Environment pays high price for toll bridge

HAVING read yet again about Ireland missing its environmental targets with regard to emissions vis-a-vis the Kyoto Agreement, I have a question for your readers of engineering backgrounds who may be able to do the mechanical calculations.

I have a theory that keeps coming into my head every day when I am stuck in the regular two or three-mile queue towards the West Link toll bridge in Dublin.

Thousands of cars each day are travelling at 10 to 15 mph for two to three miles approaching the toll bridge from both directions instead of the normal speeds that you would expect.

In addition to the extra fuel and emissions, this causes a doubling of journey times for many.

What is the impact of this potentially avoidable gridlock on our levels of emissions, and what is the penalty for us in monetary terms of the Kyoto agreement?

My guess is that the environmental and monetary cost of the emissions caused solely by the West Link delay is probably far in excess of the cost of buying out this contract.

This doesn’t even have to take account of the cost in terms of quality of life paid by these daily commuters.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this matter?

Marie Ahern

Forgehill

Stamullen

Co Meath