Motorists face price hike on West Link toll bridge

MOTORISTS face more misery in Dublin in the New Year when charges for the West Link toll bridge increase by 10 cent.

National Toll Roads, which runs the bridge on the M50, will increase the price for cars from January 1, and increases for vans, trucks and other commercial vehicles to be confirmed in the coming weeks.

The standard charge will rise to €1.90 and further announcements of price rises are expected for users of the East Link toll bridge — across the Liffey — and for the North Link toll bridge on the Drogheda bypass.

The increase on the West Link comes after a fortnight of mayhem for motorists on the infamous M50, which has recently suffered a series of massive snarl-ups because of a combination of heavy traffic, roadworks, minor accidents and emergency waterworks.

Further pressure is expected when the Port Tunnel opens on December 20, diverting an estimated 6,000 lorries onto the M50, in addition to the 85,000 vehicles currently using the road every day.

Fine Gael last night called on the Government to block the price hike.

“The service provided by National Toll Roads is non-existent,” said the party’s Dublin spokesman, Senator Brian Hayes.

“The average size of a single heavy goods vehicle is equivalent to three cars. With the M50 upgrade in full flow, there isn’t enough space on the motorway for current levels, let alone the additional 6,000 HGVs which will take up the equivalent space of 18,000 cars,” he added.

“For the Government to increase the toll charges at this time of worsening congestion is proof of its incompetence and breathtaking arrogance.”