Dublin Port Tunnel
Breakthrough, but some trucks too high
An independent survey into the height of trucks using Dublin Port has found that 157 trucks a day will not be able to use the new Dublin Port Tunnel when it opens in 2005.
The research by the National Institute of Transport and Logistics published today indicates that almost 2% of trucks using the port on a daily basis are equal to or above the 4.65m height restriction for the Port Tunnel.
Researchers carried out an analysis of truck movements to and from the port over several months using electronic sensors and also by counting the trucks manually.
The NITL's Head of Research, Philip McCormack, said that although the number of vehicles affected was significant, the spread across the day and the percentage of total truck movements was small.
But he said trends in vehicle design and fleet composition would produce an increase in the number of higher vehicles.
He said it was in the interest of all parties that a decision about what should be done with the higher trucks is made in the near future.
Hauliers have been calling for the height of the Port Tunnel to be increased to facilitate larger vehicles.
The Port Tunnel, which reached the halfway stage yesterday, will cost €625 million. It had been hoped that it would take 9,000 heavy goods vehicles a day away from Dublin city centre.
