NRA approve toll charges on M4 motorway

The National Roads Authority has approved tolling for the proposed M4 Kinnegad-Enfield-Kilcock motorway, much to the chagrin of businesses and residents in the area.

Objectors claim that HGV's will avoid paying the toll and will divert to the existing dangerous route leading to more fatalities. However, the NRA insists that while there will be diversion, the new motorway will reduce accidents on the existing N4 Dublin - Sligo route.

The Irish Road Haulage Association has also voiced its objection to tolling not just on the M4 route. "Until the National Development Plan is completed, we are against the idea of tolling. At some time in the future when all the road developments are completed we can sit down and analyse these new routes and see if there are any benefits. At that stage we will be open to suggestion. At this moment in time our policy is that tolling is not acceptable."

McMahon believes that Ireland is playing catch-up with its European neighbours and until such time as a proper infrastructure is put in place all tolls should be suspended. He acknowledges infrastructure doesn't come cheaply, but "we are already paying through excessive maintenance charges on vehicles, because of our poor roads network. We feel the roads network should be completed before any further charges are levied."

He feels that there is an over emphasis of commuter movement in the country and this issue needs to be addressed.