Motorists using West-Link face January toll hike

Motorists using Dublin's West-Link bridge will have to pay a toll increase from January next - and face a second increase in August if they fail to register their vehicles for electronic payment.

The two-step toll changes are in line with Consumer Price Index increases, which are traditionally applied in January, and the move to barrier-free tolling scheduled for August.

According to the National Roads Authority (NRA) the move to barrier-free tolling necessitates customers having an electronic payment method set up. Where no electronic accounts are in place and the bridge operators have to track down motorists, charges will be higher, to compensate for the extra work involved.

In January, the toll for all car drivers will rise by 10 cent to €2. Those who have an electronic tag will continue to pay just €2 beyond August 2008, when the physical barriers are removed.

Motorists who do not opt for an electronic tag will have a further choice. They may register their number plate and contact details with the bridge operator and the toll will be set for them at €2.50. If, however, they choose not to have a tag and not to register their number plate with the operator, they can pre-pay or make payments on the internet but the charge will be €3.

Should vehicles not be registered and fail to pay by 8pm on the day after the journey, they may be prosecuted and fined in the courts.

However, the NRA has acknowledged this arrangement will not be able to trace vehicles registered in Northern Ireland or other jurisdictions.

The NRA is due to replace National Toll Roads as West-Link operator in August, to coincide with barrier-free tolling.

Steel gantries are to be placed over the M50 motorway spanning four lanes of each carriageway. There will be no toll plaza or any physical barrier on the road. This means vehicles may travel at normal speeds under the gantries without the need to slow at toll plazas. The gantries will contain the vehicle-detection and camera equipment required to record the vehicles.

However, it is expected that speed restrictions will continue to apply on the West-Link at that time, as phase one of the motorway upgrade is not scheduled to be completed until the end of 2008.

Following that, road works will move to other sections of the motorway until 2010.