Council to consider further HGV submissions

Dublin City Council will consider further public submissions on its proposed heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) strategy made after today's deadline.

The proposed traffic management strategy includes a restriction on HGVs between the Royal and Grand canals between 7am and 7pm from Monday to Sunday, possible changes in the tolls on HGVs using the East Link and West Link bridges.

The primary objective of the strategy is to ensure the full potential of the Dublin Port Tunnel is realised in terms of removing port-related HGV traffic from the city.

Brendan O'Brien Head of Technical Services in the Council's Traffic department said the Council had received "quite a large number of submissions."

However, he added that today's deadline was not set in stone and said he expected to receive further submissions in the coming days.

A report on the consultation process will then be compiled detailing each submission. Once completed, the City Council will vote on the proposals.

Mr O'Brien said the council would monitor any problems caused by HGV traffic in residential areas outside the cordon as a consequence of the implementation of the HGV Management Strategy. Changes such as extending the cordon would be made as required.

She called on the public to examine the proposal and to contact the council. She claimed the plan would cause "significant congestion" on roads she said were already "massively clogged up".

Ms Shortall said there would be "little or no incentive" for truck drivers to use the M50, which she added would worsen the traffic situation in the city.

Labour Party transport spokesman Róisín Shortall has claimed the council has been hampered in its plans for management of HGV traffic.