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P TOLL ROADS Dublin truck ban d too expensive' THE BAN
Page 12
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ON BIG trucks in Dublin is proving too expensive for the Irish capital to sustain.
The HGV management strategy introduced in 2007 banned trucks of more than five axles from the city centre between 7am and 7prn, but the city council agreed to pay truck toils on the East Link toll bridge, because operators were left with no alternative route.
That has now proved so costly €1.6m (£1.4m) a year that the council is now reviewing the policy (which arose because under EU rules) as a toll road can only be enforced if an alternative route is available.
A report is now being prepared for Dublin city councillors to allow them to consider alternatives to the present arrangements.
It now seems likely that a further baron four-axle vehicles on Dublin's streets will be abandoned because it would also be too expensive.
The cost of removing these vehicles is thought to be €500,000 (£451,493) per year in tolls, with no provision in the 2010 budget to pay for the move.
In the meantime, the national toll road contract to operate the toll bridge runs until December 2015. Until then, the council will have to pay the toils or offer a non-tolled route for five-axle trucks to reach Dublin port.