NRA seeks €12 Port Tunnel toll from car drivers

The National Roads Authority (NRA) is to seek to charge car drivers €12 to use Dublin's Port Tunnel during weekday rush hour, it was revealed today.

The NRA today released its draft toll scheme for the tunnel, which is scheduled to open later this year.

Between 6am and 10am on weekdays, all non-exempted vehicles will be charged €12 to travel southbound from Santry to Dublin Port. The rate is halved after 10 am.

The toll for cars travelling northbound from 4pm to 7pm will also be €12, dropping to €6 at all other times. The charge on Saturdays and Sundays will also be €6.

Exempted vehicles include lorries weighing over 3,500 kilos; public service buses carrying more than 25 passengers; disabled drivers; Garda cars; ambulances and Dublin City Council vehicles.

The lack of tolls on lorries is in keeping with the Dublin Transportation Office policy of keeping them out of the city centre.

The Minister of State with responsibility for Traffic Management, Ivor Callely, said the tolls would not be approved until a comprehensive consultation process with the public and interest groups was completed.

"It is important to note that the tunnel will be primarily used at peak times to take lorries off our streets, and commuters will not be expected to pay the maximum levels," he said.

"I am also anxious that an off peak toll will be set so as motorists travelling to major events in Dublin, in particular at the Point Depot, will have access to the tunnel without facing excessive charges."