Up to 80,000 regular users of the M1, M7/M8 tolls , and the N25 Waterford City Bypass are facing difficulties this autumn with eFlow toll tags due to be turned off from September 1st.
Unless a dispute between Transport Infrastructure Ireland (formerly the National Roads Authority) and road builders Celtic Roads Group is sorted out, tens of thousands of motorists could face long queues reminiscent of the old M50 barrier toll in west Dublin.
More than two million journeys a month are made by motorists using the toll motorways on the M1 Dublin to Belfast, the Portlaoise to Cullahill stretch of the M7 Dublin to Limerick and M8 Dublin to Cork routes, as well as the M25 .
There are a number of tags available from different providers and eFlow is the clearing house for all tags, including its own eFlow tag. Money is collected by eFlow and is distributed - less a handling charge - back to the toll operators.
However Celtic Roads Group has said it is dissatisfied with the level of charges and has refused as yet to sign up to the service agreement for the year post August 31st.
The result is that eFlow has now warned its eFlow tag holders their tags may no longer work on Celtic Roads Group’s roads from September 1st. Motorists with tag accounts with other tag providers such as Easytrip, Parkmagic and DirectRoute will not be affected nor will eFlow customers with video accounts for paying the M50 toll.
A spokesman for eFlow said motorists could switch tolls to other tags. But he said the fear was that the lack of functionality with eFlow tags would lead to confusion and delays as some motorists realise the barriers will not lift.
The situation is set to lengthen journey times as drivers with eFlow tags in express lanes seek to move to alternative lanes, and drivers in standard lanes pay by cash.
There are eleven toll roads in Ireland, including toll plazas and the barrier-free M50 toll in Dublin.
eFlow toll plazas unaffected by the dispute with Celtic Road Group include :
* M50 barrier-free Toll
* M3 (Clonee - Kells)
* M4 (Kilcock - Enfield - Kinnegad)
* N6 (Galway - Ballinasloe)
* N8 (Rathcormac - Fermoy Bypass)
* East-Link Bridge
* Dublin Port Tunnel
* Limerick Tunnel
