Port Tunnel could herald metro system, says Minister
The successful completion of the Dublin Port Tunnel could provide the springboard for a metro system serving the capital, it was claimed today.
With the 5.6km route due to open early next year, junior transport minister Ivor Callely said lessons learned from the massive project could give the necessary experience to start on an underground public transport network.
“This is the single biggest infrastructural project in the history of our state,” Mr Callely said.
“The experience and what we have achieved here will give us the confidence and courage to pursue other such infrastructural tunnelling projects to benefit this city, including the concepts of extending the DPT [Dublin Port Tunnel] to the south, and commencement of a Metro system.”
Dublin is the only major European capital not served by a metro system, while it is one of few major cities without a dedicated rail link to the airport.
The Government has yet to officially commit to work on an underground, but in the coming months the Cabinet is to discuss and decide on a 10-year transport plan.
Mr Callely and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern travelled through the tunnel today from the port to see how work had progressed. Mr Callely said he was determined to have the route open early next year.
“The DPT will have a tremendously beneficial impact on traffic flow in the Dublin area taking thousands of HGV journeys off our residential roads by facilitating improved access with a tunnel journey time of 7 minutes approx,” he said.
The tunnel built at a cost of €751m, compared with estimates of €580m, will take 20,000 heavy goods vehicles off the city streets every day.
Linking the M50 in the north of Dublin to the port HGVs and other trucks will travel for free but car drivers trying to avoid the congested city centre could be facing tolls of up to €12 at peak times.
