The Taoiseach has told the Dáil that his advice is that lifting the toll barriers on the Westlink bridge on the M50 would be a 'disaster' that would make the road unworkable.
Bertie Ahern was replying to questions from Labour leader Pat Rabbitte about reports that the Government was in the final stages of buying out the toll franchise from operators NTR.
Mr Ahern said the cost of compensating the company was estimated at €45 million annually until 2020, a sum that would be recouped from tolling the bridge until 2035.
He said his advice was that if the barriers were lifted the tailbacks from the intersections on the M50 would make the road unworkable.
