Council aims to break toll road deadlock

CORK County Council is attempting to broker a deal between hauliers and the operators of a newly opened toll road after talks between the two sides broke down.

The Irish Road Hauliers’ Association (IRHA) has boycotted the Fermoy bypass, resulting in gridlock in Watergrasshill village as truck drivers dodge the new toll motorway — designated the M8.

The IRHA says tolls on lorries as high as €5.30 per trip are far too steep, and, before Christmas, it asked the toll operator, Direct Route, to lower them by at least 10%. Direct Route refused and talks broke down.