Motorists face 30 years of tolls, Dáil told

Motorists on Dublin’s M50 will be paying tolls fees for at least another 30 years, the Dáil heard today.

The cost of buying out the Westlink Toll Bridge and of M50 upgrade works will be paid for by revenue on a single barrier-free tolling point between 2008 and 2035, the Taoiseach said.

Six international companies have tendered for the electronic tolling contract.

Mr Ahern said the first phase of the M50 upgrade is almost completed; the second will begin in early summer, and the third will conclude in 2008.

The amount of compensation paid to the National Toll Roads (NTR) will be calculated on toll revenue from the level of traffic in the 12 months before the deal is signed.

The payout has been speculated to be around €600m.

Labour leader Pat Rabbitte called for the Government to throw open the M50 toll booths between now and 2008.

“What is going to happen between now and 2008 as motorists endure a nightmare, a daily hell during the renovation of the M50 and the putting in of intersections,” he said.

But the Taoiseach said engineering experts had advised against opening the Westlink Bridge during the upgrade works and it would cause tailbacks on side roads.

Mr Rabbitte added: “Motorists are staring into Dante’s Inferno between now and 2008.

“This is going to be an unmitigated disaster during the upgrading of the M50. The situation is already intolerable for the motorists.”

He added: “I just want to say to the taxpayers of Ireland; your money is in the safe hands of Minister Martin Cullen.”

Mr Ahern pointed out that when the contract was first negotiated with NTR in the 1980s, the unprecedented population growth and increases in traffic could not be foreseen.

He added that there were concerns that it would be a ’financial white elephant.’