MOTORISTS were given a small relief today when tolls on the M1 were dropped by 10 cent.
The operators of the motorway were forced to lower their prices by a court ruling which could have implications for other major road networks.
At midnight the ordinary toll on the M1 fell to €1.80 following a decision by Justice Peter Kelly in the Commercial Court that motorists were being overcharged.
STRETCH
Mr Justice Kelly upheld arguments by the National Roads Authority (NRA) of overcharging -- said to amount to €26,000 weekly since January 1 last -- by the Celtic Roads Group (CRG) on the Gormanstown to Monasterboice stretch of the M1. The toll should have been reduced to €1.80 on January 1 in accordance with bye-laws, but was not, the NRA claimed.
The NRA had claimed CRG would overcharge motorists by some €1.39m this year unless the M1 tolls were reduced.
hnews@herald.ie