Toll rates at the Eastlink and the Westlink bridges are to increase from January 1st, with the price of cars rising from €1.30 to €1.50.
NTR, which operates the bridges, said in a statement this morning that the increases were agreed in the original contract between NTR and the National Roads Authority in respect of a funding package of €23 million for the second Westlink bridge that opened in September.
The last increase in commercial vehicle rates was in July 2002. New commercial vehicle rates will also apply from 1st January.
It is expected that the contribution to the State from the Westlink toll facility, including licence fees, VAT and municipal rates, will be in the region of €29 million, up from €21.8 million in 2003.
The commercial vehicle rates being charged at Westlink are, on average, 68 per cent of the maximum toll rates that could be charged by NTR under agreement with the State, the company says.
However, the Dublin Chamber of Commerce has criticised the increases and said that, coupled with the increases in fuel prices in yesterday's Budget, the toll increases would make it very expensive to conduct business in south Dublin and that the knock-on effects would be felt throughout the country.