The National Roads Authority has announced that it plans to introduce barrier free tolling on the M50 motorway around Dublin from 2008.
Talks have been continuing between the NRA and National Toll Roads with a view to removing the barriers and replacing them with an electronic toll system for the entire road.
Tonight the NRA announced that those discussions with NTR had been terminated and the NRA will be tendering for another company to operate the system.
The NRA's contract with NTR was due to run until 2020.
The Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen, has welcomed the development, describing it as very positive for M50 road users.
Mr Cullen said NTR had been informed of the decision and denied that NTR had been bought out.
