M3 Clonee-Kells route selection and archaelogical info

I noticed today the latest abuse of the english language in the Irish Times, with the area through which the M3 will pass being referred to as the "Tara archaeological complex". Whilst accurate in a Kevin Myers sense, the use of the word "complex" confers upon the invisible relics a super-important, undeserved status.

Let's face it. Tara is not a beloved landscape, nor is an important landscape in the context of what can be seen in the rest of Ireland. Our country is beautiful but must we preserve every square inch of it, every blade of grass upon which our ancestors once trod?

The Rough Guide to Ireland damns the location with faint praise, saying the Tara hill looks like a well-kept golfcourse. They also remind us that this is the location to which "all the highways of Ireland once led". Further, tourists are advised to access Tara from the existing N3, which is very close by the hill.

Metrobest wrote:

Some people on this forum cannot grasp that the M3 is a piece of national infrastructure. As much as for Meath, the M3 will benefit all the Northern counties. It's 2005. You cannot expect people to risk their lives travling on antiquated, substandard roads.

Risk there lives on the N3? Rubbish. It is a wide well aligned road and well capable of taking the current traffic. Busy at peak hours.

I see many of the people here, like sheep, are echoing a Frank McDonald article in which he said the M3 should be shelved in favour of a 2+1 and a link to the M1. That would be madness, utter madness. There's no point building a motorway if it's going the wrong way. And the 2+1 example of Sweden is dubious. Northern Sweden is more sparsely populated than Ireland. In the South of Sweden you'll find a spaghetti bowl of motorways snaking through the countryside. We could learn a lot from the Swedes.

The only one that is blinkered is you! Read your post. Why would the alternatives be going the wrong way?? All roads must lead to Dublin? A dual carriage way accross from say Navan to the M2 and M1 would achieve exactly the same results and tap into two under utilised roads. This would ease pressure on the existing N3 south of Navan while more than serving Navan residents and those north of it. It also opens up a corridor from east-west accross the county.

The 2+1 idea is not necessary at all and I wouldn't advocate it either. All we need is overtaking lanes every 10km like in Australia. The N3 is in need of upgrading but a m-way is overkill and contributes little or nothing to our national infrastructure.

"Psychic" BrianD's prediction that the M3 will spawn development is also flawed. Bad planning, county Laois-style, spawns bad development. It's not the road - it's the mindset that controls it. Incidentally, I cannnot see there ever being industrial development in the vicinity of Tara. Too much fuss has been made by the protesters. No politican, no matter how corrupt, would want to attract these sort of loopy protests.

Well, well well. What prompted the recent decision of the Laois councillors. The extension of the M7 into Laois was seized upon as justification for these rezonings. Now granted this is a different case as the N7/M7 is an intercity route and like the M1 should be an m-way. But put the road in and pro-development councillors and land owners will use it as an excuse. It is the same scenario in Meath but unlike the M&, the M3 is surplus to requirements. I agree it is the mindset that leads to the bad planning but it it is the same mindset that is giving us the M3 and is lobbying for it. Don't forget these pro-M3 groups are as "unelected" as the M3 protestors. They were happy to proceed with the M3 despite the fact that 70% of questionnaires returned during the public consultation opposed it.

FACT: The M3 will spawn development and most of it will be substandard and unsustainable in the long run.

The irony of the situation is that in the time wasted to cobble together the M3 PPP project we could be already be some way through an upgrade programme for the N3 that allievate some of the botlenecks and shortcomings of the existing road.

I also note that the southern toll booths will be located at the Blackbull/Piercetown so it nicely catch all including those going to the proposed park and ride rail facility in Dunboyne.

thejollyrodger wrote:

anyone watching Questions and answers about the M3. Hot topic alright. Very heated on both sides. What I want to know is, why is the motorway being built with NO provision for the railway. I think thats pretty cynical. I think they should still go ahead with the motorway, and eventually extend it all the way to the border.

When you say no provision do you mean that the railway is only being talked about with no definite plan or that there is no bridges over the m3 to accomodate a future route?

Railway has always been a separate issue but was recently thrown into the debate as a sop to the opposition. In reality, there is no strategic plan - that's why the M3 is being built and the railway is only proposed. There is no need for a M3 route as it serves no real need what so ever otherthan give those on the route a motorway instead of a 2 wayroad. The plan is poor its almost arbitary they way these plans go ahead.

I wonder was it true, what a guy in the Questions and Answers audience was saying about the M3 route slicing through the rail-line. If that's the case then, please, build a bridge and avoid future mayhem.

I have less sympathy for those who moan about tolls. Anyone unhappy with the toll can use the existing N3. My guess is most people will pay to avail of the quality road. Pay up, or shut up, is my feeling.

Nothing - and nobody - should now stand in the way of Meath people getting the road they deserve. It's quite clear the vast majority of people are delighted with the chosen route. Over 90 percent has given it the nod. Notice how the shrillest voices in the "Save" Tara group, principally Mr Safira [plus Mr McGrath- who has a strange opinion on the Third Reich] speak with Dublin 4 accents. Oh yeah, and I forgot about Stuart Townsend, who lives in .. Hollywood.