AA calls for tolls to be lifted at peak times

The AA has called for tolls on the West Link bridge to be lifted at peak times due to "unacceptable levels of congestion".

The motoring organisation has claimed the Government is reaping huge profits from the bridge because of the rise in vehicles from a projected 45,000 per day to 70,000 and the recent imposition of VAT on tolls.

According to the AA, the daily income arising from tolls is £84,000, of which £33,000 goes to the Government.

If the Government was to rebate the toll operators for the four peak hours per day, the State's take would fall to about £9,000 per day, which the AA claims is still ahead of the £6,400 per day predicted in 1987.

The organisation said huge queues from the toll-booths extend in both directions along the M50 in the morning and evening peak times, while a second bridge will not be ready for another year.

In a statement yesterday, the AA's public affairs manager, Mr Conor Faughnan, said the congestion had now led to northbound traffic diverting at the Red Cow interchange, resulting in congestion in areas such as Chapelizod, Phoenix Park and Ballyfermot.

Mr Faughnan said National Toll Roads operates the West Link bridge and toll booths efficiently and professionally, but added that they "do not need to collect tolls at peak times".

Calling for the barriers to be lifted to allow traffic to pass without slowing to a point where unacceptable delays build up, Mr Faughnan said levels of revenue taken from motorists at the bridge are "now so high that the cost could be easily absorbed".

The AA spokesman also said the Government gets about 40 per cent of the gross toll revenue, because the franchise fee gets higher as the volume of traffic increases.

A spokesman for National Toll Roads was not available for comment last night.