Several N3 road closures this weekend for motorway work

A series of major road closures are due to take place along the N3 Dublin-Cavan road during the next couple of weeks as major work continues on the M3 motorway. The outline of the new motorway through Meath has become more apparent over recent weeks, with various sections of connecting roads opening over the past couple of weeks, but now a number of significant night-time road closures of the N3 will take place during September to facilitate further works. The connecting section from the Trim road at Drumree to Dunshaughlin and the N3 was put into use before the weekend. The new section or roadway traverses Drumree from Crosskeys, and is routed behind Drumree GAA grounds, crossing the new motorway before reverting back to the Dunshaughlin-Dunsany road at Readsland and the roundabout area locally known 'Duke's Corner'. From there, it also crosses to the N3 at Cooksland, emerging opposite the newly-built water tower, ensuring that the local landscape in this area is permanently changed. Bellinter Cross has also been realigned to accommodate the controversial motorway, which is scheduled to be opened in July 2010. A number of night-time road closures and diversions are to take place over the coming weeks to allow for construction works on certain parts of the motorway. This weekend will see the N3 closed between Dunshaughlin and Navan this Friday and Saturday night, 4th and 5th September - from 10pm on Friday night to 6am on Saturday morning, and on Saturday from 6pm to 10am on Sunday morning. Traffic travelling from Navan will be diverted through Dunsany at Ross Cross onto the Trim Road, through Batterstown for the Black Bull junction, while traffic from Dublin will be diverted at the Black Bull for the same route. The closure is to allow for work on the Roestown underbridge near Dunshaughlin. On 14th, 15th and 16th September, there will be closures of the Kells-Navan section of the N3. The proposed closures will be overnight for three nights from 14th September from 9pm to 5am the following morning. Traffic from Navan will be diverted up Flower Hill towards the Proudstown/Kingscourt road, continuing to Kilberry, where it will turn left for Kells at Kilberry Cross. Traffic from Kells will be directed out the Slane road to Kilberry Cross. The closure is to allow for culvert work at Kilmainham, Kells. Meanwhile, the redesignation of parts of national roads as motorways announced by Transport Minister Noel Dempsey in July came into effect last week. This process includes parts of the N3 Dublin to Cavan, from Littlepace to Loughsallagh, which is open to traffic, for 2.1km and from Loughsallagh to Pace, still under construction, for 2.3km. Also redesignated are parts of the N2 Dublin to Derry, 13km from Kilshane to Ashbourne for 13km, and 6.8 km of the N4 Dublin to Sligo, from Kinnegad to McNead's Bridge. "The purpose of this move to redesignate 294km of national roads as motorways is to enhance and protect the national motorway network, the primary function of which is to allow people, goods and services to travel safely and efficiently throughout the country," Mr Dempsey said. "This move will create a high degree of uniformity of speed limits across major sections of the national road network and protect this major public investment from inappropriate development." The design speed of 120km/h will apply to all newly declared motorway sections unless special speed limits are in operation. In addition, the designation to motorway status will serve to protect the routes against inappropriate development, including multiple access points, which would have road safety implications and affect the efficiency and service life of the route. Certain categories of road-users are prohibited from using motorways, such as learner drivers, vehicles not exceeding 50cc in engine capacity, vehicles not capable of a speed of 50km/h, pedestrians and pedal cyclists.