€1m allocated to scheme to cut M11 commute times

TRANSPORT Infrastructure Ireland will design a new major improvement scheme for the N11/M11 in an effort to reduce travelling times for hardpressed commuters.

€1 million has been allocated toward the planning phase which will be carried out this year and will address traffic issues from Ashford to the M11/ M50 junction.

A public consultation session was held in the Glenview Hotel in early December whereby members of the were asked for their input. Engineers were also available on the day to answer questions on the process.

‘It’s essential that something is done as quickly as possible,’ said Cllr Shay Cullen. ‘People are dealing with huge traffic tailbacks every time they enter the N11. Anyone commuting to Dublin experiences long delays on their journey into work and their trip back home. These issues are particularly prominent during rush hour. There is a lot of excess traffic on the roads and the N11 simply canter cater to the demand. On wet morning you will often find that the traffic is nearly at a standstill. It is incredibly frustrating for anyone commuting on a daily or weekly basis’.

A study of the route from Ashford to the M50/M11 junction was carried out in 2017 with the objective of bringing that section of the M11/N11 up to the appropriate standard.

The study suggested that existing accesses and left on/left off junctions should be closed or reconfigured. The report also found that motorists were experiencing “significant queuing and delay during the peak periods” due to high volumes of traffic.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland has also announced funding of €2 million for the Kilmacanogue safety scheme.

‘I welcome this progress as I have been lobbying to get this started for many years. This is vital for all east Wicklow,’ said Cllr Derek Mitchell.