The new barrier-free tolls that are be installed on the M50 following the removal of the Westlink barriers in 2008 could be removed as soon as enough money has been raised to pay for upgrade works, and to pay off National Toll Roads (NTR).
After confirming that the Westlink toll plaza will be removed in two years, the Department of Transport began investigating ways to raise the €100 million it needs to pay for the upgrade works on the M50, which started this week, and the estimated €50 million needed to pay off NTR for the loss of the Westlink - its most lucrative money-making toll plaza.
However, the Department has indicated that once these two payments have been made, the new M50 toll, which will operated by a private company but will be under the full control of the Government, could be removed altogether.
"Any money we are talking about here is to fund the M50 upgrades and for NTR only," said a Department spokesperson. "Tolling [on the M50] could cease after that, although that is a decision the Government would have to take."
No decision has yet been taken on how much M50 motorists will be tolled after 2008, until a National Roads Authority study group has reported back to the Department of Transport in two years' time.
The study group is currently being established by the NRA to investigate and advise the Department on the most appropriate tolling system to install on the M50, although it is widely accepted that this will be a barrier-free system that will use vehicle identification technology to remotely toll via electronic tags fitted to each vehicle.
New legislation will be required to allow for the prosecution of motorists who attempt to evade the new toll. This new legislation will be in place before 2008 confirmed the Department.
The NRA study group has a wide remit to study vehicle movement on the capital's C-ring motorway. "The study will look at traffic flows on the motorway, especially at peak times. It will be an A to Z of traffic movements on the M50," said the Department spokesperson.
"It will look at the efficiency of moving traffic and will advise the Department, following public consultation, on the best way to proceed with a toll system. It may even be that there will be a toll that is lower than that which currently exists."