New Road Tolls Mooted

The department of transport and the National Roads Authority (NRA) have confirmed that they are looking at new revenue raising measures which means new tolls on previously toll free roads.

Why do this? It may have something to do with the way a lot of our new roads were built.

Picture this, the Government would like to be able to tell the electorate about all the shiny new roads they are building but they dont really feel like paying to build them. They decide to put the road building contract to tender for private companies to build and maintain the new roads. In return we allow private companies to toll these roads.

The private companies are no dummies, they want to ensure that they are going to make money. The Government tell the companies that they reckon x thousand people will use their toll road each day.....and this is the kicker......... if the actual amount of road usage is below this figure, the Government will pay the shortfall. The numbers of road users on the new motorway sections appear to be dismal in comparison to forecast.

Currently we are paying HUNDREDS of millions of Euro each year to pay for the incompetence of the planners, directly into the pockets of private companies. This being Ireland, no one seems to be ultimatly responsible. So similarly to the bond investors (who we are bending over backwards to payback) the private company essentially has taken no risk involved when building the roads.

 This means that the new road costs only a fraction of the price (to the Irish People) compared to if the Government simply built it, but it appears we will now end up spending multiples of the supposed 'savings' over the life of the road. Historically we have been useless at the concept of tolled roads, the 20 year long debacle of the toll bridge at the West Link in Dublin is a perfect example

So how to pay for all these losses? Naturally it will be to lean on the already ravaged citizens.

Proposed new Tolls:
-All sections of the M50 will incur a charge
-N9 Carlow bypass
-Dundalk bypass
-N20 at Croom
-N18 Ennis bypass
-Jack Lynch Tunnel
-N11 Arklow bypass

FS