It was to have closed on August 1st but the proposed date for closing the Obelisk Bridge Bridge/road is now Monday 21st of August with advance warning signs to be installed on 14th Aug 2023.
The Bridge closure is going to cause considerable traffic problems for at least nine months, probably ten, while the bridge is being repaired and add still further to the “normal” traffic chaos in Drogheda.
It has been said for many months that there is a way around this and that is to suspend tolls at the Donore Road toll booth during the repairs.
Deputy Ged Nash reckons that the Minister for Transport can save Drogheda from this anticipated gridlock for the relatively low cost of €3 million.
He has written to Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to ascertain the value of tolls collected at the Donore Road toll bridge over the last couple of years.
“The TII has reported that in 2021, that figure was close to €3.5 million and last year, the operators of the toll bridge, Celtic Roads Group collected almost €4 million in tolls, excluding VAT” Deputy Nash said.
“The Minister says that the statutory powers to set or suspend tolls lies not with him but with Transport Infrastructure Ireland and strictly speaking, he’s correct. But if he has no influence on tolls, how did he succeed in getting a six-month suspension to planned hikes, earlier this year?
“The €3 million it would cost to suspend tolls for nine months is a drop in the ocean of the Department of Transport’s budget and with this government apparently awash with money, it’s a small price to pay to avoid nine months of traffic chaos in our town.”
Deputy Nash said: “For this small price, the Minister for Transport can both avoid adding to congestion in Drogheda as well as compensate locals forced to take alternative routes during the essential works at Obelisk Bridge.
“The Minister does not lack influence in achieving this simple aim, nor does he lack the budget, he just lacks the will to do it and those travelling from North to South Drogheda will suffer as a result.”
The Louth Labour TD said: “I repeat my call for the Minister to engage with Celtic Roads Group and Transport Infrastructure Ireland to lift tolls at Donore for the duration of the Obelisk Bridge works.
“It is not good enough for the Minister to simply wash his hands of this issue. Minister Ryan must engage on this issue now and deliver a workable solution for local motorists.”
Download a map of the proposed diversion routes here.
