Calls to lift tolls on HGVs using M1 to relieve town congestion

As the Government moved last week to defer the increase in road tolls for six months, an east Meath councillor has called for the removal of tolls for HGVs on the M1, in a bid to ease congestion on local roads, including Julianstown.

"It is time for East Meath and South Drogheda to have a reprieve from the hundreds of HGVs using our towns and villages," said Cllr Elaine McGinty.

At last week’s joint meeting of councillors from the Borough of Drogheda and Bettystown/ Laytown, Cllr Elaine McGinty spoke about the need for this "urgent change."

“The M1 was meant to reduce traffic from our towns and villages, reduce travel times, improve air quality and give ownership of the area back to the community. The idea of bypassing a town was meant to translate into less wear and tear on our regional roads and for county councils, a reduction in their repair and maintance costs.

“Tolls and motorways were meant to be the solution to traffic congestion, but the opposite has happened for those living around the toll area and it is getting worse.

“The village of Julianstown is taking in excess of 100,000 cars and HGVs each year through its village as a direct result of the toll. This is not a transport solution for East Meath, but a heavy price both environmentally and economically on the area."

Cllr McGinty said the private sector involvement in providing transport has seen only one winner, that being the toll operator.

"Everyone is suffering in this cost of living crisis and with further toll price increases due, something has got to change in this arrangement, for the citizens of East Meath and Drogheda.

“The hauliers and HGV operators are also caught up in this as much as anyone. Longer journey times as they circumvent the toll, higher fuel costs and increasing charges will eventually have to be absorbed by customers.

She proposed a short-term solution of removing the toll for HGVs on the M1.

“It would immediately help to tackle chronic traffic congestion in the area, improve air quality, require less road maintance from the council and it would make the roads safer.

“Longer term, we need urgent Government investment in road and public transport solutions for East Meath and Drogheda, not just the bill of keeping the toll operator in business.”

Meanwhile, the planned increase in road tolls is to be delayed for six months.

The decision to defer the rise was agreed by the three Coalition leaders last week.

It is believed it will cost the State €12.5 million to cover lost revenue for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and the toll road operators arising from the delay.

It was revealed last month that tolls on the M50 and eight public-private partnership roads were to increase from 1st January.

The tolls at the two M3 plazas in Meath had been expected to increase by 10c for cars, while the toll on the M4 was to rise by 20c and on the M1 by 10c. The proposed increases had been met with an angry reaction locally.

Cllr Sharon Tolan who had called on her colleagues in the Laytown-Bettystown Municipal District to write to Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to reverse their decision to increase the toll on motorways across the country said and toll increase “could result in a very significant increase in those vehicle numbers while hauliers, commuters and families try to save on daily travel costs.”

Deputy Darren O’Rourke welcomed the deferral but said it does not go far enough.

“The government needs to recognise we are living in a cost-of-living crisis, and workers and businesses are struggling with transport costs.

“The government’s proposal only serves to kick the can down the road and does not provide the certainty required. They had to roll back as a result of political and public pressure. Motorists and hauliers will still be facing very high transport costs into 2023, so this deferral is only a sticking plaster. This entire saga highlights how generous these gold plated, Fianna Fáil era road toll contracts are and, further, how poorly successive governments have invested in roads maintenance and upkeep.

The government should use the next six months to assess the funding for our roads network and review the value for money of these PPP contracts.”