N11/M11 Bus Priority Interim Scheme
Publication of the Phase 2 Option Selection Report
Wicklow County Council is progressing the development of the N11/M11 Bus Priority Interim Scheme (N11/M11 BPIS) in partnership with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, the National Transport Authority and the Department of Transport. Wicklow County Council is seeking to address the current operation and safety issues on the N11/M11 corridor as a priority.
The N11/M11 BPIS project began in 2020 and aims to deliver bus priority measures on the N11/M11 in advance of the more comprehensive Junction 4 to Junction 14 scheme. The scheme aims to increase the people carrying capacity and attractiveness of public transport along the route and also includes proposals to enhance the operation and safety of the N11. The priority facilities will allow buses and coaches to avoid congested traffic lanes during the peak traffic periods, whilst remaining as hard-shoulders during non-operational time periods. The N11/M11 BPIS is a significant scheme which requires many interventions along the route to address not only congestion but substandard layouts and junction geometry.
Following a detailed Phase 2 option selection process, where Public Display events took place in November 2022 and September 2023, the N11/M11 BPIS has evolved to now include major road improvement features, such as: -
- A major upgrade at Junction 7 Bray South to a full grade separated junction,
- A northbound Service Road at Junction 8 Kilmacanogue,
- A northbound Service Road linking Junction 7 Bray South to Junction 6 Fassaroe,
The bus priority measures also include the widening and realignment of hard shoulders to accommodate buses during peak periods. Closing intermediate junctions and access points will maximize this priority for public transport. Additionally, reducing these access points will decrease traffic weaving, intermittent traffic slowing and braking all of which disrupts traffic flows and contributes greatly to peak period traffic congestion. By rationalising the access points to the N11, the scheme will provide significant benefits for overall traffic flow and safety for all road users. Wicklow County Council is committed to ensuring that the closure of each direct access point is considered carefully. The implementation of these major road improvement features will improve journey times for the residents of East Wicklow.
In particular, Wicklow County Council will only accept the closure of Herbert Road based only on this closure being coupled with and facilitated by the major upgrade of Junction 7 Bray South (Hill’s Garage to Kilcroney Lane). Currently, Junction 7 Bray South experiences severe congestion, and it is acknowledged that currently Herbert Road provides an alternative route that bypasses this current congestion. The situation that transpired during a temporary closure of Herbert Road in 2023 is one that WCC aims to avoid. That situation has very much informed the preferred option that now includes a major upgrade at Hill’s Garage/Junction 7 to a fully grade separated junction including new slip roads and underpass. These upgrades will relieve queuing and congestion on the N11, Killarney Road and Southern Cross Road and while accommodating rerouted traffic from Herbert Road.
Overall the preferred option will alleviate congestion of the N11 and greatly improve accessibility to the N11 at Bray South. This will benefit the journey times for road users that rely on the N11 for daily commuting, whether that be by car or bus, without unduly impacting upon locals in the Herbert Road area.
The provision of Bus infrastructure will support the strategic bus P&R facilities planned along the N11 and act a catalyst to attract investment and expansion of bus services to our major towns along the N11 route corridor.
The Bus Scheme is nearing the conclusion of Phase 2 (Options Selection) with the publication of the Option Selection Report and supporting documents, scheduled for 10th April 2025 on the project website www.n11m11bpis.ie
The Phase 2 (Options Selection) preferred option will be used at Phase 3 (Design and Environmental Evaluation) as the basis on which the project design will be developed. The design will be subject to further and more detailed analysis including more detailed traffic analysis. An environmental evaluation will also be completed. This design and analysis will ensure that the project progressed through to the Statutory Approval submission is fully appraised and all implications are known and addressed. Wicklow County Council anticipates that following the publication of the Phase 2 Options Selection Report that the Phase 3 Design and Environmental Evaluation will be progressed during 2025/26, with the statutory approval phase following thereafter.