The Labour Party has called for the introduction of all-day €3 rate for use of Dublin's Port Tunnel, following the partial collapse of the railway viaduct over Broadmeadow estuary.
As many as 20,000 daily rail journeys, in and out of the city centre, have been forced onto the roads following the collapse of the viaduct, which Iarnród Éireann estimates will take three months to repair.
Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann and private operators are providing alternative road transport services, including a special service between Drogheda station and Dublin city centre which utilises Dublin Port Tunnel.
Senator Brendan Ryan this evening called on the Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey, to investigate the possibility of opening of the Port Tunnel to cars at the off-peak rate of €3 at all times in an effort to ease traffic pressures on the northern approach into the city.
Sen Ryan suggested many rail commuters are using their cars instead of the additional services that have been put in place.
"The €3 charge I am suggesting is not a new charge but is the charge which currently applies at weekends and after 10 pm at night."
"I believe the effect will be to encourage some motorists into the tunnel and relieve the traffic congestion which has been building in the last week and will continue to build in the coming weeks with schools and colleges reopening and late holiday takers returning to work," he said.
“Without the use of the tunnel, motorists coming from North Dublin and County Louth are going to face long delays. Everything needs to be considered", the Labour Party Representative for Dublin North concluded.
Work on the €4 million reconstruction of the viaduct began last week.
