M3 alternative unveiled
- as new court bid begins
By - Alison Healy.
An alternative route to the M3 motorway in Meath was
unveiled yesterday, shortly after the Campaign to Save
Tara group announced that they had begun a fresh High
Court action to the proposed route.
The Campaign to Save Tara has served a plenary summons on
the Ministers for the Environment and Transport, the
Attorney General, the National Roads Authority and
others.
It is seeking a ruling that construction be halted on the
M3 motorway pending the outcome of a case before the
European Court of Justice relating to the Lismullin
monument.
The action has been taken in the name of environmental
campaigner Michael Canny. In the plenary summons, he
claims that an environmental impact assessment should
have been prepared for all seven routes considered,
before the preferred route was chosen.
He says an environmental impact assessment should now be
carried out on the whole route and he claims that the
original archaeological works were flawed. The National
Roads Authority said it was ready to defend any action
against the development and was confident that its legal
position was safe.
In a separate development, transport researcher Brian
Guckian and environmental campaigner Tadhg Crowley have
launched a plan for the Tara-Skryne Valley which they say
represents a "win-win solution" for all sides.
Their "Master" (Meath Archaeological Sustainable and
Economic Region plan involves using the proposed M3
motorway from Clonee to north of Dunshaughlin. The road
would then switch to a 2+1 design, which involves one
lane in each direction and a third lane to provide for
overtaking. The third lane alternates between each side
at 2km intervals and is separated from oncoming traffic
with a barrier.
This format would continue along the N3 but would then
veer west to bypass Navan and Kells.
The promoters said tolls would not be necessary as the
modifications to the motorway would save significantly on
the capital costs. They have called for the buying out of
the public private partnership contract.
Mr. Guckian claimed the Navan rail link was being stalled
because it would have a negative impact on tolls
collected.
He said this plan would clear the way for the rapid
introduction of the rail link. The plan also provides for
improved high capacity coach services.
He said the National Roads Authority had rejected the 2+1
design on the basis that people would try to overtake
just before the second lane ended. However, Mr. Guckian
said it had been proven that the design had reduced
serious crashes by 50 per cent in Sweden.
The plan also involves the creation of a world heritage
park, including the settlements of Navan, Kells, Trim,
Slane and Dunshaughlin.
They estimate that this would attract at least 400,000
visitors a year, generating more than €75 million in
tourism revenue.
The plan calls for sustainable agriculture and tourism
measures and self sufficient business development. The
promoters costed the plan at €1.2 billion, including
the road and rail construction and buy-out of the toll
contract. They said this compared with a €1.5
billion estimate for the M3.
© The Irish Times, 30th. August 2007.
Related Articles:
Save Tara protesters launch "last resort" legal
challenge.
Save Tara launches new court challenge.
Fresh legal bid to save Hill of Tara.
2+1 adds up to a different road.
Meath "MASTER" Plan - full
details.
Fresh
Legal challenge to M3 announced - CtST Statement.
Save
Tara/M3 Legal Case - Statement - Michael Canney.
Transport plan to be launched.
