The National Roads Authority (NRA) is in dispute with residents of a Co Meath town over the construction of a motorway, according to a newspaper report.

The NTA removed a cycle lane and hard shoulder from the old Dublin-Navan road as part of the M3 motorway construction in Dunshaughlin but did not replace them with walkways, the Irish Tines reports.

The move has left up to 10 families and 17 children with no option but to walk on the Tarmac at several roundabouts en-route to school each day from the Trim and Navan approach roads into the Meath village.

-- Advertisement --

According to the M3 Roundabouts Action Group, the actions of the NRA have left a fatal accident waiting to happen.

The problem has arisen due to the construction of the M3, which will bypass Dunshaughlin and is scheduled to open on June 4th.

Motorists entering the village on the M3 from the Navan/Trim approach roads will have to negotiate roundabouts on the edges of Dunshaughlin.

In a letter to the group, the senior engineer on the motorway, Dave Kelly, said because the roundabouts in question were sited in rural areas, there was no obligation on the NRA to construct walkways.

However, in response to a query by The Irish Times, NRA spokesperson Seán O’Neill indicated that this controversy would be addressed in the coming weeks.

"Constructing footpaths at the roundabouts in question has always been part of the completed M3 mainline motorway construction programme," he said.

"All the required footpaths will be built. Hopefully, they will be in place by the early opening date of Friday, June 4th, or very soon thereafter."

(NS/GK)