PDs call for tunnel height increase

The Progressive Democrats has called on Transport Minister Martin Cullen to increase the operating height at Dublin Port Tunnel to accommodate so-called “supercube” trucks.

Minister Cullen announced last October that an increase in the operating height at the tunnel could not be “justified having regard to safety, cost and delay factors.”
However, Progressive Democrat TD Fiona O’Malley says the party has been mandated by its general council to revisit the height issue.

O’Malley says it would cost in the region of E30 to E60 million to raise the height restriction to accommodate oversize trucks, which is “modest” given the overall project is costing E770 million.

O’Malley says she has researched the height issue along with party transport spokesman Tom Morrissey. “The building of the port tunnel led to the belief that heavy goods vehicles would be removed from the streets of Dublin city. This dream will not be realised if the Minister insists on leaving the Dublin Port Tunnel at an operational height of 4.65 metres,” she commented.

She added: “The evidence I have seen suggests this decision needs to be reversed. I want him to look at it again. He got caught on e-voting, where rigorous tests were not done and he needs to re-examine the evidence on this.”