National Primary Route 3 Traffic Counts
Source: NRA Traffic Counts
1997
Traffic levels on the N3 are low on all but the sections close to Dublin. The M3, which opened in 2010, seems overspecced for such levels. Since the traffic counters are located on the old N3, a drop is noticeable in that year.
Show notes on counter locations
N3 Counters (Kells, Tara and Dunshauglin now decommissioned):
GMitchellBr N03-1c : N3 immediately south of Fermanagh/Cavan border
Cavan Bypass N03-4 : N3 Cavan Bypass between two Ballyhaise Junctions
Poles N03-6 : N3 5km south of Cavan
Kells N03-13 : N3 6km north of Navan
Tara N03-17 : N3 8km south of Navan
Dunshauglin N03-19 : N3 East of Dunshaughlin
M3 Counters (went live in 2010):
Kells South M3-9a : M3 South of N52 to Kells
Navan North M3-8a : M3 North of N51 interchange to Navan
Navan South M3-7a : M3 South of N51 interchange to Navan
Blundelstown North M3-6a : M3 North of Blundlestown interchange
Dunshaughlin North M3-5a : M3 North of Dunshaughlin interchange
Dunshaughlin South M3-4a : M3 Between Pace and Dunshaughlin
Dunboyne M3-3a : M3 between Clonee and Pace
The M3 opened in June 2010. It is currently posting a very low level of traffic for a motorway and has not succeeded in pulling a significant percentage of vehicles off the old road. This can be seen by comparing the above M3 figures to the old N3 Kells, Tara and Dunshauglin 2009/2010 figures at the top, which dropped following the road opening but only by around 20%. (Note, however, that the road was only open for the latter half of 2010). Additionally, it's notable how much the traffic level drops while passing between Dunboyne and Dunshaughlin. This huge fall from 30k to 13k cannot be accounted for purely by traffic exiting at the Pace interchange; clearly a high level of toll-dodging is taking place.
2010
2011
