NRA rejects claims tunnel users put at risk
RTÉ’s Prime Time revealed on Thursday that Transroute, the operators of the controversial €751 million project, had not followed safety manuals by shutting down the tunnel to traffic when problems arose with ventilation fans and safety cameras.
The programme highlighted how the tunnel was allowed to remain open to heavy goods vehicles and cars, even when safety monitoring systems had failed on four occasions in the past three months.
NRA spokesperson Hugh Cregan insisted yesterday that the safety of tunnel users had never been placed at risk.
He rejected any suggestion the tunnel operators had acted inappropriately when safety equipment had failed.
“Tunnel safety is an absolute priority for us. We simply don’t compromise safety,” said Mr Cregan.
The NRA explained that a patroller equipped with radio communications was stationed in the section of the tunnel wherever a camera was out of commission in order to monitor the situation.
Mr Cregan stressed that such action was the “absolute appropriate response to take” rather than close the tunnel.
He also maintained that there was no risk to public safety if two or more ventilation fans failed, although he accepted that such a situation was not ideal.
However, RTÉ stood by its allegations that the NRA’s action was in contravention of the tunnel’s operational manual.
The NRA and Dublin City Council are taking legal proceedings against Nishimatsu-Mowlem-Irishenco, the consortium, which built the port tunnel, over repeated systems failures
Meanwhile, Fine Gael transport spokesperson Fergus O’Dowd called on Transport Minister Noel Dempsey to be held accountable for the ongoing problems with the operation of the tunnel.
Labour’s transport spokesperson Tommy Broughan said motorists needed assurance that safety was not being compromised in the operation of the Dublin Port Tunnel.
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