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Wed 02 Feb 2007M50 barriers to go August 2008A barrier-free tolling system will be introduced on the M50 from August next year after a €113 million eight-year contract to design and operate the system was awarded to a French consortium yesterday.The decision was approved at a National Roads Authority (NRA) board meeting late yesterday and the contract is due to be signed by the end of the month. Work will commence immediately after contracts are signed. "This free-flow multi-lane tolling project is the first of its type in Europe and should, along with the M50 upgrade, offer service improvement. All revenue will go directly back into road improvements," said NRA chairman Peter Malone.