Calls for toll to be removed from Waterford bridge amid traffic ‘choking up’ city

Waterford City and County Council would “love” to remove the toll from the Thomas Francis Meagher Bridge, a council meeting has heard.

Fianna Fáil councillor Jason Murphy raised the issue of the bridge’s “under utilisation” at the November plenary meeting of Waterford City and County Council.

Cllr Murphy said: “I would like to see this council take proactive action in relation to the under utilisation of the N25 bypass at Kilmeaden and the under utilisation of the Thomas Francis Meagher Bridge.

“I would like to see, if we could, the installation of additional signage at that roundabout encouraging people to use that by-pass.

“A lot of traffic comes into our city, choking up our city centre in Waterford city. The under utilisation is something we should look at.”

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“I think we have to look at it because I think our city is being choked by traffic,” he concluded.

In response to Cllr Murphy, Director of Services Gabriel Hynes said that the toll is the primary reason why people don’t use the bridge.

“In relation to the by-pass, the issue there is the toll. If people can come through the city in reasonable time to avoid the toll, that’s what they’re doing.”

Mr Hynes went on to say that the council would “love” to have the toll removed and have discussed it with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).

However, the council has been told this won’t be possible because there is a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) contract in place for the tolling of the bridge until 2036.

“So we’re probably stuck with it until then”, Mr Hynes said. He added that he hoped that over time, people will find that the by-pass is faster than going through the city.

SouthLink N25 is the organisation responsible for the operation and maintenance of the Thomas Francis Meagher Bridge and toll plaza.

The toll revenue is collected by SouthLink N25 and is governed by the toll-bye laws for the N25, which are published by TII.

In 2023, a consortium backed by Swiss, Japanese and other investors acquired the debt and equity linked to the bypass for just under €100 million.