Madam, - Trucks using the Dublin Port Tunnel will add just 3 per cent more peak time traffic in each direction at the West Link toll plaza, because a large number of them will go north instead, on the M1, or N1, N2, and N3.
They will not be travelling on the M50 as far as the West Link toll plaza.
The Dublin Port Tunnel will take approximately 9,000 trucks from the port area.
It has been built specifically to benefit the hauliers who need to access the port.
They and the port constitute a vital element of the economy of Dublin city.
The high value we place on their contribution to the economy is being acknowledged by the provision of a four-lane, motorway-quality road that will allow them to travel, free of charge, between the M50 and Dublin Port in around six minutes; saving them time, fuel and the stress and aggravation of negotiating the city streets.
The opening of the Dublin Port Tunnel will also provide Dubliners and those living in local communities with an unprecedented opportunity to enjoy an improved local environment. Pedestrians, cyclists and local communities living in the city will benefit greatly.
No one should underestimate the importance of Dublin having a first-class public domain.
The removal of heavy goods vehicles off the streets, and the management of those remaining, is an essential step if Dublin is to develop this type of domain and compete with other major European cities. - Yours, etc,
MICHAEL PHILLIPS, Dublin City Engineer, Civic Offices, Wood Quay.