Wicklow Port Access and Town Relief Road Scheme

Officially Opened by Minister Noel Dempsey, 29th April 2010

History

• The Wicklow Port Access and Town Relief Road Scheme was proposed in the County Development Plan of 1999 and was further proposed in the Wicklow Environs Local Area Plan of 2001.
• Arup Consulting Engineers were appointed in June of 2001 to undertake the engineering and environmental studies for the proposed Wicklow Port Access and Town Relief Road
• The EIS and CPO for this road scheme where submitted to An Bord Pleanála in December 2000.
• The scheme received planning consent in May 2004.
• Following approval Arup Consulting Engineers proceeded with the detailed design of the scheme.

The Scheme Objectives

The Wicklow Port Access and Town Relief Road Scheme had two main objectives which are:

• To relieve traffic congestion in Wicklow Town Centre by providing an alternative route for both port traffic and through traffic.
• To service the lands on the outskirts of the town, which are zoned for development in the Wicklow Environs Local Area Plan of 2001.

Brief Technical Description

The Wicklow Port Access and Town Relief Road Scheme will consist of the following:

• Two new sections of roadway which are the:
  • Port access road -which is 1.6km in length and funs from the Rathnew Road to the Murrough via a bridge crossing of the Broadlough Estuary.
  • Town Relief Road – which is approximately 3.0 km in length and runs approximately in a north-south direction from the Rathnew Road to the junction of Ashtown Lane/Marlton Road.
• Improvement to the existing Rathnew Road.
• A new 130m 3-span bridge crossing the Broadlough Estuary at the Murrough.
• Two new Railway bridges, one at the Murrough and the other located in Merrymeeting, Rathnew.
• A bridge crossing the Ashtown Stream
• Other major structures include two number retaining walls, one on the Murrough and the other on the Rathnew Road.
• The road constructed is a 2 lane carriageway
• The Wicklow Port Access Road caters for the vulnerable road user by providing high quality footpaths, cycleway and controlled crossing point at the major junctions.

Cost of the Scheme

• The estimated construction cost of the WPATRR is about €65 million.
• €28.5million of a grant was received from the Department, under the Non-National Roads Grants for Strategic Routes.
• €1.5m provided for cycleways and footpaths by the Dublin Transportation Office (now the National Transport Authority)
• The balance is provided by:-
  • Wicklow County Council – Supplementary Development Levies
  • Contribution by Wicklow Town Council

Layout of Road 164kb jpeg
Artists Impression of Broadlough Estuary Bridge 97kb jpeg
Archaeologists at the Glebe Site
Aerial View of Glebe 'church' site 86 kb jpeg