Deadline is extended for public consultation on N11/N25 route
LOOKS AT ALL THE OPTIONS FOR THE PROPOSED OYLEGATE TO ROSSLARE SCHEME
PADRAIG BYRNE
HAVING opened up to public consultation online, the level of interest and concern regarding the proposed routes for the new N11/N25 Oylegate to Rosslare scheme is said to be incredibly high. Such was the volume of calls, queries and submissions that Wexford County Council opted to extend the public consultation until Monday, August 3.
Speaking on Friday, Director of Services at Wexford County Council Eamonn Hore said that the website for the project had seen 20,000 views since the previous Monday, while they had fielded 200 calls and received 65 feedback forms – a number they anticipate will grow significantly in the coming weeks. A total of 6,800 brochures were also delivered to houses in the affected areas, he said.
‘We are excited to be progressing this important project, which will deliver significant benefits to the people of Wexford and make our roads safer and more efficient,’ said Mr Hore. ‘The ongoing restrictions in place due to Covid-19 restricts face to face public information meetings, Wexford County Council is committed to engaging in a comprehensive, informative and constructive public consultation process to provide the public with all of the information that is available at this early stage of the selection process and we have made all the relevant maps, documents and other materials fully available on the website www.oilgate2rosslareharbour.ie.’
While full details are available on the website, here’s a brief outline of the routes under consideration.
OPTION A - PURPLE ROUTE
Beginning at the southern end of the M11 Gorey to Enniscorthy scheme, Option A would pass east of Oylegate and continue east of the existing N11, crossing the River Slaney at or near the Ferrycarrig Bridge. The route would follow the existing N11 and the N25 (along the Wexford ring road) before passing southwest of the Rosslare Road Roundabout. It then passes Stephenstown running east of the existing N25 and continues east running north of Tagoat before ending at Rosslare Harbour.
OPTION B - GREEN ROUTE
Beginning at the Scurlockbush Roundabout and following the existing N11 and N25 corridors to Rosslare Harbour, there are two options within Option B.
Option B1, the ‘do minimum’ option, would utilise the existing N11 and N25 national roads. This option only considers future improvement works along the existing road corridor that are already planned and committed (for example, the N25 Ballygillane Roundabout at Rosslare Harbour) and routine investment in maintenance and operation of the current road corridor.
Option B2, the ‘management option’, assumes that there will be investment to improve the existing N11 and N25 road corridors and would seek to utilise the existing asset where feasible through a package of on-line improvements which may include a mix of the rationalisation of junctions and direct accesses onto the N25, provision of parallel service roads, left-in/left-out junctions, separated pedestrian and cyclist facilities and designated vehicle lanes.
OPTION C - ORANGE ROUTE
This was the option chosen the last time there was discussion around the project ten years ago. Starting at the southern end of the M11 Gorey to Enniscorthy scheme, this option would pass east of Oylegate before joining the existing N11 south of the village and following the existing road before crossing the River Slaney west of Ferrycarrig Bridge. From here it follows the same corridor as Option A, down the existing N11 and the N25 (along the ring road) before passing southwest of the Rosslare Road Roundabout. It then passes Stephenstown and continues east running north of Tagoat and ends at Rosslare Harbour.
OPTION D - BLUE ROUTE
Again, beginning at the southern end of the M11 Gorey to Enniscorthy scheme, Option D passes east of Oylegate before crossing the existing N11 south of the village. It continues west of the existing N11, crossing the river west of Ferrycarrig Bridge. This option would continue south passing east of Barntown and west of the existing N25 and then west of Stephenstown, passing south of Killinick and Tagoat before arriving in Rosslare Harbour.
OPTION E - PINK ROUTE
Option E begins at the southern end of the M11 Gorey to Enniscorthy scheme and passes west of Oylegate, continuing west of the existing N11 before crossing the River Slaney south of Deep’s Bridge. The option swings southeast, then east, parallel to the river and continues south crossing the N25 to the east of Barntown and west of the N11/ N25 roundabout. From here, the option follows the same corridor as Option D, continuing west of the N25 and then west of Stephenstown, passing Killinick and Tagoat before ending at Rosslare Harbour.
OPTION F - YELLOW ROUTE
Starting at the southern end of the Enniscorthy bypass, Option F follows the same corridor as Option
E to the west of Oylegate and continues west of the existing N11 before crossing the Slaney south of Deep’s Bridge. The option then continues southwest, crossing the N25 west of Larkin’s Cross. It continues south, passing west of Forth Mountain before joining Options D and E to the west of Stephenstown and continuing south of Killinick and Tagoat before ending at Rosslare Harbour.
OPTION G - BROWN ROUTE
Starting at the southern end of the Enniscorthy bypass, Option G passes west of Oylegate and the existing N11 before crossing the river to the south of Kings Island. It continues south passing west of the River Slaney and crossing the existing N25 west of Larkin’s Cross. It continues south, where it then joins Option F in passing west of Forth Mountain before joining options D and E to the West of Stephenstown and continuing south of Killinick and Tagoat ending at Rosslare Harbour.