Tolling bypass would return traffic to Ennis

PUTTING a toll on the Ennis Bypass could see the return of major traffic congestion to the county town, this week’s meeting of Clare County Council was told.

Councillors Pat Daly and Pat McMahon entered a motion asking that the council “immediately contact the National Roads Authority and the Minister for Transport, stating our opposition to the proposed tolling of the Ennis Bypass”.
Councillor Daly said that the introduction of a toll is likely to “cause a lot of problems” and said he didn’t want to see the return of serious traffic to parts of Ennis such as the Clare Road, Mill Road and Gort Road.
Councillor McMahon said that prior to his native Newmarket getting bypassed, people used to refer to the “Newmarket stopover” so inevitable were delays there. He said the vast majority of trucks will not use the Limerick Tunnel because of the toll.
Councillor Johnny Flynn claimed if a toll is put on the Ennis Bypass, it would be the first time in the country that a charge had been imposed at such a location. He said that tolls are in place at tunnels or bridges, or where drivers enter a motorway system.