M1 protest

whereto now

Anyone know who the people are protesting against the M1 toll, I just came through the toll at Donore and saw a couple of men on the road. Big signs up too, not a great day to be out......

I think Cllr. Ken O Heiligh is the fella behind it all.

Not sure I see the purpose of it (removing the toll, that is), but there have been many a heated argument on here about it.

whereto now

Right thanks for that, seems like a bit of a waste of time alrite, but good luck to him.....hope he brought his wellies....:)

enricoh

what a hero!
1.80 to skip a dozen red lights n a twenty minute delay - absolute bargain!
hope they're not reading this n put up the price though!

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

You have to love his innocence. He seems to think there are votes in acting a fool about the toll. It's the best 1.90 I spend. Saves me more than 1.90 in my time and fuel. If he doesn't want to use a road build as a toll road by PPP then let him just go around it. He seems to want the benefit at no cost.
Are there local elections this year?????

gipi

The toll has been 1.90 since Jan 2013. NRA don't appear to have increased prices for this year.

Nesta99

Isnt his argument that depending on exactly where some people live it costs 1.80 every time to to get into Drogheda?

GoodisonPark

Nesta99 wrote: »

Isnt his argument that depending on exactly where some people live it costs 1.80 every time to to get into Drogheda?

Yes that's the argument alright.
There's no toll to enter Dundalk for example.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Nesta99 wrote: »

Isnt his argument that depending on exactly where some people live it costs 1.80 every time to to get into Drogheda?

This was gone in to here ad infinitum about a year and a half ago. The old pre-toll roads still exist if anybody wants to use them. This is just a bee in his bonnet that seems to pop up every time he's canvassing.

Lord TSC

IIRC, he said back then that he did that protest every Jan 1st.

Here's one of the topics where the Counciller even came on (apparently) and discussed the issue.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056367945

Nesta99

Adelaide Nervous Hedge wrote: »

This was gone in to here ad infinitum about a year and a half ago. The old pre-toll roads still exist if anybody wants to use them. This is just a bee in his bonnet that seems to pop up every time he's canvassing.

Grand so, too lazy to trawl old posts. Talk about fighting a lost cause. As the pre-toll roads are still there is there touch of irritation that the toll was at Drogheda rather than Dundalk? Genuine question not trolling (forgive the term in the context lol).

As an aside was driving in France over the Christmas break and I paid €30 for a toll, so as much as we whinge and resent forms of indirect taxation imagine Haulage companies and the like dealing with that level of cost:eek:

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Nesta99 wrote: »

Grand so, too lazy to trawl old posts. Talk about fighting a lost cause. As the pre-toll roads are still there is there touch of irritation that the toll was at Drogheda rather than Dundalk? Genuine question not trolling (forgive the term in the context lol).

As an aside was driving in France over the Christmas break and I paid €30 for a toll, so as much as we whinge and resent forms of indirect taxation imagine Haulage companies and the like dealing with that level of cost:eek:

I think you have unearthed his objections very succinctly.

Nesta99

Why am I not surprised!

Lord TSC

That, and he knows it's a bit of good PR fighting a lost cause that people are all irritated by, rather than fighting the harder and less popular topics.

SolvableKnave

Isn't the whole issue about the tolls on the slip roads? Whatever about the motorway itself being tolled, fair enough. We've had the M50 like that for how long now? The problem is that there are tolls on the slip roads on the Dundalk side of the bridge, so, if your doing a small hop between the two slip roads, not using the bridge (because there are no slip roads after the bridge on the Dublin side until you go through the main toll gate) you still have to pay a toll on the slip road. That's the big issue I believe. Because of those tolls on those particular slip roads, Drogheda has effectively become the ONLY tolled town in the country.

the_syco

SolvableKnave wrote: »

The problem is that there are tolls on the slip roads on the Dundalk side of the bridge, so, if your doing a small hop between the two slip roads, not using the bridge (because there are no slip roads after the bridge on the Dublin side until you go through the main toll gate) you still have to pay a toll on the slip road.

Could you throw up a Google Maps link, please, of said road?

Nesta99

SolvableKnave wrote: »

Isn't the whole issue about the tolls on the slip roads? Whatever about the motorway itself being tolled, fair enough. We've had the M50 like that for how long now? The problem is that there are tolls on the slip roads on the Dundalk side of the bridge, so, if your doing a small hop between the two slip roads, not using the bridge (because there are no slip roads after the bridge on the Dublin side until you go through the main toll gate) you still have to pay a toll on the slip road. That's the big issue I believe. Because of those tolls on those particular slip roads, Drogheda has effectively become the ONLY tolled town in the country.

But I can enter and leave Drogheda via multiple routes toll free, so how is it a tolled town?

Scotty #

SolvableKnave wrote: »

Isn't the whole issue about the tolls on the slip roads? ...so, if your doing a small hop between the two slip roads....

It's a MOTORWAY! It's not designed or intended for 'small hops' and to do so would be extremely dangerous.

It's more likely we will see tolls introduced at every slip road on/off motorways than see this one closed. I'm sure Howlin mentioned it recently. You would then be charged according to your distance travelled. A much fairer system.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

SolvableKnave wrote: »

Isn't the whole issue about the tolls on the slip roads? Whatever about the motorway itself being tolled, fair enough. We've had the M50 like that for how long now? The problem is that there are tolls on the slip roads on the Dundalk side of the bridge, so, if your doing a small hop between the two slip roads, not using the bridge (because there are no slip roads after the bridge on the Dublin side until you go through the main toll gate) you still have to pay a toll on the slip road. That's the big issue I believe. Because of those tolls on those particular slip roads, Drogheda has effectively become the ONLY tolled town in the country.

I don't know what route you are taking as there is no toll on the slip on the Dundalk side of Drogheda (mell). You pay the toll to cross the bridge. You do not need to cross the bridge to enter Drogheda from North or South. The toll is on the slips you would use if you have crossed the bridge.

borderlinemeath

In all fairness, if you take Dundalk and Swords for example, the two major towns either side of Drogheda - there are outer relief roads on both, you can take the N32 all around Dundalk, avoiding the centre of town and traffic, it is free flowing with a series of roundabouts save for a few sets of pedestrian lights. The R132 at Swords is pretty much the same, outer arterial road, free flowing roundabouts for the most part. Then you have Drogheda where there is no outer relief road and either pay the toll on the Motorway or suffer and drive through the town and it's at least 15 sets of traffic lights to get through the town. I think this is where the problem lies, the toll was specifically placed at Drogheda because the alternative is so bad it was hoped to force the majority onto the motorway, but it's the townspeople of Drogheda that suffer because of it.

P. Breathnach

borderlinemeath wrote: »

... the toll was specifically placed at Drogheda because the alternative is so bad it was hoped to force the majority onto the motorway, but it's the townspeople of Drogheda that suffer because of it.

Let's not create a conspiracy theory when there is a better explanation.

The toll is at Drogheda because there was a very expensive bridge built to take the M1 over the Boyne, and a PPP was involved in funding the bridge and a stretch of motorway either side of it. That now needs to be paid for.

The tolled stretch of motorway is a benefit to the people of Drogheda because people like me pay the toll and no longer clog up the streets of their town.

borderlinemeath

P. Breathnach wrote: »

Let's not create a conspiracy theory when there is a better explanation.

The toll is at Drogheda because there was a very expensive bridge built to take the M1 over the Boyne, and a PPP was involved in funding the bridge and a stretch of motorway either side of it. That now needs to be paid for.

The tolled stretch of motorway is a benefit to the people of Drogheda because people like me pay the toll and no longer clog up the streets of their town.

You might use it, but there's plenty who don't, and won't because they might be going from one side of the town to the other 3/4 times a day and it adds up. I live on the southside and worked on the northside for a time, I could get to work in 7 minutes with the toll or about 20/25 minutes going through town, If I wanted to go home for lunch it would cost me another €3.80 to be able to spend more than 10 minutes at home, same goes for people picking up kids from schools etc and I don't know a lot of people that would be happy spending €7.60 a day to avoid traffic in their own town.

Why isn't there a relief road in the town then? There's been talk of bridges for god knows how many years but they never come to anything. There's been plenty of talk of conspiracy theories with the amount of extra traffic lights in the town, not to mention the lights at scotch hall and southgate shopping centres that are supposed to be sensor lights but somehow manage to not work on sensors when both shopping centres are closed?

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=72543741

SolvableKnave

the_syco wrote: »

Could you throw up a Google Maps link, please, of said road?

Here ya go. Donore Road. Two slip roads. Two tolls. Both on the Dundalk side of the bridge.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

SolvableKnave wrote: »

Here ya go. Donore Road. Two slip roads. Two tolls. Both on the Dundalk side of the bridge.

That is junction 9 south of the bridge. Junction 10 at mell is before the bridge and toll free coming from Dundalk.

As already stated. You only pay the toll if you use the tolled stretch of the road and the bridge. Just don't use it.

SolvableKnave

Adelaide Nervous Hedge wrote: »

That is junction 9 south of the bridge. Junction 10 at mell is before the bridge and toll free coming from Dundalk.

As already stated. You only pay the toll if you use the tolled stretch of the road and the bridge. Just don't use it.

Thats fair enough. And I avoid them at all cost. BUT, why have them on the slip roads in the first place?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

SolvableKnave wrote: »

Thats fair enough. And I avoid them at all cost. BUT, why have them on the slip roads in the first place?

How else would you pay for using the bridge? The plaza is much further on. Do you want to have to drive to the plaza and then turn back to donore rd?

borderlinemeath

borderlinemeath wrote: »

You might use it, but there's plenty who don't, and won't because they might be going from one side of the town to the other 3/4 times a day and it adds up. I live on the southside and worked on the northside for a time, I could get to work in 7 minutes with the toll or about 20/25 minutes going through town, If I wanted to go home for lunch it would cost me another €3.80 to be able to spend more than 10 minutes at home, same goes for people picking up kids from schools etc and I don't know a lot of people that would be happy spending €7.60 a day to avoid traffic in their own town.

Why isn't there a relief road in the town then? There's been talk of bridges for god knows how many years but they never come to anything. There's been plenty of talk of conspiracy theories with the amount of extra traffic lights in the town, not to mention the lights at scotch hall and southgate shopping centres that are supposed to be sensor lights but somehow manage to not work on sensors when both shopping centres are closed?

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=72543741

Motoryways shouldn't be used for short hops, so it's not a bad thing that you don't use it to get across what is, in real terms, a small town.

SolvableKnave

Adelaide Nervous Hedge wrote: »

How else would you pay for using the bridge? The plaza is much further on. Do you want to have to drive to the plaza and then turn back to donore rd?

Thats a ridiculous statement. Your not using the bridge on that stretch of the road if your heading north or coming from that direction. Thats the problem. Your paying a toll for something your not using on your journey. They are the only tolled slip roads in the country.

borderlinemeath

Deleted User wrote: »

Motoryways shouldn't be used for short hops, so it's not a bad thing that you don't use it to get across what is, in real terms, a small town.

In real terms? Drogheda is one of the biggest towns in Ireland.

My point which I made earlier was that there is no outer relief road, such as the roads that surround Dundalk and Swords and greatly help the inhabitants of those towns from A to B. Have you ever lived in Drogheda? It's one thing passing through every so often, quite another to deal with the 15 sets of traffic lights through the centre of the town on a daily basis. I wouldn't care if the ramp tolls were still in use if there was a relief road with roundabouts rather than bloody traffic lights put in place and a new bridge built to cope with the extra traffic that the town has to cope with from both toll dodgers and new inhabitants.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

SolvableKnave wrote: »

Thats a ridiculous statement. Your not using the bridge on that stretch of the road if your heading north or coming from that direction. Thats the problem. Your paying a toll for something your not using on your journey. They are the only tolled slip roads in the country.

Please, please give an example of a route with a from A to B, as you just keep saying the slip road is tolled on the Dundalk side of the bridge. A bit of clarity might solve this whole thing. Where are you going to or coming from that you use the slip road without the motorway tolled section and cannot access by an unrolled route?

SolvableKnave

SolvableKnave wrote: »

Thats a ridiculous statement. Your not using the bridge on that stretch of the road if your heading north or coming from that direction. Thats the problem. Your paying a toll for something your not using on your journey. They are the only tolled slip roads in the country.

The section of the road that is tolled is between junction 10 and junction 7. The slip roads which are tolled are to ensure that anyone who uses any part of that stretch of motorway pays the toll, they don't pay the toll to use the slip roads.:rolleyes:
I'm not bothered going through every motorway but off the top of my head the Enfield by-pass has "tolled slip roads". Generally the reason for not "tolling slip roads" is long distances between junctions meaning that the stretch to be tolled is located within two junctions or there's a one-way junction in the middle.

borderlinemeath wrote: »

In real terms? Drogheda is one of the biggest towns in Ireland.

It's a small town in European terms or in World terms, i.e., anywhere but Ireland where we think every town and village "deserves" a motorway-grade bypass.

My point which I made earlier was that there is no outer relief road, such as the roads that surround Dundalk and Swords and greatly help the inhabitants of those towns from A to B. Have you ever lived in Drogheda? It's one thing passing through every so often, quite another to deal with the 15 sets of traffic lights through the centre of the town on a daily basis. I wouldn't care if the ramp tolls were still in use if there was a relief road with roundabouts rather than bloody traffic lights put in place and a new bridge built to cope with the extra traffic that the town has to cope with from both toll dodgers and new inhabitants.

So you want to build a new bridge to handle the people who won't pay the toll as it stands?

Nesta99

Ironic thing about all this is that business people in Dundalk would love to have any ring rd disappear as they believe it would increase numbers of people through the town and thus increase trade. No pleasing people. In the greater scheme of things 20 mins journey through urban areas wouldnt warrant a ring rd. Now back iin the days it could take an hour to get through Drogheda, Balbriggan, Julianstwn, Dunleer etc it was time to pack the tea and sandwiches to get to Dublin Airport and home again. Even Dundalk inner relief road came to a bottleneck at Newry Rd Bridge until the mllenium bridge was opened 2001 (i think) causing traffic to back up the town. 8 sets of lights i count through the centre of Dundalk?

borderlinemeath

Deleted User wrote: »

It's a small town in European terms or in World terms, i.e., anywhere but Ireland where we think every town and village "deserves" a motorway-grade bypass.

But we're not talking about European towns and cities. Are you comparing our two lane motorway to the 5 lane autobahns or the motorways in France, or even the UK for that matter? Because they are nowhere near the standard of our European counterparts so to compare Drogheda to other European towns and cities in your 'real terms' is laughable.

So you want to build a new bridge to handle the people who won't pay the toll as it stands?

For the residents of Drogheda who have to suffer with the traffic every day. You were the very one that stated that 'motorways shouldn't be used for short journeys' :rolleyes: so what do you expect the residents to do?? Suffer with the traffic or use the motorway?? It's one or the other. The last bridge to be built in Drogheda was the pedestrian bridge at scotch hall, the towns road infrastructure across the boyne hasn't been touched in about 40 years bar the toll bridge and the Haymarket bridge which is of no use other than to get into the car park and up to West St. The town has expanded hugely and nothing has been done to help the residents navigate the town.

Peppa Pig

Adelaide Nervous Hedge wrote: »

You pay the toll to cross the bridge.

Adelaide Nervous Hedge wrote: »

As already stated. You only pay the toll if you use the tolled stretch of the road and the bridge. Just don't use it.

You don't have to use the bridge to pay the toll. Coming from Balbriggan to the Donore road means you pay at the toll plaza but come off before you go near the bridge.

borderlinemeath

borderlinemeath wrote: »

But we're not talking about European towns and cities. Are you comparing our two lane motorway to the 5 lane autobahns or the motorways in France, or even the UK for that matter? Because they are nowhere near the standard of our European counterparts so to compare Drogheda to other European towns and cities in your 'real terms' is laughable.

Drive them. Loads of Motorways across Northern France are mainly 2 lanes and it'll cost you over 20 quid to get to near Belgium. As for standards, another load of "oh we Irish are so terrible at everything" rubbish. Our motorways have a 160km/h design speed, higher than some of the French motorways you'll pay through the nose to driver on with their 200m off-slip before a right-angle turn with a 50km/h speed limit.

For the residents of Drogheda who have to suffer with the traffic every day. You were the very one that stated that 'motorways shouldn't be used for short journeys' :rolleyes: so what do you expect the residents to do?? Suffer with the traffic or use the motorway?? It's one or the other.

Yes, it is one or the other. Where did I suggest they should use the motorway for around-town journeys? You realise towns will very, very rarely allow a completely non-stop run from one end to another?

The last bridge to be built in Drogheda was the pedestrian bridge at scotch hall, the towns road infrastructure across the boyne hasn't been touched in about 40 years bar the toll bridge and the Haymarket bridge which is of no use other than to get into the car park and up to West St. The town has expanded hugely and nothing has been done to help the residents navigate the town.

Matter for the council, not the NRA. It's a local issue, not a national one and irrelevant to the M1 and its toll.

borderlinemeath

Deleted User wrote: »

Drive them. Loads of Motorways across Northern France are mainly 2 lanes and it'll cost you over 20 quid to get to near Belgium. As for standards, another load of "oh we Irish are so terrible at everything" rubbish. Our motorways have a 160km/h design speed, higher than some of the French motorways you'll pay through the nose to driver on with their 200m off-slip before a right-angle turn with a 50km/h speed limit.

I have driven in maybe 6 or 7 European countries. I've paid the tolls and yes they are far greater than here but I am of the opinion that the transport system in the majority of countries I visited are far superior than here. The argument is whether the town of Drogheda should be penalised for the toll when the likes of Swords and Dundalk get away without having the problems that Drogheda does. Would you be happy to see toll ramps put at the Ballymac and the south Dundalk exit to ensure you paid every time you went into your own town? Sure you would:rolleyes:

Yes, it is one or the other. Where did I suggest they should use the motorway for around-town journeys? You realise towns will very, very rarely allow a completely non-stop run from one end to another?

I've managed to do that in Dundalk by using the N52 very easily. Much easier town to drive in, far less traffic lights, ease of movement for drivers.

Matter for the council, not the NRA. It's a local issue, not a national one and irrelevant to the M1 and its toll.

The M1 toll in Drogheda is a local issue and the fact that there's little or no infrastructure over the Boyne is the NRAs way to ensure that any new bridge isn't used as a toll dodging route. There has been talk of a bridge from the Marsh Rd to the North Quay to alleviate traffic heading for Baltray/Termonfeckin and also a bridge from Rathmullen Rd to Mell to alleviate traffic on the bridge of Peace but neither will get funding for fear it will take money off the toll.

Lord TSC

This all sounds very familiar. :P

borderlinemeath

borderlinemeath wrote: »

I have driven in maybe 6 or 7 European countries. I've paid the tolls and yes they are far greater than here but I am of the opinion that the transport system in the majority of countries I visited are far superior than here. The argument is whether the town of Drogheda should be penalised for the toll when the likes of Swords and Dundalk get away without having the problems that Drogheda does. Would you be happy to see toll ramps put at the Ballymac and the south Dundalk exit to ensure you paid every time you went into your own town? Sure you would:rolleyes:

From where to where? Are you familiar with the idea of population density, population spread, transport nodes etc.? Also something of a difference in terms of how long the motorway systems have been constructed. If driving from Dundalk to most of Europe the only bit that isn't motorway is if you go via Rosslare, because the demand isn't there. There are few decebt-sized population centres on the island not connected by motorway.
If they built a new road and tolled it I'd use the old road, simple.

I've managed to do that in Dundalk by using the N52 very easily. Much easier town to drive in, far less traffic lights, ease of movement for drivers.

From where to where? The majority of journeys will involve going through town and plenty of lights and traffic lights if I want to go from here without using the motorway to DkIT I'd go through I think 12 sets of lights and some pedestrian crossings. To use the bypass would still mean 9 sets of lights along roundabouts and a longer route. That's what happens living in a town.

The M1 toll in Drogheda is a local issue and the fact that there's little or no infrastructure over the Boyne is the NRAs way to ensure that any new bridge isn't used as a toll dodging route. There has been talk of a bridge from the Marsh Rd to the North Quay to alleviate traffic heading for Baltray/Termonfeckin and also a bridge from Rathmullen Rd to Mell to alleviate traffic on the bridge of Peace but neither will get funding for fear it will take money off the toll.

This is why I sometimes with governments just wouldn't build anything.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

All this nonsense about the size of Drogheda. It is not a big town. 20 minutes stuck in traffic is nothing compared to Dublin, Cork etc.
As for the ease of travelling through Dundalk compared to Drogheda. Try the N52 in Dundalk at commuter or school times. It is grid locked. Likewise the Carrick Rd approach to the town. This happens all over. It is not unique to Drogheda. So let's no turn this in to a persecution complex or a Dundalk versus Drogheda issue.

borderlinemeath

Adelaide Nervous Hedge wrote: »

All this nonsense about the size of Drogheda. It is not a big town. 20 minutes stuck in traffic is nothing compared to Dublin, Cork etc.
As for the ease of travelling through Dundalk compared to Drogheda. Try the N52 in Dundalk at commuter or school times. It is grid locked. Likewise the Carrick Rd approach to the town. This happens all over. It is not unique to Drogheda. So let's no turn this in to a persecution complex or a Dundalk versus Drogheda issue.

How very handy for you to say when you're in Dundalk:rolleyes:.

The most vocal opponents of the ramp tolls on both threads don't even live in Drogheda, and I'm sure you would welcome ramp tolls with open arms if they were installed in Dundalk.

locum-motion

SolvableKnave wrote: »

H... Both on the Dundalk side of the bridge.

Factually incorrect. Both tolls are south of the bridge.

locum-motion

SolvableKnave wrote: »

... They are the only tolled slip roads in the country.

Again, factually incorrect.
Slip road from Shannon Tunnell towards Caherdavin have tolls.
Slip roads near the Johnstown Marriot Hotel on the M4 have tolls.

They're just two that I can think of right now, but I'm fairly sure there's more.

But, in any case, you need to get away from the idea that they are "tolled slip roads". They're not. They are merely roads used to access or to exit a tolled section of motorway. (And by the way, it's not a 'toll bridge' either.)

In the case of the M1, there are two sections of motorway that are tolled: one of them is from Junction 7 to Junctions 8&9, and the other one is from Junctions 8&9 to Junction 10.

Travelling either North or South, if you choose to use either of those sections, you have to pay the toll. If you choose to use both sections on the same trip (or if you choose to break your journey in Drogheda and continue within 3 hours), then you get a 'Buy One Get One Free' deal.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

borderlinemeath wrote: »

How very handy for you to say when you're in Dundalk:rolleyes:.

The most vocal opponents of the ramp tolls on both threads don't even live in Drogheda, and I'm sure you would welcome ramp tolls with open arms if they were installed in Dundalk.

Just for the record - I am not in Dundalk!
I'm sorry to burst your stereotyping but I have no bias in this. I'm in Drogheda every bit as much as Dundalk. I see the situation with unjaundiced eyes.

lucernarian

Adelaide Nervous Hedge wrote: »

All this nonsense about the size of Drogheda. It is not a big town. 20 minutes stuck in traffic is nothing compared to Dublin, Cork etc.
As for the ease of travelling through Dundalk compared to Drogheda. Try the N52 in Dundalk at commuter or school times. It is grid locked. Likewise the Carrick Rd approach to the town. This happens all over. It is not unique to Drogheda. So let's no turn this in to a persecution complex or a Dundalk versus Drogheda issue.

I would think that it's precisely because it's not a big town that 20 minute journey times seem rather excessive. The traffic light situation also seems to hinder the R132 so much that it is now quicker even sometimes outside of peak traffic to travel by the Ballymakenny Road or the R168 depending on the exact direction of traffic.

Any situation which makes the Ballymakenny Road quicker to use on a regular basis is a very bad one for all kinds of road safety reasons.

I'm not sure what the answers are but heavy volumes of cars driving through central parts of towns with lots of pedestrians is not a good idea. The mess that is the vicinity of Shop St. and the Marsh Road needs to be sorted through giving alternative routes through the town.

To_be_confirmed

To_be_confirmed wrote: »

I would think that it's precisely because it's not a big town that 20 minute journey times seem rather excessive. The traffic light situation also seems to hinder the R132 so much that it is now quicker even sometimes outside of peak traffic to travel by the Ballymakenny Road or the R168 depending on the exact direction of traffic.

Any situation which makes the Ballymakenny Road quicker to use on a regular basis is a very bad one for all kinds of road safety reasons.

I'm not sure what the answers are but heavy volumes of cars driving through central parts of towns with lots of pedestrians is not a good idea. The mess that is the vicinity of Shop St. and the Marsh Road needs to be sorted through giving alternative routes through the town.

Short of picking the start and/or end-point of a journey right next to the "bypass" in Dundalk you'll be looking at a similar average speed crossing the town as in Drogheda.

Jacknory

http://www.independent.ie/regionals/droghedaindependent/news/tollfree-month-shows-no-need-for-traffic-woes-29960184.html

Although the linked article shows a reduction in HGVs if there were no tolls, it shows the pressure that the town is put under with these additional vehicles.

I would suggest removing the slip tolls and reducing the motorway speed to 100kph between junction 9 and 10 to allow for people using the bridge to get from one side of Drogheda to the other. The hard shoulder could be turned in to a driving lane to allow for town traffic.

For those who will respond by saying that this would turn the motorway in to a rat run.....this system (reduction of motorway speed around built up areas) is used across Europe Once motorists observe the rules on motorway driving than there shouldn't be a problem.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Jacknory wrote: »

http://www.independent.ie/regionals/droghedaindependent/news/tollfree-month-shows-no-need-for-traffic-woes-29960184.html

Although the linked article shows a reduction in HGVs if there were no tolls, it shows the pressure that the town is put under with these additional vehicles.

I would suggest removing the slip tolls and reducing the motorway speed to 100kph between junction 9 and 10 to allow for people using the bridge to get from one side of Drogheda to the other. The hard shoulder could be turned in to a driving lane to allow for town traffic.

For those who will respond by saying that this would turn the motorway in to a rat run.....this system (reduction of motorway speed around built up areas) is used across Europe Once motorists observe the rules on motorway driving than there shouldn't be a problem.

It is only used sparingly in Europe on 3 lane or higher motorways for a start. Then you are completely ignoring that the slip is a charge for using the PPP motorway section. If you don't want to pay to use it then go around it. Its unfortunate but that's the fact of life there. You really can't have the best of both worlds.

ardmacha

I would suggest removing the slip tolls and reducing the motorway speed to 100kph between junction 9 and 10 to allow for people using the bridge to get from one side of Drogheda to the other. The hard shoulder could be turned in to a driving lane to allow for town traffic.

So let me understand this, people travelling towards Dundalk, who have paid the toll, will have their journey lengthened so that a lot of local traffic can use the M1 for free?

Jacknory

I've seen this in France, Belguim, Portugal, Holland and Switzerland on 2 land motorways. Going around the toll is not an option for lots of people.

Best option for Drogheda is to ban HGVs (between certain hours) from the town and to build an additional bridge to alleviate traffic problems.....funding to be provided by the state.

I'm not a fan of Ken Healy but at least he's trying to do something about it....whatever you think his reasons are (when has any politician campaigned for something other than to try and garner votes)!!

Jacknory

ardmacha wrote: »

So let me understand this, people travelling towards Dundalk, who have paid the toll, will have their journey lengthened so that a lot of local traffic can use the M1 for free?

Why would their journey be lengthened? The main lanes would not be disturbed and the reduction in speed would be for about 4km

Lord TSC

Jacknory wrote: »

I'm not a fan of Ken Healy but at least he's trying to do something about it....whatever you think his reasons are (when has any politician campaigned for something other than to try and garner votes)!!

One day a year for how many years now? And he's achieved nothing of note in the years he's been "working" on it. Don't be fooled, it's entirely about garnering votes via an annual stunt.