Fine Gael and the Labour Party have criticised the increase in West-Link toll charges as "completely unjustified".
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Opposition spokesman have condemned toll increases as "unjustified". Image: Irish Times. |
From January next the toll for all car drivers using the West-Link bridge will rise 10 cent to €2.
With the introduction of barrier-free tolling in August next year, those drivers with an electronic tag will continue to pay €2. Drivers who do not opt to have an electronic tag will have two choices - they can register their number plate and details with the bridge operator and have their toll set at €2.50 or they can choose not to register their vehicle and not have a tag, increasing their fee to €3.
According to the National Roads Authority (NRA), electronic payments methods are a necessary condition of barrier-free tolling. The NRA will replace National Toll Roads as operators of the West-Link bridge in August next year, coinciding with the price increases.
Fine Gael's transport spokesman Fergus O'Dowd said the new regime could see commuters paying up to €1440 per year to use a "gridlocked" road that motorists whose cars have Northern Ireland and overseas number plates can use for free.
"Proposals to move to barrier free tolling on the M50 are welcome in so far as they will ease traffic congestion and get rid of the toll barriers for once and for all. But the new toll charges being proposed by the NRA are so punitive for commuters and commercial drivers that they hardly seem worthwhile," he said.
Tommy Broughan, Labour's spokesman on transport, said the decision to increase tolls for barrier-free tolling on Dublin's West-Link bridge is an "excuse to to impose exorbitant charges on long-suffering commuters who have no choice but to use this congested motorway".
He added: "There is no realistic public transport alternative for the majority of M50 users, and Irish motorists are in effect being held to ransom at this location with the imposition of these disgraceful price hikes."