A THREE-MONTH deal to halve tolls in Sydney’s controversial Cross City Tunnel took some voter pressure off beleagured NSW Premier Morris Iemma yesterday.

The deal, negotiated over the weekend and signed off by CrossCity Motorway’s board yesterday, reduces the toll from $3.56 to $1.78 for the tunnel and to 84c for cars using only part of it. It comes as anger over the tunnel, public transport, health, water and theeconomy have hit Mr Iemma’s popularity.

Road closures aimed at forcing people to use the tunnel have caused widespread anger in Sydney and at one stage prompted Mr Iemma to call new tunnel chief executive Graham Mulligan a “f..kwit”.

A THREE-MONTH deal to halve tolls in Sydney’s controversial Cross City Tunnel took some voter pressure off beleagured NSW Premier Morris Iemma yesterday.

Mr Iemma received the lifeline on Friday when tunnel management offered to halve the toll for three months and forgo or reverse changes to 12 small roads.

The parties have also agreed to talks on other road closures during the three months.

But he was unable to say whether the cut-price tolls would last longer than the three-month trial and refused to be drawn on whether he would reap any political benefits.

The deal, negotiated over the weekend and signed off by CrossCity Motorway’s board yesterday, reduces the toll from $3.56 to $1.78 for the tunnel and to 84c for cars using only part of it. It comes as anger over the tunnel, public transport, health, water and theeconomy have hit Mr Iemma’s popularity.

Road closures aimed at forcing people to use the tunnel have caused widespread anger in Sydney and at one stage prompted Mr Iemma to call new tunnel chief executive Graham Mulligan a “f..kwit”.

Yesterday, however, he was praising the tunnel operator for finally listening to the urgings of the Government, the community and motorists.

“It’s a commonsense approach to keep traffic moving and to encourage motorists to use the motorway without … risking financial cost to taxpayers,” he said.

“There will be over the next three months further discussions on road issues.”

Mr Mulligan said the reduced toll, effective from today, was aimed at encouraging motorists to “realise the substantial benefits of using the tunnel”.

“CCM is fully committed to working co-operatively on long-term solutions for the tunnel project with the Government and thecommunity,’ he said.

But Opposition Leader Peter Debnam said the announcement was a political fix that would fuel community anger.

“I think that the community’s going to be angrier tomorrow when they realise that the Premier is trying to pretend that giving back 12 very, very minor roads is significant,” he said.

NRMA Motoring president Alan Evans said many issues remained unsolved and the operators might need to consider reducing thetoll permanently.

“In relation to the road changes, our line is that every reversal of the controversial road changes is a win for motorists,” he said.

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