The M3 Motorway from Dublin leading to Enniskillen was officially opened today, two months ahead of schedule, by Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey T.D. RPS has played a central role in delivering the 60km motorway, which is the largest road infrastructure project in Ireland to date.

Stretching the length of County Meath, from its border with Dublin at Clonee to the Meath/Cavan border, the new road covers 700 hectares of land and bypasses the towns of Navan, Kells and Dunshaughlin. The €1 billion scheme will take an hour off the journey from Dublin to Cavan at peak journey times. This road leads on to Enniskillen, crossing the border at the George Mitchell Bridge, opened in 1998 and also worked on by RPS at the time.

Pictured at the Official Opening of the M3 Motorway, from left: Conor Wilkinson & Peter Thorne of RPS, Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey T.D. and Thomas O'Sullivan, RPS.

Since starting route selection in 1999, RPS has worked with its JV partners, Meath County Council and the NRA on delivering this key piece of infrastructure. Prior to 2002 we were involved in the preliminary phases of the project leading to the granting of permission by An Bord Pleanála and we have since provided technical advice and assistance during the tender, contract award and construction phases of the project.

The overall M3 motorway project also involves a network of 49km of ancillary public roads and 34km of farm access roads, as well as 34 overbridges, 29 underbridges, two railway bridges and three major river crossings.

RPS was responsible for the preparation of the technical tender documents and monitoring the detailed design for the Clonee to Dunshaughlin section, and the Navan Bypass, which comprises approx. 40% of the total M3 motorway scheme.

As well as providing technical advice during construction, RPS was also responsible for the preparation, supervision and administration of various ancillary contracts; including ground investigation, site clearance, and archaeological investigation.

The M3 motorway has been one of the most controversial projects in Ireland in recent years, since the route between the Hill of Tara (Ireland’s ‘Stonhenge’) and Newgrange UNESCO site was chosen. RPS has assisted in successfully delivering the project in an archaeologically sensitive way that does not compromise the extensive ancient heritage that Meath has to offer.

Contact:
Susan Joyce, Transportation Director

E: susan.joyce@rpsgroup.com