The path was today cleared for construction of the controversial M3 motorway close to the historic Hill of Tara after a long running Supreme Court challenge was dropped.
Heritage campaigner Vincent Salafia agreed to withdraw the case on the condition he would not be pursued for an estimated €600,000 costs incurred in a preceding High Court appeal.
He had taken the action against the Environment Minister, Attorney General, Meath County Council and the National Roads Authority.
But after the High Court dismissed his original challenge earlier this year, Mr Salafia, of the Save Tara Skryne Valley campaign, vowed to take the defendants to the Supreme Court — the highest court in the state.
He insisted his withdrawal opened the way for fresh legal challenges to the motorway development by other parties, one of which he claimed was underway.
Furthermore he said he was petitioning the EU to take legal action directly against Ireland for breaches of EU law.
The National Roads Authority has claimed delays in building the new road are costing one million euro a week and have reached €70 million.
Fine Gael's Road Safety spokesman Shane McEntee said the dropping of the challenge was welcome news for thousands of commuters who have to get up before dawn to get to work or college.
He claimed the majority of people in Meath want the motorway to go ahead.
"The M3 is a controversial project, but on balance it is essential for Meath and the country as a whole," he said.