M50 toll bridges to be scrapped in €2bn State buyout

THE toll bridges on Dublin’s M50 West Link are to be removed by 2008, with the State expected to pay compensation of nearly €2 billion to the operators NTR.

A proposed barrier-free toll system will replace the present set-up, which causes huge congestion on the clogged city ring route.

Transport Minister Martin Cullen had strongly criticised the operation of the West-Link toll plaza and had described it as “a very bad service to the customer”.

Talks had been continuing between the National Roads Authority (NRA) and NTR with a view to removing the barriers and replacing them with an electronic toll system for the entire road. Last night the NRA announced discussions with NTR had “been terminated”.

The NRA is to tender for a new company to operate a barrier-free toll system.

The NRA’s contract with NTR was to run until 2020. A compensation deal to honour the contract will be based on traffic usage through the toll plaza in 2007.

Mr Cullen last night welcomed the development and described it as “very positive” for M50 road users.

The NRA also announced last night it was to upgrade interchanges and add additional lanes to the M50 to improve traffic flow.

The Government is expected to give full details of the proposed barrier-free tolling scheme on Monday.

NTR last night said no pre-conditions had been set with regard to any agreement that might be reached with the NRA.

The NRA has already engaged a barrier-free tolling consultant and will advertise for barrier-free tolling companies shortly.

The future tolling rates to be set for the M50 will require the completion of a toll/demand management study, the NRA said.

Meanwhile, local authorities are to get over €500 million for non-national roads this year, an increase of 13%, Environment Minister Dick Roche said yesterday.

He said €557.73m was being paid for restoration and development of the non-national road network, €62.5m more than in 2005.

The counties of Cork, Donegal, Meath and Galway are among those which will receive the biggest grants.

Some €205m is being provided for the restoration improvement plan and restoration maintenance grants of €75m.