Navan Town Council Area

Navan has been designated as a Primary Growth Centre in the Greater Dublin Area in the National Spatial Strategy.  Primary Development Centres need to aim at a population level of up to 40,000 people so as to support self-sustaining growth. Navan has been selected as a primary development centre because of its capacity in terms of land, water supply and drainage, to accommodate considerable levels of development. Navan was also chosen having regard to its location on the proposed M3 Motorway, a public transportation corridor, which is to be completed in 2010. A rail link is proposed but it is unlikely to transpire in the short term.

In the 1996 Census the population of Navan town and environs was 12,810 persons. During the following inter census period up to the 2002 Census, the population subsequently rose by 51.2% to 19,417 persons. The 2006 Census figure for the town and environs stands at 24,851 persons a further increase of 28%, with an ultimate population horizon in excess of 40,000. 

It is therefore vital that public transportation links in the form of bus priority measures are improved on the N3 between Navan and Dublin in the short term. Already, three bus lanes came into operation in 2007; northbound bus lane at Bracetown, northbound bus lane approach to Dunshaughlin and the southbound approach to Dunshaughlin. 

T-QBN-707 (1) Forfas Road

The Department of Transport has 4 applications from 4 different independent bus operators proposing to provide commuter services from Navan to Dublin and an all day bus service between Navan and Blanchardstown via Dunshaughlin, all operating via the Forfas Road. To date none of the operators have been able to obtain Garda approval for stops on the Forfas Road due road safety and traffic management reasons and the lack of adequate recessed bus stops.  Bus Éireann also operate a local service in Navan, which uses Forfas Road.   The QBN Project Office was requested to prepare proposals for the provision of six recessed bus stops on Forfas Road. 

This scheme involves the provision of five new recessed bus stops and the upgrade of one existing bus stop to a recessed bus stop.  There will be three bus stops in each direction, see bus stop locations on drawing provided below.  In order to improve pedestrian mobility and provide safe access to the bus stops, three pedestrian crossings on the approach roads to the roundabout at the Johnstown shopping centre will be provided.

Current Status

This scheme is currently at Construction Stage and work is expected to be complete by the end of September.

View the scheme drawing

• T-QBN-707(1)-DDD-101.pdf

T-QBN-707 (2) Navan Town Signalisation Scheme

The heavily trafficked Navan Inner Relief Road’s primary function is to remove traffic from the historic core of the town.  It currently has a strategic transportation role in that it forms part of the N3 National Primary Route.  It experiences significant traffic congestion in both morning and evening peaks.  As a result the existing bus services, both local and Dublin services, experience significant disruption due to congestion.  The QBN Project office in conjunction with Meath County Council and the Traffic Department of Dublin City Council has prepared a design for the provision of a linked traffic control system on the Navan Inner Relief Route. 

Bus Éireann has AVLS (automatic vehicle location system) installed on all their buses, as part of the scheme a pilot project will be implemented in Navan to incorporate a traffic light priority system for buses on the proposed upgraded signalised junctions.  

The scheme involves the upgrading of traffic signals and facilities for pedestrians and the mobility impaired at nine locations (see table below) in Navan Town.

Current Status

This scheme is approaching Construction Stage; a contractor has been appointed and is due to be on site in September of this year.  The work duration is expected to be two months.

View the scheme drawing

• T-QBN-707 (2) Navan Town Signalisation Scheme