Taoiseach Asked To Respond to N11 Closure Opposition In Bray

A Wicklow TD asked the Taoiseach to respond to the groundswell of opposition against the closure of an exit off the N11 to make way for the Wicklow N11/M11 Bus Priority Interim Scheme.

A Wicklow TD asked the Taoiseach to respond to the groundswell of opposition against the closure of an exit off the N11 to make way for the Wicklow N11/M11 Bus Priority Interim Scheme.

 Fine Gael’s Edward Timmins raised the plans in the Dail this week to permanently close the Herbert Road exit off the N11, at Bray, which has sparked widespread local demonstrations by thousands of residents over the last few weeks.

He said that the exit was “an essential route for residents, emergency services and local businesses”, Deputy Timmins said “almost everyone in the town and the wider area is against its closure”."The closure of the juncture will create significant traffic congestion in north Wicklow. Closing Herbert Road and improving the bus corridor should not be mutually exclusive. A more balanced approach would be to terminate the southbound bus lane before the Herbert Road junction,” he said. “As a result of BusConnects, the recent loss of the 145 bus route, which serviced many estates on or near Herbert Road, is causing significant hardship for elderly residents. For example, residents in this area, who once had a direct bus to Loughlinstown Hospital, now must swap buses or walk what are often unsustainable distances to the new bus stops.