A report published today has claimed that up to 157 trucks daily will be excluded from using the Dublin Port Tunnel due to height restrictions.
The report, published by the National Institute of Transport and Logistics (NITL), has shown that 1.74 per cent of trucks using Dublin Port will be unable to access the Port Tunnel because of the 4.65 metres height restriction.
The NITL Dublin Port Vehicle Height Survey follows several month's analysis of truck movements from all entry and exit points to the port.
Electronic sensor height monitoring equipment was erected at six of the seven gates in use at the port. A manual count of all vehicles entering and exiting at these gates was also carried out to validate the findings.
The monitoring shows that 157 trucks, or 1.74 per cent of daily truck traffic, will be unable to use the Port Tunnel.
Earlier this summer, the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan said all lorries using Dublin Port "will be required to use the Port Tunnel" when it opens in 2005.
Commenting on today's report, the Director General of NITL, Professor Austin Smyth, pointed out that in recent months there had been "much debate over the design of the Dublin Port Tunnel" and its apparent inability to accommodate certain trucks.
He said that much of this debate had "been based on anecdotal information that reflects the views of particular interest groups. As a result NITL recognised the need for a comprehensive independent investigation."
Today's report fully justifies the Transport Umbrella Group's call for an increase in the operational height of the tunnel to 4.9 metres, according to the spokesman for the group, Mr Jerry Kiersey.
A height of 4.9 metres would give an operational clearance 15cm below standard but 25cm more than the original blueprint, according to the group.
"Serious errors of judgement have been made those in charge and the number of trucks unable to use the port tunnel seriously under-estimated by previous reports," Mr Kiersey told ireland.com.
"Height restriction should be re-evaluated by the Department of Transport," he added.
Speaking yesterday at the breaking through of the boring machine at Fairview Park and ahead of the publication of today's report, Mr Brennan said "a decision on the height" of the tunnel had already been made and he didn't see "any point in changing that".