1,000 trucks a day to clog Dublin streets because tunnel is too small, says study

DUBLIN traffic will be clogged with up to a 1,000 trucks a day despite the building of the €625 million Port Tunnel, a new study has revealed.

An independent investigation shows that 500 trucks won’t be able to use the tunnel because it’s too low, and this number will double in the next 10 years.

Some 5% of trucks going to the port won’t be able to use the costly bypass aimed at reducing the city’s chronic traffic snarls.

The controversial study was requested by the Irish Exporters Association and its findings contradict claims by Dublin City Council that only 2% of trucks will be prevented from using the tunnel.

The study carried out by the National Institute of Transport and Logistics is set to increase pressure on Transport Minister Brennan to build a bigger tunnel.

The Irish Exporters Association yesterday urged the minister to review tunnel plan.

“I think we’re at the stage where Minister Brennan should take an interest and ensure that the tunnel’s height can cater for the bulk of excluded trucks,” IEA chief executive John Whelan said.

The cost of the tunnel is rising and has increased from €449m three years ago to €625m.

The drivers lobby group, the Automobile Association (AA) said it’s unconvinced that 1,000 trucks will be excluded from the tunnel.

“Conceivably this could have an impact on traffic but I’m not sure it will pan out that way. The tunnel is being built to a European average size, and that satisfies us,” AA spokesperson Conor Faughnan said.

Minister Brennan has ordered a monthly financial review of all transport projects as costs spiral.

There has been spending overruns on the Port Tunnel, the Dublin airport metro, and several national motorway routes. The metro plan has run into severe difficulties and Finance Minister, Charlie McCreevy has described the €6 billion proposal as “totally unrealistic.”

The metro is set to link the airport to Dublin city centre in tandem with an €8.5 billion development of the national rail network.

In a letter to Mr Brennan two weeks ago Minister McCreevy had “serious concern at a trend whereby you are sponsoring proposals in the area of public transport, which are totally unrealistic in the context of the foreseeable budgetary situation,” he said.

Minister McCreevy said the Government’s main priority was roads.

“These rail based public transport proposed initiatives are against a backdrop where a government decision of November 26, 2002, indicated that the transport priority up to 2006 at least was the roads programme,” Minister McCreevy told his cabinet colleague.