An integrated road, rail and bus corridor should be built through Co Meath instead of the proposed M3 motorway, according to a new report.
Such a transportation corridor would cost over €800 million, one-third less than building the motorway and providing public transport afterwards, says transport researcher Brian Guckian.
His report, to be presented next week to a conference on sustainable transport, proposes upgrading the existing N3, bypassing Kells, Navan and Dunshaughlin, expanding coach services, restoring rail services and providing a comprehensive minibus network as the solution to the traffic problems of the area.
Moving some traffic on to rail and bus services would obviate the need for new road alignments, including the controversial stretch through the Tara-Skryne valley, says Mr Guckian.
"In this way, the proposal for a national transportation corridor is an active one, controlling and reducing traffic growth rather than passively accommodating it."
Mr Guckian says the M3, which is expected to get the go-ahead from Minister for Environment Dick Roche shortly, is "a really bad deal for everyone - Government, taxpayers and commuters" because of the costs involved.
As well as bypassing the main towns, Mr Guckian proposes upgrading the existing road to "two-plus-one" standard (two lanes against one, alternating with one lane against two).
His report has been seized on by campaigners who favour the building of a new road but are concerned about the delays legal action and archaeological work could have on building the M3.
"It's an archaeological lobster-pot," says Prionsias MacFhearghusa, who has set up a website, m3tolls.com, to campaign against existing proposals for the road.
"The road as proposed will go up to Tara, but it will never come out. Even if there is no legal action, they will have to excavate the masses of historic sites in the area."
Mr MacFhearghusa denies that, with the planning process completed, it is "too late in the day" to be objecting to the M3.
"This is only starting. Between litigation and archaeology, the road as proposed won't be finished until 2020."
He also claims the M3 would take only seven minutes off journey times, and do nothing to relieve congestion where the present N3 joins the M50 around Dublin at Blanchardstown.
Mr Roche is currently considering an 18-page letter from the director of the National Museum, Dr Pat Wallace, which expresses opposition to the chosen route for the M3 and, in particular, a proposed interchange at Blundelstown, a mile north of Tara.
Mr Roche has said there is no way he could revisit a decision by An Bord Pleanála in August 2003 to approve the present proposal.
