Toll Scheme Approved For M1 Gormanston-Monasterboice Motorway Project

6th June, 2002

TOLL SCHEME APPROVED FOR M1 GORMANSTON-MONASTERBOICE MOTORWAY PROJECT

The National Roads Authority (NRA) has approved the Draft Toll Scheme for the M1 Gormanston to Monasterboice Motorway project, which includes a by-pass of Drogheda.

In considering the proposal for tolling the M1 Motorway, the Authority took account of the Inspector's report on the oral hearing into the Draft Toll Scheme and submissions from local authorities and the public. The Authority, in deciding to adopt the Draft Scheme determined that the tolled by-laws to be made fixing the amount of the tolls to be charged will:

1. provide for a discount of at least 10 per cent in respect of the prevailing toll charge for pre-payment for 20 journeys to cater for frequent users of the tolled facility, and also
2. provide that, where road users exit the toll road having made a toll payment and within a short period, e.g. three hours, re-enter the toll road to continue on their journey in the same direction of travel, a second toll payment will not be required.

The latter arrangement will, for example, be of particular benefit to road users wishing to stop - off in Drogheda before resuming their journey in the same direction of travel.

The 21 km M1 Gormanston to Monasterboice Motorway extends northwards from the existing Balbriggan By-Pass and, on its completion in early 2003, will link into the Dunleer/Dundalk Motorway which opened to traffic in January, 2001. The project, which incorporates a major bridge crossing of the River Boyne west of Drogheda, is part of the NRA's strategy to develop the Dublin/Belfast corridor. Two other sections of motorway are also under construction on the corridor at present - Cloghran/Lissenhall and Lissenhall/Balbriggan. Both are due to be completed by mid-2003, at which stage it will be possible to travel on motorway along the Dublin/Belfast Road from south of Dublin Airport to Dundalk.

Following the recent (June 4^th) announcement by An Bord Pleanála that it has approved the Motorway Scheme providing for the construction of toll plazas and an associated administrative building, the NRA will progress arrangements for the erection of the main toll plaza on the M1 motorway between the Duleek Road (R152) junction and Gormanston. Two subsidiary toll plazas will be constructed at the Donore Road (CR 63) junction, one on the southbound exit from the motorway and one on the northbound entry to the motorway. These subsidiary plazas are intended for road users travelling south who use the new Boyne Bridge and exit the motorway before reaching the main toll plaza on the motorway itself and also for road users travelling north who join the motorway after the main plaza and avail of the new bridge. Road users will pay only one toll per directional journey.

The M1 Gormanston-Monasterboice Motorway is one of eleven Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects identified by the Authority as part of the overall strategy to deliver the national roads element of the National Development Plan (NDP), 2000-2006. The NDP sets a target to secure private sector finance of ¤1.27 billion to supplement Exchequer and EU investment in the national roads programme, thereby increasing the scale of the programme and accelerating the commencement and completion of projects.

The tolling of PPP project roads provides a mechanism to recoup part of the private sector finance invested in the design, construction, operation and maintenance of new roads. These roads will be constructed to a high standard - motorway or high quality dual carriageway - providing road users with an enhanced level of service. Under the approach proposed by the Authority, toll roads will be constructed as additions to the current existing network of national roads thereby ensuring an alternative toll-free route remains available for road users who choose not to avail of the new facility.

Click here to view a map of the scheme.  (Format - Abode PDF Size: 456KB)

Toll Charges for M1 Gormanston-Monasterboice Motorway

The estimated amounts of the Tolls that it is proposed to charge are as follows -

The charges specified above are an estimate at 1st August, 2000 prices.

* VAT on tolls is 21% with effect from 1st March, 2002, but may be varied. VAT inclusive tolls will be rounded, with amounts set out in by-laws.

For more information please contact

Gerry Murphy

PPP Manager

01 6602511

or

Caroline O'Brien

Communications Officer

01 6602511 Ext. 254

086 6049430

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