The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has resulted in a dramatic drop in tolls paid by motorists using the M50.
Normally jam-packed with cars, trucks and frustrated motorists from dawn to dusk, the nation's busiest road has been virtually free of traffic since the country went into lockdown last month.
Toll revenues on the normally very busy ring road connecting Dublin with the country's main motorways fell by €2 million in March 2020 when the coronavirus lockdown kicked in.
Freedom of Information documents obtained by the Irish Mirror show that the eflow company clocked up €9 million in toll revenues last month - 20% less than the €11 million made in the shorter month of February.
With latest indications from the country's chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan suggesting that we're unlikely to see any lifting of restrictions in the immediate future, the motorway's accountants can expect that trend to continue in April.
There are fears however that the coronavirus-related dip in revenue could eventually lead to a hike in the already ridiculously expensive toll on the motorway, which is often better off being avoided because it's so congested.
