Opposition parties and AA voice dismay at tolls plan

THE Westlink toll bridge on the M50 will be replaced by barrier-free electronic tolling by 2008.

The toll bridge has been blamed for some of the worst congestion on the motorway, used by up to 100,000 motorists a day.

The National Roads Authority said it had terminated negotiations with National Toll Roads (NTR) because it was not happy with the value for money being offered.

A spokesman said: “We’re going to move ahead ourselves with a strategy that will involve the end of tolling at Westlink and the introduction of barrier-free tolling so traffic can move through at normal speeds.”

Opposition parties and the Automobile Association (AA) reacted with dismay yesterday, describing the plan as a recipe for chaos.

Fine Gael, Labour and the AA also claimed the plan was introducing “congestion charges,” as in London where motorists entering a certain zone are charged £5 (€7.50).

Yesterday, Transport Minister Martin Cullen, who was launching the first phase of the M50 upgrade scheme, said: “I believe the outcome is a practical solution to a difficult problem.”

Defending his decision to move to barrier-free tolling, he said the new barrier free tolling scheme would be fairly priced and deliver on service to the motorist.

The M50 upgrade includes a six-lane 5km stretch to replace the existing four lanes section from the N7 to N4, and free-flowing interchanges at the Red Cow, Liffey Valley and Ballymount roundabouts. Work on the €230 million first phase is to begin shortly.

Dealing with the impact of upgrade works on traffic, Mr Cullen said concerns were understandable and must be respected. The new barrier free tolling structure will be reached, said Mr Cullen, following completion of a demand management study, a public consultation process and, finally, a Government decision.

Fine Gael transport spokesperson Olivia Mitchell described Mr Cullen’s plan as an attempt to “perpetrate an outrage on commuters and taxpayers.”

“The public have already paid billions in tolls on this road and taxpayers will pay billions more to NTR to buy it back, with every user now being asked to pay every time they use any portion of the road,” she said.

Labour spokesperson Roisín Shorthall was concerned the plan would result in traffic diverting on and off the motorway through residential areas in an attempt to avoid the tolls.

AA spokesman Conor Faughnan described the Cullen plan as “as monumentally bad idea” that showed little understanding of traffic management.