Hauliers say lorries will use city routes due to height of tunnels

There is no logic in building motorway bridges to a height of more than five metres and capable of taking "super trucks", when those trucks cannot use by-passes of major cities.

That is according to road hauliers who yesterday told a hearing into the proposed Shannon Tunnel that the 4.6m height of the tunnel - similar to that of the Dublin Port Tunnel and the Lee Tunnel in Cork - would result in super lorries diverting through the centres of Cork, Limerick and Dublin.

The Irish Road Haulage Association and the Transport Umbrella Group joint submission was facilitated by An Taisce after the three groups united to oppose current plans for the Shannon Tunnel at Limerick.

Responding to the debate, Mr Michael Egan of the NRA said about 300 railway bridges across the State were in any event too low for the newer super-trucks.

Mr Ian Lumley, Heritage Officer of An Taisce, said there was no paradox in environmentalists and hauliers having common cause, even though An Taisce has opposed the building of many of the State's motorways. "Environmentalists support the building of by-passes for towns and the hauliers don't want their lorries to be in towns either," he said.

The Shannon Tunnel, a twin box tunnel is expected to begin construction next year with a completion date of 2009.