An independent review of the height restriction planned for Dublin Port Tunnel would represent "no fears" for the project, the city council said yesterday.
The council said such a move would be welcome as it would "bring finality and clarity" to the controversy over the height of the tunnel.
The council was responding to weekend reports that the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, was planning to appoint an independent assessor to review the 4.65-metre height restriction.
The 4.5 km twin tunnel, designed primarily to cater for port-related heavy goods traffic, is being built as a dual-carriageway between the M1 at Coolock Lane and a proposed toll plaza adjoining East Wall Road.
However, some hauliers have pointed out that their trucks will be too tall for the proposed clearance height of 4.65 metres, and they want it raised to 5.3 metres.
The move would cost an additional €100 million or more, and could only be done by dropping its floor to the required depth.
Mr Tim Brick, the deputy city engineer in charge of the project, said most European countries built tunnels with a height restriction of 4.65 metres. While there were exceptions in parts of Britain and Spain, he insisted the popular standard was 4.65 metres.
He said the numbers of lorries which could not use the tunnel at the proposed height would be "peanuts", and he estimated the figure at between 50 and 100 lorries a day.
He said these could easily be handled by the city streets, pointing out there would be a huge reduction in the 9,000 lorries currently using the streets.
