The centrepiece of the N25 toll road, which bypasses Waterford city, is the Thomas Francis Meagher Bridge. Running for 465 metres over the River Suir, it is spectacularly beautiful, while its construction represented a significant feat of structural engineering. But ever since it opened in October 2009, there has been a very singular problem: Simply not enough people pay the €1.90 to drive across it and the 23 kilometres of connected motorway. The 30-year concession for the motorway has underperformed commercially from day one – so poorly, in fact, that even in 2019, its busiest ever year, its owners said…

Want to continue reading?

Introductory offer: Sign up today and pay €200 for an annual membership, a saving of €100.

Subscribe

Cancel anytime.

Are you already a member? .