Frustration that toll into town for another 14 years

ON the matter of the secondary toll into Drogheda at the Donore MI exit ramp, Deputy Fergus O’Dowd, who is chair of the Oireachtas Transport Committee, said he was the only local representative to oppose the sanction 16 years ago, and continues to keep the pressure on to have it removed.

“I was the only public representative who opposed it as county level, at the planning stages, I went to the oral hearing, you can’t point to anyone else,” he said.

“Fianna Fail insisted on it, and if you do a contract to do a job – and in this case it was a 30-year contract given – to break that contract will cost a lot of money.”

Earlier this year, Minister for Transport Shane Ross refused to suspend the toll for the duration of the forthcoming Fleadh, at an estimated cost of between €115,000 and €130,000 in compensation to CRG, the operator of the toll.

Celtic Road Group were awarded the contract in 2002, with another 14 years left to run in the contract.

“The toll is actually called the Dundalk Toll believe it or not, but they put it in Drogheda, and that was a political decision of the Government at that time,’ added the local TD.

However, he says much as he wants to see it removed, we must look to the future, and in the 2040 plan, traffic conjestion in the town will be addressed.

“Part of the plan will be that you’ll have a new road encompassing the north of Drogheda, you’ll have a new bridge across the River Boyne, and a lot of the traffic that is presently choking our town, won’t be there anymore,” he points out.

“You can look down the road or you can look back, and I’m looking to the future, which looks bright.”