Written answers

Wednesday, 21 February 2007

11:00 pm

Photo of Dan NevilleDan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 91: To ask the Minister for Transport when the deal to buy out the West Link Toll Bridge will be completed; the details of this deal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6602/07]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 122: To ask the Minister for Transport when he will bring the results of the negotiations between the National Toll Roads and the National Roads Authority before the Cabinet; the proposed operational features for the new barrier free tolls being proposed for the West Link bridge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6634/07]

Photo of Billy TimminsBilly Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 129: To ask the Minister for Transport if future tolling revenue from the M50 will be ringfenced for the upgrade and maintenance of the route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6613/07]

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 91, 122 and 129 together.

At the outset, I should explain that overall responsibility for the planning, design and implementation of national road improvement projects, including the M50 upgrade, is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) and the local authorities concerned. I have no function in relation to the day-to-day operation of these projects.

In addition, the statutory power to levy tolls on national roads, to make toll bye-laws and to enter into toll agreements with private investors in respect of national roads, including the M50, is vested in the National Roads Authority (NRA) under Part V of the Roads Act 1993 (as amended by the Planning and Development Act 2000).

Yesterday I informed the Government about progress in the discussions between the National Roads Authority (NRA) and National Toll Roads (NTR) regarding the termination of NTR's involvement on the West Link Bridge. I indicated to the Government the broad terms on which the NRA is now intending to close a deal with National Toll Roads. These terms are that NTR's involvement with the West Link facility will cease as from mid-2008. NTR will receive annual payments of €50 million, plus Consumer Price Index, for each of the years 2008-2020.

The upgrade work on the M50 is being undertaken in three phases. Phase 1 comprises the widening of the carriageway between the N4 (Galway Road roundabout) and Ballymount interchanges and the upgrading of the N4, N7 and Ballymount interchanges. This work is currently under way and is expected to be completed in mid-2008.

Phase 2 which is being administered as a Public Private Partnership project will comprise of the widening of 24km of the M50 from south of the M1/M50 Turnapin interchange to the N3 interchange and from south of Ballymount interchange to the Sandyford interchange including the upgrade of the other interchanges along these sections. The contract for Phase 2 is to be awarded in 2007 and construction is expected to be completed in 2010.

Phase 3 comprises the widening of the section between south of the N3 interchange and north of the West Link toll plaza which is expected to be completed by mid 2008.

Separately the NRA are procuring the replacement of the current West Link toll plaza with single point barrier free tolling. It is intended that this will be introduced during 2008 in tandem with the completion of phase 1 of the M50 upgrade.

I expect, therefore, that significant improvements in the situation on the M50 will take place in 2008. Further improvement will take place on completion of the later phases of the upgrade in 2010. In the meantime, traffic management in the area is being monitored on an ongoing basis with measures being taken where possible to alleviate traffic congestion resulting from the road works.

I understand that the toll revenue from the barrier-free single point toll will be used to fund Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the M50 upgrade and the cost of introducing barrier free tolling as well as the costs of terminating NTR's West-Link contract.

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