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The Dublin Port Tunnel is a major element in the Dublin Transport Initiative (DTI), a multifaceted plan to tackle the transportation problems in Dublin City. Its primary purpose is to provide a high quality access route to Dublin Port, as well as relieving congestion in many areas of the city. The tunnel will run from the M1 motorway at Santry to Dublin Port at East Wall. This new route will allow trucks to use Dublin's motorway C-Ring and access the Port via the tunnel.
Forming a substantial part of Dublin's traffic congestion problem are the heavy goods vehicles (HGVs). The Dublin Port Tunnel is designed primarily to facilitate heavy goods vehicles travelling to and from Dublin Port. Dublin City is virtually unique in Europe in having the country's premier port located at the heart of the city, and all trucks travelling to and from Dublin Port must travel through the city, along streets that were never designed to accommodate them. Along the city quays of the River Liffey and through the inner suburbs, contributing significantly to traffic congestion. Their removal from these areas will enhance the city's commercial and residential environment.
Dublin Port currently handles two thirds of Ireland's seaport trade by value, including over 70% of all unitized (lift-on/lift-off, and roll-on/roll-off) trade. It is a major source of HGV traffic and each year almost 2 million trucks travel in and out of the Port, with this figure projected to grow even higher over the coming years. The freight throughput for the Port is growing; overall tonnage in 1999 was up over 8% on the previous year, to a record 20 million tonnes, and total trade volume has almost doubled in the last 5 years.
The Port is also a major source of employment with over 3,500 jobs located there. It represents a major economic force in the region. However, it is likely that the operation and growth of the port could be restricted by the increasingly prohibitive costs and delays incurred in travelling through the City.
But this problem does not just concern Dublin Port alone. Congestion in the City means that HGVs generally move at slow speeds, continually accelerating and decelerating, reducing general amenity and increasing costs for industry. The general environment deteriorates with poorer air quality and increased noise levels, and pedestrians face great difficulties due to the high levels of HGVs on the streets and at junctions. Clearly this is not a sustainable situation and a new access for port bound traffic is essential.
The Dublin Port Tunnel had its origin in 1991 when Dublin Corporation commissioned consultants to examine options for a Port Access and Eastern Relief Route. However, the subsequent Government decision of November 1992 not to proceed with the Eastern Relief Route element of the proposal, i.e. the section between the North Port and Booterstown, meant that the study was effectively restricted to a feasibility study for an access route to the Port. This feasibility study was completed early in 1993 and recommended a route from Whitehall to the North Port.
In October 1994, the Government decided that the Dublin Port Tunnel should proceed as a priority, subject to:
- the route being constructed as a dual carriageway (mostly in tunnel)
- the route being classified as a proposed national road, thereby placing its construction under the overall responsibility of the National Roads Authority;
- the implementation of the project being accompanied by traffic management measures (including tolling and a truck management system).
Following the Government decision to proceed with the scheme, the National Roads Authority requested Dublin City Council to implement the scheme on its behalf.
The benefits arising from the construction of the Dublin Port Tunnel include:
- The removal of HGV through-traffic from the city centre and residential areas;
- The improvement of the environment of the city centre;
- The improvement of pedestrian facilities in the city centre;
- The continued development of Dublin Port;
- 6 minute link from the M50 to the Port;
- Shorter reliable delivery times for business and industry;
- Support the growth of external trade;
- Facilitate public transport improvements;
- The introduction of traffic-calming in residential areas.
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