Madam, - I would like to reply to the article by the Dublin city manager, Mr John Fitzgerald in your edition of May 22nd.
The Transport Umbrella Group shares his ambition to remove port traffic from the quays; but we dispute the assertion that it is OK for the most important infrastructure ever to connect Dublin port with its hinterland to be out of gauge with all infrastructure built in that hinterland for the past 40 years.
The tunnel being constructed by Dublin City Council is not only over budget by some 40 per cent, but simply will not do the job for which it is intended: to carry trucks to and from the port.
Rather than deal with this issue Mr Fitzgerald obfuscates, tells us how wonderfully the tunnel is built (which it is) and draws selective parallels with other European countries. Would he rather take the Swedish model, with trucks 50 per cent heavier and longer than ours? Environmentally Sweden is light years ahead of this country.
Mr Fitzgerald says the facts are reassuring. We don't think so. The industry seriously disagrees with the one partial height study that was carried out and its scientific standing. He refers to a cost benefit analysis of increasing the height. Where is this analysis and why doesn't he publish it?
The deputy city engineer and the director of traffic promised TUG and Dublin Chamber of Commerce last December to carry out definitive studies of the heights of HGVs using the port and the cost of either lowering the road surface or altering the lights within the tunnel to achieve the desired increase of 250 mm (9 inches). They promised their findings by mid February and have so far failed to deliver them.
The sectors of Irish industry which so heavily rely on these trucks need every competitive advantage they can muster in their trade with the UK. That includes a tunnel fit to carry their goods to their markets.
The role of Dublin City Council and the National Roads Authority is to enhance our competitive position and it is about time they lived up to it. - Yours, etc.,
JERRY KIERSEY,
Chairman, Transport
Umbrella Group,
Vernon Avenue,
Dublin 3.