State to pay toll bridge firm €600m in compo

THE State will pay the private company which operates Dublin’s West Link toll bridge approximately €600 million in compensation for the tolls being removed in mid-2008.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern yesterday confirmed to the Dáil that if the tolls were removed as planned, the State would have to buy out National Toll Roads contract, which runs until 2020.

“If the toll was removed in 2008, as estimated, approximately €45 million per annum indexed would be payable until 2020. Those are the broad figures on the issue,” he said.

But Labour leader Pat Rabbitte criticised the fact that it would take so long to have the tolls removed from the bridge, situated on the busy M50.

The motorway stretch is currently being upgraded, causing extra headaches for motorists who already have to endure the significant tailbacks at the toll bridge.

“What is going to happen between now and mid-2008 as motorists endure a nightmare, a daily hell, during the renovation of the M50 and the installation of grade intersections at a number of points?” Mr Rabbitte asked. “It is between now and mid-2008 that the Taoiseach needs to negotiate with that company to throw open the bridge for the duration of the refurbishment works.”

But Mr Ahern said that to remove the tolls now would prove disastrous.

“Along with the Tánaiste and several other ministers, I have had a number of meetings with the engineering people in recent months,” he said. “They are of the opinion that this would be a disaster. Their view is that it might help a limited amount of traffic, but that the tailbacks on all the intersections would make the entire M50 unworkable.”

Mr Rabbitte, however, said such claims were unacceptable. “Motorists are staring into a Dante’s Inferno between now and mid-2008. The situation is already intolerable for motorists and what the Taoiseach is now saying is that no remedial action of any kind will be taken. He is sheltering behind the advice of engineers and others who contributed their fair share to the mess in the first place.”

Mr Ahern emphasised that while the West Link tolls would be removed in 2008, motorists would still face a levy for using the M50. The State will install “barrier-free” tolling, which will take effect from the third quarter of 2008.