The Government was criticised today for its plan to install two toll stations on the Drogheda bypass section of the M1 motorway being built.
|
Meath County Council announced plans to place toll booths between the junctions at Duleek Road and Gormanstown.
It also proposes booths at the junction at Donore Road. Motorists will be charged at least £1.09 (euro 1.38).
These are among the 11 tolls proposed nationally by the National Roads Authority (NRA) as part of public-private funding agreements. Construction on the Drogheda by-pass is underway and is expected to be finished by 2003.
Mr Conor Faughnan of AA Roadwatch told ireland.com plans to place tolls on bypasses are flawed and would cause traffic diversions onto other roads. "Nobody will gain from what is essentially a traffic cock-up".
Labour spokesman on the Environment Mr Eamon Gilmore TD said: "Roads are public services which should be available for public use and we would not be in favour of tolling any road".
He said tolling will stop the traffic flow onto and off the bypass and will involve operating costs.
These criticisms were echoed by Fine Gael spokeswoman for Housing and Local Development Ms Olivia Mitchell TD. "The lack of public debate over the issue of tolling and the public private partnership project is a major cause for concern," she said.
"There has been no study into tolling of roads and how this can be applied in Ireland. The only study [National Road Needs Study 1998] found that tolls were not feasible and had no potential for financing full-roads," she said.
The NRA said today there will be an open forum before the toll plan goes ahead. A spokesman said people have been invited to comment on the M1 toll scheme, a draft for which is now available for inspection, and said there will be oral hearings for the public to voice any objections.
But he said the NRA will have the final say in the matter.
The toll arrangements for the by-pass for the by-pass is unique to the other private-public schemes as the road is to be funded by the State and the European fund. A private contractor will be sought to operate the toll and maintain the road. In return the contractor may be required to build another part of the M1.