Investment for toll plaza but town charge to remain
DROGHEDA RAMPS WILL BE GOING FULLY AUTOMATIC IN THE FUTURE
A €4m investment is to take place on the M1 toll plaza at Julianstown, all aimed at making it a better experience for the 35,000 motorists who pass through the facility on a daily basis.
Spanish company Indra have been contracted to carry out the extensive improvements, which include a major technology update, the first in a number of years.
‘It will be a more reliable system,’ Liam Preston, Contracts Manager with Celtic Road Group told the Drogheda Independent. It is an investment by both CRG and operators Northlink.
The new systems will allow the plaza to look at many options, including number plate recognition.
There will still be barriers and tags, but issues such as tail gating will be a target.
It’s something they get a lot of complaints about and it causes ongoing issues with cars following behind, especially when it comes to reading tags.
The works, which continue until September, will see delays at times, but every effort is being made to do the installation at night and outside peak hours.
The biggest change will be felt at the Drogheda ramps which are manned at certain hours. They will be fully automatic and there will be expanded payment methods there, with the ability to give change to those passing through.
‘It is the busiest toll in the country but people should not experience any issues,’ Liam added.
There are up to 70 people employed at the plaza along with subcontractors.