Freight companies in Ireland are refusing to use the tunnel under the river Shannon in Limerick, as the tolls are too high. Since the tunnel opened last July, the private operator has seen a shortfall in usage, and has been compensated by the Irish National Roads Authority.
The toll is 5.7 Euros per freight truck, and logistics operators say that the time and fuel saved by using the tunnel is lower than this. Haulage companies say they would pay more in tolls than they would save in fuel, and the Irish Road Haulage Association have tried unsuccessfully to negotiate a rate of 3 Euros per freight vehicle. The tunnel operators have refused, because the Government compensates them for any shortfall in usage.