loyalty and they faired way better than us fools in the royal county...

taffy1973

Think the price for a van is either 3.40 or 3.80, typical!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!