Port Tunnel charges to drop

TOLL PRICES in Dublin Port Tunnel are to drop in the first major review of policy and charges since the tunnel opened three years ago this month.

The NRA announced yesterday that it is to scrap the current three-tier pricing system which costs as much as €12 per single journey, and replace it with a two-tier charging system with a maximum charge of €10, and a minimum of €3.

The €10 charge will apply at morning peak times into the city and at evening peak times out of the city. At all other times the charge is to be €3.

The changes are to come into operation on January 2nd, 2010. The decision to reduce charges was taken by the board of the NRA yesterday. The board said the changes were brought about by a number of significant traffic improvements between the city and the M50.

These include the opening within weeks of the new “freeflow” M1/M50 junction, the completion of a third lane on much of the M50 and this week’s opening of the Samuel Beckett bridge in Dublin city centre.

The move is a major change in policy in relation to Dublin Port Tunnel, as it was initially intended to penalise car usage, in favour of restricting access to lorries travelling between the Port and the M50. While the tariffs have been altered before, the current reduction is a clear signal to private motorists that they are now wanted in the tunnel.