Dáil to address tunnel ‘fiasco’

TRANSPORT Minister Noel Dempsey is to be questioned in the Dáil about the €750 million Dublin Port Tunnel “fiasco”.

Wednesday’s nine-hour closure — the latest in a series of malfunctions of systems and water leaks — resulted in traffic chaos for most of the working day throughout the city.

This week’s closure was due to a malfunction of the tunnel’s electronic systems.

Fine Gael spokesman Fergus O’Dowd said he will ask Mr Dempsey to explain the safety and engineering issues affecting the tunnel — and the cost to fix them.

“It is ridiculous this piece of infrastructure, the most expensive in the history of the State, has been closed three times this year already,” said Mr O’Dowd.

Two state bodies, the National Roads Authority and Dublin City Council, have begun moves to sue the port tunnel builders, joint venture operation Nishimatsu-Mowlem-Irishenco.

Both bodies met to consider making a legal claim for compensation while the tunnel was still closed.

Transport executive Paul Sweetman said the tunnel was repeatedly closed due to systems failures, strong and decisive action was required to rectify the problem.

He referred to the tunnel as an integral part of the transport network that provided a crucial link for the movement of people and goods across the capital.

Unplanned closures were a huge inconvenience for commuters, hauliers and companies, he said.

NRA’s head of public-private partnership unit Hugh Cregan confirmed the body had put the consortium which built the tunnel on legal notice.

Yesterday morning, one lane southbound on the tunnel was closed for 1km for maintenance work.

Beset by leaks and systems failures, the 4.5km tunnel has cost €751m to date.

In a separate matter, NMI is still seeking payment of a €100m from the city council for completion of the tunnel.

Since the tunnel opened in December 2006 the number of trucks in Dublin city is reportedly down by 94%. During the stoppage the ban on heavy goods vehicles in the city centre was lifted temporarily.