Local motorway service decision challenged

A decision to give the running of the planned motorway services area at Halverstown to Topaz is being legally challenged, writes Brian Byrne.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland, the state body recently established by merging the National Roads Authority and the Railway Procurement Agency, said Topaz was the 'most economically advantageous'. Topaz is controlled by Denis O'Brien.

A rival tenderer, Superstop 2, is seeking the judicial review to quash the decision to give Topaz the contract to design, build and operate the services areas at Halverstown, Athlone and Gorey.

Superstop 2 is a consortium of Applegreen and Tedcastle Oil Products. Applegreen is currently operating the former Fraser Oil Service Station in Kilcullen.