Exemptions for Limerick Tunnel toll

Emergency and local authority vehicles will be exempt from the toll charges set to be introduced next September when the new Limerick Tunnel is expected to become fully operational.

The National Road Authority (NRA) has published draft bylaws for the Limerick Southern Ring Road Phase Two, which is a public-private road development linking Cratloe in South East Clare with the Dock Road in Limerick City.
Although the developers of the River Shannon Tunnel, Direct Route and the National Roads Authority have to go through the formal process to set a toll, it is envisaged it will be around €1.90 for a standard motor vehicle.
The NRA has confirmed that certain classifications of vehicles and road users will be exempt from the toll charge. These include ambulance and fire brigade vehicles, vehicles used by members of the Garda Siochana or the Defence Forces in the performance of their duties, Limerick County, City and Clare County Council vehicles bearing the livery of the relevant council and being used in official duty, Direct route vehicles and specially adapted vehicles driven by disabled people.
According to NRA documents, a discount of at least 10% of the prevailing toll charge shall apply in respect of pre-payment for 20 journeys.
“The toll charges are at a level that is anticipated that a public sector subsidy will be necessary for the project. The level of toll charges necessary to fully fund the project from toll revenues alone would be considerably higher.
“The specified toll charges have been developed by the authority to ensure charges are set at an affordable level and are consistent with balancing the objectives of producing satisfactory revenue and attracting substantial traffic onto the new road,” the NRA documents stated.
It is proposed to locate the mainline toll plaza on the dual carriageway section between the grade separated junction on the proposed national road at Coonagh West and the grade separated junction at the tie-in with the existing N18 at Cratloe Castle.
A secondary toll plaza is also proposed on the single carriageway section between the grade separated junction at Coonagh West and the tie-in to the existing Clonmacken roundabout.
Due to the arrangement of the Coonagh West grade separated interchange, there is no link between the Clonmacken link road and the new dual carriageway north of the interchange.
Therefore, a road user can’t pass through both toll facilities in undertaking one journey on the scheme.
It is proposed that the mainline toll plaza will involve the management of the order of seven lanes in each direction with varying combinations of manual payment, automatic coin machine and electronic toll collection (ETC) lanes being possible under different traffic loading conditions.
It is expected the Clonmacken Link toll plaza will ultimately involve the management of the order of four lanes in each direction and the provision of a dedicated express lane for ETC.
Future expansion may involve additional lanes at the toll plazas and changes to the toll plaza arrangements in the interests of traffic management efficiency and the safety of road users as traffic flows increase.
ETC will be available at all times and a dedicated express ETC lane is also to be provided in each direction. The aim of ETC facilities is to provide the overall objective of increased traffic management efficiency and safety of road users as traffic flows increase.