Wicklow Sinn Féin TD John Brady has confirmed that he received confirmation from Wicklow County Council that work being undertaken since the start of the week on the N11 are part of the site investigation work linked to the N11 / M11 Bus Priority interim scheme project. Questions had been raised by members of the community who feared that the works might have been linked to previous plans to close the N11 access road at Herbert Junction.
A council consultation process carried between September and November last year revealed the strength of local opposition to plans for Herbert Junction with two petitions, 1,152 submissions, and a large number of individual objections.
Brady said:
“I welcome the update from Wicklow County Council, who have confirmed that they are currently undertaking exploratory work on the interim bus corridor along the N11.
The Ground Investigation being undertaken is a physical survey to inform the project team on the prevailing ground conditions along the N11M11 route. This work is similar to other surveys the Council has undertaken, such as topographical surveys, environmental and ecology surveys. The ground investigation work is separate to the Phase 2 Options Selection work that also currently underway.
Not until Phase 3 will the full design and environmental evaluation commence. Following which statutory approval for the scheme will be sought by the Council at Phase 4 with Tendering and Construction at Phase 5 and Phase 6 respectively.
The current work being undertaken on the N11/M11 will take place at night, from 10pm to 6am Monday to Friday and are expected to take 12 weeks. While these works are ongoing there will be temporary traffic control measures in place, but local access will be maintained for residents.”
Brady continued:
“I remain opposed to the original Council proposal. I think that it would be hugely detrimental to the area. There are three other junctions in Bray. I do not believe that the traffic prevented from using the Herbert Road would travel to the Bray North Junction. Nor would they use the Old Fassaroe Junction, which would take them onto the Main Street, which is itself overwhelmed with traffic.
Which would result in traffic being forced to use the new junction at the former Hills Roundabout.
The anticipated influx of additional traffic would be significantly more than this junction could cope with. Particularly when we consider that vehicles are forced to que out onto the N11 as they await access to the junction.
I will remain in communication with Council designers and engineer’s and will be monitoring each phase of the project.
Green Party Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan needs to abandon his ideological approach to our transport infrastructure, and to respect the fact that there is massive local opposition to the current proposals.” ENDs