2+1 adds up to a different
road
By - Unknown.
TRANSPORT planners in Co. Meath have unveiled proposals
for a rail link from Dublin to Navan, and a "2 + 1" road,
instead of the controversial M3 motorway.
The plan would also see the creation of a Meath World
Heritage Park in the Tara Skryne Valley and lead to
savings of €300m for the taxpayer, as well as
safeguarding archeological remains in the area.
Brian Guckian and Tadhg Crowley said yesterday their
plans would solve the transport issues for commuters "in
the long term" and protect the heritage of the area,
without having to reroute the M3.
They also believe that up to €300m could be saved,
which could be used to buy-out the contract to toll the
road, saving commuters hundreds of euro every year.
The most radical element of the proposal is for a 2+1
road to be built, instead of a motorway, near the Hill of
Tara.
These are roads, pioneered in Sweden, where motorists
have two lanes of traffic going in one direction, and one
lane in the opposite direction, alternating every two
kilometres.
This means that drivers are afforded the opportunity to
overtake in safely every 2km.
The introduction of the 2+1 roads in Sweden significantly
decreased road deaths and, although the National Roads
Authority has built a number of these roads here, it
recently announced it was abandoning them in favour of
dual carriageways as these could be built at a slightly
increased cost.
The Meath Master (Model archeological and Sustainable
Economic Region) Plan calls for the M3 to be built as a
motorway to Roestown, north of Dunshaughlin, which would
change to a 2+1 on the existing N3, and bypass Navan and
on to Kells.
No re-routing of the M3 would be required, and traffic
volumes would be cut by at least one-third, while a rail
link would be re-opened to Navan and Kells.
Heavy goods vehicles would be banned from the area and
there would be subsidised rail use for commuters.
Each train could lead to 500 cars a day being removed
from the busy road network, and the cost of building the
2+1 road and rail network to Navan and Kells would be
€1.2bn.
The Heritage Park would reconstruct archeological sites
and include heritage trails and interpretative centres,
and there would be five main settlements of Navan, Kells,
Trim, Dunshaughlin and Slane.
Heritage stations would be built using model green
building practices, and connect networks of heritage
trails and provide interpretation centres, bike rental
facilities, accommodation and restaurants.
Only small eco-friendly developments would be allowed in
the area. The promoters of the plan said yesterday it
would be a model of sustainable economic development,
which would help develop heritage and tourist activity.
They hope to gain support from all political parties.
© The Irish Independent, 30th. August 2007.
Related Articles:
M3 alternative unveiled as new court bid begins.
Meath "MASTER" Plan - full
details.
Transport plan to be launched.
