New scheme to remove large lorries from city centre
Plans to cut traffic gridlock in Dublin’s city centre were stepped up today.
Heavy goods vehicles with five axles or more will be banned form travelling within a cordoned area of the city within weeks, Dublin City Council announced.
Drivers breaching the cordon, roughly bounded by the canals, will face tough fines of €800, rising to €1,500 for a second offence.
Only vehicles loading and unloading within the designated area will be exempt from the restrictions, which come into force on Monday, February 19, from 7am to 7pm daily.
Haulage bosses have to apply for a valid loading permit, which will cost €5 from May 1, with city-based companies also having to supply a mitigation plan to the council showing how they will reduce or eliminate the number of deliveries from large vehicles they get.
Michael Phillips, city engineer and director of traffic, said the restrictions will ensure maximum use of the new Dublin Port Tunnel by heavy goods vehicles and make the city more accessible for pedestrians, cyclists, public transport and other motorists.
“The permit scheme is designed to facilitate the transition to minimal use of deliveries by five axle vehicles within the city cordon,” he said.
“The intention is to see a year on year reduction in the number of permits issued, as businesses change to out of cordon hours deliveries or to using smaller vehicles to make deliveries.”
The ban follows the opening of Dublin Port Tunnel in December, which is hoped will remove thousands of trucks from the city’s roads.
The €751m project is the longest urban motorway tunnel in Europe, and largest ever civil engineering project in Ireland.
Stretching 4.5km in both directions under the city it is expected to carry over 6,300 vehicles and buses a day from Dublin Port to the M1 and M50 in six minutes.
It is free of charge to heavy goods vehicles and coaches over 25 seats at lunchtime, and is expected that over 98% of trucks leaving the port will be able to use the new roadway.
Vehicles not able to use the Dublin Port Tunnel may apply for a transit permit, which will allow the vehicle to exit or enter the port area, along East Wall Road and Alfie Byrne Road only.
In the event that the Port Tunnel is closed for a lengthy period gardai will also have the power to lift the restrictions if warranted.
However, the Green Party called for a full ban on all HGVs of four axles or more in the city centre as soon as possible.
Dublin City Councillor Bronwen Maher said enforcement and safety are also areas of concern.
“A ban on HGVs in the city centre area will be totally ineffective unless realistic funding is provided to police the ban and the permit system.
“Effective policing will be needed to constantly monitor and enforce the scheme.
“A safety audit should be carried out on the relationship between HGVs, pedestrian and cyclists.
“Consideration should be given to a lengthening of the hours of restriction if it can be shown that the HGVs leave pedestrians and cyclists vulnerable outside of the 7am to 7pm curfew period.”
