The company that manages the West Link toll bridge in Dublin has said the upgrading of the M50 motorway should receive immediate attention after record increases in traffic through the bridge.
NTR figures for the first quarter of 2004 show that traffic at the West Link increased by 9.3 per cent between January and March. Up to 98,000 vehicles a day now pass through the bridge.
"We are pleased with the increase in traffic at West-Link and will continue to develop the Eazy Pass service as a way of even further speeding up throughput at the toll booths. We anticipate record traffic levels during the summer holiday months of July and August at our three toll facilities," said Mr Tony McClafferty, managing director of NTR's road division.
"In light of these significant increases in traffic volumes, the upgrade of the M50 must receive the immediate attention of all interested parties."
The week beginning April 19th was the first week in the company's history that the West Link processed in excess of 600,000 vehicles, with an average daily throughput of 84,409, the figures show.
On Tuesday March 2nd, what was described as "a record" 7,800 vehicles was processed in one hour.
Peak-hour traffic has increased by 15 per cent since the introduction of an extra toll lane in each direction at the West Link in September last year.
NTR also said some 56,000 customers now use the Eazy Pass electronic toll collection system, with 37 per cent of all vehicles using it during peak hours. Some 57 per cent of commercial vehicles use Eazy Pass.
NTR also operates the East Link toll bridge and the new North Link toll plaza on the M1 at Drogheda. The company says that on a busy day the three facilities handle a combined 140,000 toll customers.
In response to NTR's calls, the Progressive Democrats transport spokesman, Senator Tom Morrissey, said the proposed upgrade of the M50 should not go ahead until a new outer ring road for Dublin is completed.
"No major city except Dublin has a tolled motorway without an alternative for local traffic," he said. He said the proposed upgrading of the M50 would bring even greater traffic volumes with no alternative provided.
"It was originally intended that the Outer Ring Road or Orbital Route would connect the Naas Road (N7), Lucan Road (N4), Navan Road (N3), Ashbourne Road (N2), and the M1. This would allow local traffic to by-pass the M50 completely.
"This orbital route, or M50 alternative, was never completed. As a result, 20 per cent of the current traffic using the M50 is local and should not have to go on to the motorway. Commuters who simply want to go from Blanchardstown to Palmerstown or the Naas Road are being forced onto the M50 and to pay a toll."
Mr Morrissey said the National Roads Authority, along with Fingal, South County Dublin, Meath and Kildare county councils needed to sit down together and agree on a new orbital route that would give commuters an alternative.