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At last trucks are running through Dublin Port Tunnel
Page 12
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After five years' work the Dublin Port Tunnel has opened — but the
IRHA foresees traffic management problems. Dylan Gray reports.
THE LONG-AWAITED Dublin Port Tunnel finally opened to LGVs on 20 December, two months before the planned Dublin city centre truck ban comes into effect on 19 February.
Construction began five years ago on the 4.5km tunnel, which is designed to move LGV traffic away from the city centre. Trucks and buses may use the tunnel without cost, but cars will have to pay up to €12 (.£8). Once the tunnel opens to all traffic its operator. Transroute, expects up to 22,000 vehicles a day to use it.
However, Irish Road Haulage Association vice-president Jimmy Quinn is concerned about traffic management at the northern end of the tunnel. He points out that trucks heading out of the tunnel for the M50 will have very little distance to change lanes, which could cause problems.
Sibohan Maher fromTransroute says: "Around 40% of LGVs will not head onto the M50, and those that do will generally do so at offpeak times. Vehicles have 1.2km for a lane change which we feel is sufficient and matches many tunnels similar to this one."
Dublin-based Ace Express Freight (AEF) sent the first truck through the tunnel. AEF business developer Eemon Galavan says: -The tunnel is very convenient for us. It cuts our journey time by about an hour at peak times as we are also avoiding 31 [sets of] traffic lights. "We currently don't see any problems with the tunnel, though only time will tell if that remains so."
Vehicles taller than 4.65m cannot use the tunnel, they are redirected along a different route. • Further south in Cork,talks have broken down between the TRH A and Direct Route (Fermoy) on toll charges on the M8 RathcormacFermoy Bypass.
The 1RHA is calling for a reduced rate for hauliers to make it worth their while to send trucks along the bypass. It claims current charges are too high.