New M50 Toll Bridge

PH01 · 09-09-2003 7:30am #1

I go back and forth on this everyday and i have to say that it is working alright so far. I mean the traffic now goes through much faster then it use to (or is that my imagination).

Also, I use the EasyPass system and they've opened a dedicated lane going south bound which is great that is unless some fool without one gets in your lane. Then its beep beep beep!

All in all a thumbs up from me.

whatchatink?

MDR · 09-09-2003 10:49am

been through it a few times,
I will nervousily say it is an improvement,
they really need to extend a third and forth lane on both side back much futher so people have a much longer time to get in and out of lane.

Victor · 09-09-2003 11:13am

Do I take it that both bridges are now open?

MDR · 09-09-2003 11:15am

they have been for some weeks.

Victor · 09-09-2003 12:03pm

Ah, I knew they had moved traffic to the new bridge, but I got the impression the were doing repairs / maintenance on the existing bridge.

PH01 · 09-09-2003 12:24pm

Originally posted by Victor
Ah, I knew they had moved traffic to the new bridge, but I got the impression the were doing repairs / maintenance on the existing bridge.

No, both lanes are open now. And the works look pretty much complete.
Victor, so you mean that you haven't been over the 'troll' bridge in quite a while? Gawd, how do you live?

Capt'n Midnight · 09-09-2003 12:55pm

So has the 30 year lease been extended - or is the new bridge only going to be tolled from the time of the original contract.

PS. that plan of tolling all enterances to the motor way

Victor · 09-09-2003 2:00pm

Originally posted by PH01
Victor, so you mean that you haven't been over the 'troll' bridge in quite a while? Gawd, how do you live?

i live in the city. I think I've only ever used the bridge 3-4 times, once as a pedestrian (the day before it opened).

Originally posted by Capt'n Midnight
So has the 30 year lease been extended - or is the new bridge only going to be tolled from the time of the original contract. PS. that plan of tolling all enterances to the motor way

The terms of the new contract are confidential. There has been no suggestion of tolling anywhere else on the M50 other than the Port Access Tunnel.

loyatemu · 09-09-2003 2:57pm

the new contract is set up so that both bridges revert to public ownership on the same date

its not anytime soon though...

Capt'n Midnight · 09-09-2003 4:25pm

But is that date 30 years from the first bridge being opened or from the second.

ie. even though the first bridge has been paid for , have National Toll Roads been given an extension on thier license to print money.

Also has anyone complained about the euro round up of the price ??
It should only be €1.20 not €1.30 for cars...

Victor · 09-09-2003 5:16pm

Originally posted by Capt'n Midnight
ie. even though the first bridge has been paid for , have National Toll Roads been given an extension on thier license to print money.

Not quite - the government and local authorities are getting healthy chunks of the money, which is going to support other services.

Lord Nikon · 09-09-2003 5:42pm

I have this great plan....

Say, i lived in templeogue okay, and I wanted to go to the airport or Swords okay... I would have to pay to use the tollbridge, well since the M50 would be the quickest and most logical way to go, right.

Anyway... it plain simple that i would want to come home at some stage, back across the M50 via the Tollbridge, right...

So...why dont they just charge double what it costs for whatever vehicel going from North to South okay... and make it free for South to North, this eliminating the "bumper to bumper" traffic that goes all the way to the "Mad Cow".....

Just a though.... any elaboration

Victor · 09-09-2003 6:59pm

Originally posted by neuromancer
Say, i lived in templeogue okay, and I wanted to go to the airport or Swords okay... I would have to pay to use the tollbridge, well since the M50 would be the quickest and most logical way to go, right.

Why not get the 16A bus from Terenure? It would be much cheaper (€3 or less return) and probably quicker (much of the distance is in QBCs). **And** you get to read the paper on the way.

Originally posted by neuromancer
So...why dont they just charge double what it costs for whatever vehicel going from North to South okay... and make it free for South to North, this eliminating the "bumper to bumper" traffic that goes all the way to the "Mad Cow".....

Because certain people would start abusing it by driving through the minor roads around Lucan / Leixlip and Chaplizod on the tolled direction.

Capt'n Midnight · 10-09-2003 12:32pm

I whole heartedly agree and this has nothing to do with the fact that I usually only use the Toll bridge to go to the Airport or when going to DNS after work, or the fact that I live in Lucan

PH01 · 12-09-2003 10:39am

Originally posted by neuromancer
I have this great plan....

Say, i lived in templeogue okay, and I wanted to go to the airport or Swords okay... I would have to pay to use the tollbridge, well since the M50 would be the quickest and most logical way to go, right.

Anyway... it plain simple that i would want to come home at some stage, back across the M50 via the Tollbridge, right...

So...why dont they just charge double what it costs for whatever vehicel going from North to South okay... and make it free for South to North, this eliminating the "bumper to bumper" traffic that goes all the way to the "Mad Cow".....

Just a though.... any elaboration

Pay one way and free the other? They do that alright on the Sydney harbour bridge alright. But this only really works where there isn't an alternative route close by. Around the WestLink it's different where you could use Chapelizord or Leixlip.

Another solution to this could be if they make more EaziPass lanes available. I have one and it's F###### GREAT!!

cravian · 14-09-2003 3:23pm

They do that on the second Severn crossing on the M4 in Wales too - only charge in one direction - mind you it's a *long* way round.

Seriously though it has to be the worse decision ever to put a toll bridge there - why didn't the government just pay for the damn bridge in the first place out of it's own pocket? They're supposed to be 'public servants' aren't they.

9 times out of 10 that bridge is the source of congestion.

DMC · 14-09-2003 3:43pm

One reason is that this country was fairly bankrupt when the original bridge was planned, middle-late 1980's.

Mercury_Tilt · 14-09-2003 3:52pm

This post has been deleted.

Lord Nikon · 15-09-2003 10:04am

1. If the Tollbridge is a problem, remove it. It's only obvious that this is a cause of conjestion and not a solution to conjestion.

The solution would be for the "government" to buy the bridge and remove the Tolling Station on it, thus providing a constant flow of traffic up and down the motorway.

The "governments solution" is to keep this silly bridge as a Toll bridge, allowing the government to make money from us poor motorists. Another bridge has been added, but it doesn't seem to speed up traffic flow, at all.

For gods sake, what kind of circus are these clowns running. I could do a better job.

2. Who's great idea was it to put the new Luas(ha) line onto the "MadCow Roundabout"? Like seriously, if things aren't bad enough there as it is. I bet the people who desided to put it there don't have to worry about driving down the Naas road.

Is should have it's own flyover, over the city, so it wouldn't effect traffic on the roads. Simple.

Lord Nikon · 15-09-2003 10:05am

Originally posted by DMC
One reason is that this country was fairly bankrupt when the original bridge was planned, middle-late 1980's.

True, but these days it seems like the government has more than enough money.

Lord Nikon · 15-09-2003 10:08am

Originally posted by cravian

9 times out of 10 that bridge is the source of congestion.

Yeah, and the other 1 time conjestion is coming from the "Mad Cow"...

MDR · 15-09-2003 10:09am

The "governments solution" is to keep this silly bridge as a Toll bridge, allowing the government to make money from us poor motorists. Another bridge has been added, but it doesn't seem to speed up traffic flow, at all.

Provided that the 'National Toll Road's wanted to sell the bridge (unlikely) or that you could compel them to sell the bridge (unlikely) and that you could afford to buy it (given the amount of money the bridge makes and the state of public fincances also unlikely).

Lord Nikon · 15-09-2003 10:12am

Originally posted by Victor
Not quite - the government and local authorities are getting healthy chunks of the money, which is going to support other services.

The only service that it should support is the reduction in traffic conjestion on the M50, and the increase in traffic flow on the M50.

Capt'n Midnight · 15-09-2003 1:02pm

As far as I can recall
The toll bridge cost £30m of private money. .

Needless to say it would have been useless without the £300m of public money for the roads leading up to it.
a ) So for an extra 10% the govt could have kept all the tolls.
b ) the govt never enforced the 70m rule (max allowed queue before traffic should go toll free)
c ) there was no buyout clause - it's a 30 m mortgague paid over 30 years - like any homeowner the govt should be able to pay the balance and take possesion
d ) NTR are using incorrect euro rounding to over charge by 10c - no wonder the Sweden voted NO
e ) NTR also tried to put toll booths at the Lucan road junction and had to remove the foundations ...
f ) How many times have NTR opened the toll booths volantarily to relieve traffc ?????

It's a bit like that bypass (kinnegad?) where a slightly larger spend would have got a section of motorway rather than a 40mph road with one lane in each direction (note: it is planned to upgrade it to a motorway later on anyway) - False economies do not save money..

MDR · 15-09-2003 1:08pm

I would like to hear the govt's offical justification for tolling ...

jerk · 15-09-2003 1:13pm

im buying a car this week and will be doing north south trip every day, whats the deal with the easipass?
how much do you save?

Lord Nikon · 15-09-2003 2:51pm

Originally posted by jerk
im buying a car this week and will be doing north south trip every day, whats the deal with the easipass?
how much do you save?

Well, what you will save, you will end up paying on fuel sittingin your car waiting for the traffic to move. Don't get your hopes up just yet.:(

Victor · 16-09-2003 1:38pm

Originally posted by neuromancer
1. If the Tollbridge is a problem, remove it. It's only obvious that this is a cause of conjestion and not a solution to conjestion.

the problem with removing the toll is (a) you loose revenue (b) more people use the road more often, creating just as much congestion.

Originally posted by neuromancer
Is should have it's own flyover, over the city, so it wouldn't effect traffic on the roads. Simple.

Indeed, I've suggested it for years.

Lord Nikon · 16-09-2003 3:50pm

Originally posted by Victor
Indeed, I've suggested it for years.

PH01 · 19-09-2003 7:56am

It's been a couple of weeks since the schools are back and the only hold ups I've seen on the M50 are those around the Blanch and MadCow interchanges. While there are very few hold-ups at the toll bridge, apart from those dickheadz I meet in the EasyPass lanes who don't have passes! "Get outta da way ya idiot"!

Victor · 19-09-2003 1:54pm

Originally posted by MDR
I would like to hear the govt's offical justification for tolling ...

To discourage convenience journies that lead to congestion - see M25 in London.

gurramok · 19-09-2003 6:54pm

How does one go about getting an Easypass ?

I have heard of it before but it hasnt been publicised on how to get one !
I use the M50 a few times a month, would come in handy

Strange enough though, that the new bridge i thought was built fairly quickly, astounding for certain construction projects in this country

Victor · 19-09-2003 7:24pm

Originally posted by gurramok
Strange enough though, that the new bridge i thought was built fairly quickly, astounding for certain construction projects in this country

(a) it's a small project (b) they had it all done before (c) they did the foundations at the same time they did the first bridge.

DMC · 19-09-2003 7:59pm

Originally posted by gurramok
How does one go about getting an Easypass ?

I have heard of it before but it hasnt been publicised on how to get one !
I use the M50 a few times a month, would come in handy

Strange enough though, that the new bridge i thought was built fairly quickly, astounding for certain construction projects in this country

www.eazypass.ie

All there.

DMC · 19-09-2003 8:04pm

From www.eazypass.ie ....

The bridge is the second highest in Ireland and forms a major link in the Dublin M50 motorway system to Dublin Airport. The bridge, which traverses the River Liffey at the Strawberry Beds, is 385 metres in length with its highest elevation above the river at 41.5 metres.

So where is the highest bridge in Ireland???

Victor · 19-09-2003 8:26pm

Originally posted by DMC
So where is the highest bridge in Ireland???

Technically some bridge across reservoirs might be higher.

A google indicates a planned bridge on the Waterford - New Ross Bypass will be higher. Some railway bridge might be high Chetwynd viaduct or on the Arklow - Wicklow line.

I did some googling and came up with these contender for the biggest irish bridges

Chetwynd Viaduct (90ft high and 500ft long.) http://www.messiaen.co.uk/images/bantry05.jpg

Ballydehob viaduct http://www.messiaen.co.uk/bantryrail/skib/pic6.htm

Kinsale Bridge

Nineteen Arches (Arklow)

Wexford Bridge (low level) - 383m long

Foyle Bridge Derry – 1.5km long

Boyne (Rail) Viaduct and Bridge (Drogheda) 98 feet high and 17,000 (perhaps 1,700?) feet long

Craigmore Viaduct (Bessbrook) variously 126-140 feet high (38.4 –42.7m) x 0.25 (400m) miles

Broadmeadow Bridge Swords (low level) - 320 metres long

I also found this wonderful discussion about the Youghal bridge (longish, but not very long) http://www.oireachtas-debates.gov.ie/index.html?http://www.oireachtas-debates.gov.ie/D/0149/D.0149.195503080034.html

Of course several suspension (Cork footbridges) and cable stayed (Boyne motorway bridge – 95m, Luas Taney Bridge) bridges will have higher towers.

Victor · 21-09-2003 8:07pm

Eh, a bit late lads:

http://www.breakingnews.ie/2003/09/21/story114289.html

New M50 bridge to open
21/09/2003 - 9:46:11 am

The second M50 bridge over the Liffey Valley is being opened today. The aim is for the bridge to reduce tailbacks on the country's most congested road.

The National Roads Authority says the new west-link bridge is an important part of plans to upgrade the M50 - it will double the capacity and should help alleviate the daily tailbacks.

The NRA says a lack of finance at the design stage resulted in the inadequate design. Since then there are about 500,000 more cars on the roads, adding to the problem.

Victor · 23-09-2003 2:12pm

http://home.eircom.net/content/unison/national/1543515?view=Eircomnet

€700m road plan after dismal failure of no-car day
From:The Irish Independent
Tuesday, 23rd September, 2003
Treacy Hogan Environment Correspondent

A €700m plan to improve access to Dublin from all parts of the country is to be handed to the Government shortly.

It has been drawn up by the National Roads Authority in the hope of finally ending the capital's gridlock.

The news emerged yesterday as European Car Free Day provided the clearest possible evidence of how bad the problem has become.

Dublin joined hundreds of other cities and towns in an attempt to illustrate the value of leaving the car at home.

But the day was branded an unmitigated disaster with five-mile tailbacks developing along the M50 from the new €23m Westlink bridge - less than 24 hours after it was opened by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.

Traffic volumes were heavier than usual and Dublin Bus reported no increase in passengers despite offering free travel between 10am and 1pm.

Bus Eireann said its inter-city passengers using the M50 were stuck in delays of up to an hour because of the traffic build-up at the West Link.

The ambitious new plan involves extra lanes on the M50 and a series of multi-lane flyovers.

The proposals are due to get the green light from the board of the National Roads Authority (NRA), the Irish Independent has learned.

New lanes, stretching 30km along the M50 from Sandyford in south Dublin to Dublin airport on the northside, form a key part of the plan.

There will also be a series of flyover "spaghetti junction" links at the Red "Mad" Cow Roundabout, and other chronic interchange bottlenecks where the M50 meets the main roads from Belfast, Sligo, Galway, Cork and Limerick.

After being considered by the NRA board, the plan will go to the Government who will have to sanction the funding. The Government has already made it clear that up to €1.2bn will be available for national roads next year.

Under the blueprint, motorists coming from the Airport who want to go to Cork, for example, will have a dedicated flyover to avoid queueing through three sets of traffic lights at the Red Cow M50 junction.

Other "freeflow" flyovers are in the plan for the M1 Belfast-Dublin intersection with the M50 as these are the two worst bottlenecks.

Michael Tobin, NRA chief executive, said they hoped to have contractors on site within 1½ years of getting the green light with the entire project taking three years to complete.

"This will go a long way to relieving the congestion on the M50 and the interchanges," Mr Tobin told the Irish Independent.

Under the plan:

* There will be extra lanes on the M50.

* Motorists travelling south on the M1 from Belfast will be given a flyover to join the M50 and allow them to head in the Cork direction.

* Motorists heading from the Naas direction towards Dublin who want to turn right at the Red Cow Roundabout and drive towards south Dublin and beyond will have a flyover.

* Drivers who want to exit the M50 and head west will benefit from a new flyover.

New M50 Toll Bridge

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