Campaigners against the proposed route of the M3 through the Tara/Skryne valley have questioned a survey showing overwhelming support for the route.
The survey was carried out by the company behind last week's controversial byelection poll in Co Meath.
Last month Meath Chambers of Commerce commissioned a poll by Orchard Research and Analysis which suggested eight in 10 people in Co Meath were in favour of the existing route.
Orchard also carried out a poll published in the Meath Chronicle two days before the Meath byelection which suggested that Fianna Fáil candidate Shane Cassells would win with nearly 38 per cent of the vote, compared with 24 per cent for Fine Gael.
The byelection survey caused considerable anger within Fine Gael, with senior members saying the party's actual vote of 34 per cent showed it was completely wrong.
Yesterday the Meath Archaeological and Historical Society questioned the M3 survey, which was based on 500 respondents. The society claimed that the questions were "loaded" in favour of getting a positive response for the current route.
Society secretary Julitta Clancy said one question which suggested the road would be delayed by three years if the route was changed "skewed responses in favour of the current route".
Yesterday Orchard Research representative Phil Killeen said the question being complained about in the M3 survey was at the end of the survey, and was asked after respondents had indicated whether they favoured the current route.
She also defended the Meath Chronicle poll. The reason for the difference between the poll figures and the actual vote was due to the fact that Fianna Fáil failed to get its supporters out.
Fianna Fáil politicians who are in favour of the existing route used the M3 poll to back up their point during the byelection campaign. Speaking on local radio last month, Transport Minister Martin Cullen said the poll gave the view of the "silent majority".