Motorists overcharged on toll roads

MOTORISTS are being overcharged on some of the country’s busiest toll routes because of the failure of toll operators to pass on price reductions, it emerged yesterday.

Several toll road operators have failed to reduce charges on the country’s motorway network in line with inflation, according to the National Roads Authority.

The NRA confirmed yesterday it is in dispute with four toll operators over the applicable toll rates for 2011. The NRA maintains that the operators of five tolls — the M1 at Drogheda; the M4 Kilcock-Kinnegad bypass; the M6 Galway-Ballinasloe; the M8 Fermoy bypass and the N25 Waterford city bypass — were required to lower their tolls from January 1 last to comply with by-laws governing the price of tolls.