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M50 Second West-Link Toll Bridge
Description
This pilot project was announced by Government on June 1st, 1999. The West-Link toll Bridge, which first opened in 1990, is located on the M50 motorway which lies to the west of Dublin. The pilot PPP project involved the construction of a second bridge crossing at West-Link along side the existing bridge crossing. The original West-Link Bridge, which had an average daily vehicle throughput of almost 80,000 vehicles, operated with two lanes in each direction. The new twin bridge structure increased the number of lanes to three in each direction with the original bridge serving northbound traffic and the new bridge serving southbound traffic. The bridge opened on 21st September, 2003.
Pilot Project |
PPP Type | Current Stage | Next Event | Estimated Date (Next Event) | Contract Awarded to | Contract Award Date |
| Yes | Concession | Completed | Bridge officially opened September 2003 | N/A | Existing concession | N/A |
Please click here for the most recent list of maximum tolls payable.
Background Information Note on West-Link Toll Agreement
| West-Link Toll Bridge Agreement |
|---|
The West-Link Toll Bridge Agreement was concluded between the then Dublin County Council and West-Link Toll Bridge Limited in 1987, and was subject to the approval of the Department of the Environment in accordance with the legislation applicable at the time. Under Section 66 of the Roads Act, 1993, the National Roads Authority took over all the functions, rights and liabilities of the former Dublin County Council in relation to the Toll Agreement, as part of revised statutory arrangements relating to toll roads. The West-Link Toll Road Agreement provided for the construction, maintenance and operation of 3.2 km of motorway on the M50 between the N3 and the N4 interchanges as well as the West-Link Bridge spanning 385 m over the Liffey valley. The project, which was one of the first sections of the M50 Dublin C-Ring to be completed, opened to traffic in 1990. The Toll Agreement provides that the Toll Company (NTR plc.) has, the exclusive right to toll traffic travelling on the M50 between the N4 (Galway Road interchange) and the N3 (Navan Road interchange). |
| Exchequer Share Arrangements |
| The West-Link Toll Agreement provides for an Exchequer Share of the Toll Revenue on traffic volumes in excess of annually average daily traffic volumes of 27,000 i.e., the Government gets a percentage share of the toll revenue collected once average daily traffic volumes exceed 27,000 per day averaged throughout the whole year. The Exchequer Share is payable to the Minister for Transport for the benefit of the Exchequer. The Exchequer Share traffic bands and the percentage of revenue payable by band are detailed in the Table below. Exchequer Share of Toll Revenue – Bands |
| Band | % of Toll Revenue Payable to Minister for Transport |
|---|---|
| 1 | 30% |
| 2 | 40% |
| 3 | 50% |
| 4* | 80% |
| Annual Average Daily Traffic | Payable as Exchequer Share |
|---|---|
| From 0 to 27,000 | 0% of toll revenue payable as Exchequer Share |
| First 8,000 over 27,000 i.e. 27,000 to 34,999 | 30% of toll revenue payable as Exchequer Share |
| Next 10,000 over 35,000 i.e.35,000 to 44,999 | 40% of toll revenue payable as Exchequer Share |
| From 45,000 to Band 4 figure | 50% of toll revenue payable as Exchequer Share |
| Greater than Band 4 figure | 80% of toll revenue payable as Exchequer Share |
Without the Exchequer Share mechanism the returns enjoyed by NTR would be substantially greater and no benefit would accrue to the Government, and in turn the public, from the increased traffic volumes on the M50.
*The fourth Exchequer Share band was introduced as part of the Second West-Link Bridge negotiations
Termination of West-Link Concession
The NRA, with the agreement of the Minister for Transport, entered into an agreement with NTR to terminate NTR’s concession for the West-Link toll facility from August 2008. The agreement entered into with NTR provides that NTR are compensated for the loss of the tolling rights in accordance with the terms of the West-Link agreement.
The NRA’s objective in terminating the West-Link concession was to allow for the provision of barrier free tolling arrangements on the M50, subject to the outcome of the Draft Toll Scheme statutory process, with the objective of having such arrangements operational on the M50 by August 2008.
The contract for the construction and operation of the barrier-free tolling on the M50 was awarded to the French consortium, BetEire Flow. This contract is a fixed services contract that includes the design, construction and operation for eight years.