Dublin City Business look forward to the Opening of the Port Tunnel
Wednesday the 15th of February 2006
It looks as though the Dublin Port Tunnel will be open to traffic this
summer. Let's hope that it settles down before the kids go back to
school in September. Air quality in CBD is now on the margins of
breaching EU Air Quality which if unresolved will result in large fines
on the Irish Government by the EU. The debate about the self-styled
super trucks is a false debate. Most bridges in Dublin are lower than
the height of the Dublin Port Tunnel. An issue that has not yet had
much debate is the disruption caused by large trucks hitting bridges
because they have been loaded too high. Dubliners going to work or to
meetings are disrupted in the tens of thousands when this happens.
Employers lose thousands of employee hours in lost productivity and
suffer unwanted financial costs in lost trading revenue. The Department
of Transport should introduce regulations on grounds of health and
safety of citizens to limit the height of heavy trucks plying for trade
in Ireland and to conform to a height that is safe and
that does not disrupt rail travel. An exemplary fine should also be
introduced so that those who break the law and drive carelessly
damaging bridges and putting lives at risk are firmly dealt with and
not just be subject to a caution.
Many pedestrians and cyclists have lost their lives in accidents in
city centre with heavy lorries over the years, the opening of the
Dublin Port Tunnel will make the CBD safer for all and create the
foundation for less noxious fumes, less traffic, more green time at
pedestrian crossings and a more pleasant environment in our capital
city. In general - good for the community - good for business.