"The Navan to Dublin railway project looks to be dead in the water
after it was revealed that one of two key bridges along the M3
protecting the route is not being built.

Site visits by the Meath Post to both locations at Pace (Dunboyne) and
Cannistown (Navan) has revealed that whilst the bridge protecting the
railway at Dunboyne is being constructed, the bridge south of Navan is
not, and the M3 is now being built directly across the railway alignment.

News of this missing bridge and its impact on the Navan Dublin railway
project is likely to be met with anger by Meath's commuters.

However Iarnród Éireann claim that the NRA have factored in the
problem and will build embankments to allow the railway to go ahead.

During the planning process for the M3 in 2003, concerns were raised
by Iarnród Éireann that reopening of the Navan Dublin railway would be
made too costly if M3 planners were allowed cut the former railway
line in two by running the M3 through it without first building a bridge.

Local railway campaigners, using information from Iarnród Éireann,
succeeded in obtaining the insertion of two railway bridges in the M3
plans to protect efforts to reopen the railway.

Under order of An Bord Pleanála, Meath County Council drew up plans
for one bridge at Dunboyne to protect the former railway line, and
another at Cannistown just south of Navan.

As recently as 2006, Meath County Council planning office insisted
that both bridge plans remained on file and that the Navan Dublin
railway line was being protected.

An Bord Pleanála's ruling stated that a bridge to allow the railway
pass beneath the M3 similar to the Dunboyne bridge should be
constructed at Cannistown. The instruction was that unless Iarnród
Éireann indicated that they intended following a new rail route for at
this section then the bridge as designed should be inserted.

To run the line over the motorway would take an enormous effort and
massive cost, with a 26 foot embankment required to run for kilometres
on either side of the M3 to allow the railway pass above the motorway.

As late as last month, Iarnród Éireann indicated that this section of
the former line was being retained, but the evidence in this
photograph shows this has not happened.

Despite this, a spokeswoman told the Meath Post that the NRA are aware
of their responsibilities.

"The (the NRA) are going to make provision and embankments will be
built that will allow the railway to go ahead". "

Source:

Meath Post, 12th. July 2008 via SaveTara:
http://www.savetara.com/articles/2008/071208_dead.html