A single motorway would be
sufficient
Madam, - In view of the current opposition to the
proposed M3 at the Hill of Tara I feel the idea of a
single motorway to relieve the pressure on the N2 and N3,
as suggested in 2000 by the Bellinter Residents
Association in 2000 and mentioned in Frank McDonald's
feature in the Weekend Review of November 27th, deserves
more consideration.
A single motorway as far north as Navan-Slane should be
sufficient to supply the traffic needs of both routes.
After all, the N2 and N3 are only five miles apart and
run roughly parallel to each other for a distance of
about 23 miles from the M50. A new road from Kells could
link to the new M2/3 motorway.
The overall land take would be much reduced if one road
could replace the proposed M2 and M3 motorways, the road
would be east of the hills of Tara and Skryne, and there
would be no disturbance to traffic on the N2 and N3
during construction.
The other main advantage is that we would avoid turning
even more of the countryside into roadway.
The obvious disadvantage, as indicated by the NRA, is
that the single motorway would cut through virgin
landscape (Ratoath residents might have something to say
about it as well!).
As indicated in the article the bypasses of Dunshaughlin,
Navan, Ashbourne and Slane should be constructed as soon
as possible to relieve congestion in these towns.
- Yours, etc.,
TIMOTHY MORGAN,
Arklow,
Co Wicklow.
© The Irish Times, 21st. December, 2004.
