DUBLIN commuters who face occasional delays at the West Link toll bridge on the M50 motorway are in for some relief. National Toll Roads, which operates the bridge, is planning to add two more lanes costing £7.5 million.
That is the good news for commuters. The bad news is that the expansion of the bridge from four to six lanes is not to be completed for about three years, when the Southern Cross extension of the M50 between Tallaght and Scholarstown is due to be opened.
NTR's chief executive, Mr Tom Roche, said the increased level of traffic that the Southern Cross would generate would require the West Link to be widened to six lanes. The opening of the Northern Cross section of the M50 Just before Christmas had already resulted in a significant increase bin traffic across the West Link.
In the 11 months to last November, traffic across the West Link rose by 19 per cent. But in December, traffic rose by a phenomenal 75 per cent compared to December 1995. Mr Roche said that this was an exceptional increase and reflected Christmas traffic.
NTR's annual report shows that traffic across the West Link increased from 7.3 million cars and trucks to nine million last year. loll revenue increased from £6.5 million to £8.9 million, helped by a 10p increase in the toll at the beginning of the year.
At the East Link toll bridge at the mouth of the Liffey, traffic volumes increased from 6.8 million cars and trucks to 7.2 million. Toll revenues were up from £4 million to £4.4 million, helped by a 5p increase in the toll.