Going That Extra Mile

The end of the road…?

atest press release from Minister Simon Harris, issued on Friday, November 13th 2023…

After weeks of concern from local residents, the public consultation date regarding the proposal to close the Herbert Road Junction to the N11/M11 has been extended to 3rd November.

Wicklow Minister Simon Harris has urged residents to voice their concerns regarding the closure of Herbert Road now that the deadline has been extended.

Minister Harris said: “I’m pleased to hear that the public consultation deadline for the N11/M11 Bus Priority Interim Scheme, including proposals regarding the closure of the Herbert Road Junction and Enniskerry Junction, have been extended by a few weeks.

“The current proposal is completely unacceptable, would add significant difficulties. It cannot be accepted.

“Every residents’ voice must be heard and taken into account regarding these proposals before any final decision is made.

The Herbert Road Junction provides vital traffic relief between Bray North and South.

Minister Harris added: “The proposal to close the Herbert Road Junction has been met with fierce opposition from local residents, and I am in complete agreement with them. Local residents were only recently subject to this road closure when the road was getting resurfaced, and traffic conditions across Bray dramatically deteriorated over those few weeks. A permanent closure would do this and worse.

“The fact that this road was closed less than a year ago for its resurfacing is only adding to the residents’ agitation as the two successive closures which demonstrates a serious lack of forward thinking from the Council.

“Bray commuters already experience large queues from the N11/M11 so these proposals are naturally leading to severe unease and frustration among Bray commuters and residents.

In September Minister Harris wrote to Wicklow County Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland to voice his own opposition to these proposals after having spoken to residents directly on the issue.

Minister Harris concluded “I am once again urging local residents to email here and have their voice heard on the current proposals.

“We must stay united as a community in opposition to this. I will always back the residents.”