M3 toll holiday kicks off for one month – McEntee

Fine Gael Meath East TD, Helen McEntee, has said that she hopes that the one month toll-holiday for HGVs kicking off on the M3 today (Friday) will be a success, and added that it should provide some short-term relief for residents of Slane village.

“While securing a bypass for Slane remains a top priority, this one month toll-holiday should encourage HGV drivers to use the M3 and will hopefully provide some short-term relief for the village. The Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar TD, came up with this idea earlier this year, in a bid to see whether trucks will start using motorways, such as the M3, more regularly if we change the tolling regime.

“Since getting elected I have been making it abundantly clear to Minister Varadkar that HGVs are continuing to have a hugely negative impact on Slane village. The avoidance of motorway tolls means truck are also having a major impact on the quality of regional and local roads around the country. At a time when the capital budget for road repairs remains restricted, we must look at other ways to preserve our road network. This is of course a considerable problem in Meath.

“This toll-holiday is due to last for the month of November, and it should provide a strong indication to the Minister whether or not it would be worth seriously considering changing the tolling system, to get more trucks onto our motorways. Huge sums were invested in upgrading the motorway network over the last decade or so, and we need to ensure this investment is being utilised.

“While I will continue to push for a bypass for Slane village, I am interested to see what affect the toll-holiday will have. I hope it results in a significant reduction in the number of HGVs passing through the village, and I look forward to hearing the views of local businesspeople and residents on its impact.”

ENDS